Tools to use for making panel lines
 

My wings are ready for painting, but the surfaces are flat. I would really like to make some real panel lines before I paint it. I've found out by putting a little pressure with a pen will make a mark. I'm just woundering if there is a tool I can get.

Thanks

Panel Lines
 

Greg just get you some 1/32 chart tape and tape out your panel lines. then primer your plane with a fairly nice coat. when everything dries wetsand it just until you can see the chart tape then peel it off and lightly wetsand some more just to clean up the edges of your panel lines then paint your plane. it is a super easy method and gives you a better panel line than just drawing them on.

Joe

Another option.
 

Greg,

I have always been nervous about cutting into the surface with a tool of any kind, it seems to me that this would produce weak spots in the covering.

I have used the tape method explained above, however I now prefer the following:

1. Stick some masking tape on your wing with the edge on the panel line.

2. Apply a very thin smear of filler up against the edge of the tape.

3. Sand (I use fine wet & dry, used wet) to blend the filler into wing surface.

4. Remove the tape, to be left with a raised edge to your panel.

The picture shows the results on my Royal Bearcat.

Simon.

Tools to use for making panel lines
 

Cool Thanks!!

Tools to use for making panel lines
 

Greg:

The method Simon shows is great for raised or over lapping panel lines but most planes have panels that are not raised or over lapping. The best way to reproduce these is with chart tape and primer as described by Joe. Here is a picture of a P-47 that shows what chart tape and primer reproduces.

Tools to use for making panel lines
 

Here is a close up of the wing.

Tools to use for making panel lines
 

Here is a copy of a word file I wrote up quite some time ago. It is similar to one of the other suggestions.

Panel Lines:
Finish construction and primer coat the plane as you normally would. After priming, layout the panel lines lightly with a soft pencil. Follow the pencil lines by applying typically 1/32" Chart Pak tape. Paint the rest of the color scheme of the model, leaving the Chart Pak tape in place on the plane. After painting, remove the Chart Pak tape. Exposed, of course, will be the primer under the tape. You will have 1/32" wide "craters" where the tape was. With a small air brush, go over the areas that were taped off with a darker color paint than what your paint scheme was, up to and including a very dark gray or even black if you have a dark color scheme. Using a 000 steel wool "sand" the overspray back to the panel line or "tape crater". Leave some darker color outside the tape line, in places, if you would like, for an added weathering effect. Last, add a clear coat. If this is a WWII subject, I add a few drops of black to the clear to further tone down the scheme and adds even more weathering effect.

Which ?
 

I tried out the tape method for producing the panel lines on the undersides of the same Bearcat model (see pic) because, as has been pointed out, real panel edges are not raised and it seemed the logical way.

I was not keen on the results as you end up with double lines at the edge of each panel, where visually on the real thing from a distance you only see a single line. Even if you use 1/32" tape, scaled up from a 1/6th scale model it represents a gap of 3/16", full size panels 'but together' they do not have 3/16" gaps between them. Maybe the results would look better on 1/4 or 1/3 scale?

Having tried both ways, while neither is an accurate representation, personally I preferred the look of the single raised edge, with the added advantage that I found this easier and quicker!

I guess the only way to accurately model panel lines without cutting into the surface is to cover the model in actual panels which are butt jointed, I have heard of people using brown paper to cover in this way, it sounds very complicated and is more trouble than I want to go to since I don't model to competition level.

My advice would be to try both and see which you prefer, but don't be temped to cut into the surface!

Simon.

Tools to use for making panel lines
 

Where can I get this tape?

Tools to use for making panel lines
 

Greg:
You can get chart tape at any store that sells drafting supplies. I get it locally at a University Bookstore. Try an art supply store. If you can not find it locally, do a search on Google and there will be many online stores that sell it.

Tools to use for making panel lines
 

There used to be 1/64th drafting tape and I used to have some, but now I can't find it anywhere. Anybody have any ideas where you can get that? It would be ideal for doing panel seams without having a wide gap.

Jim

Tools to use for making panel lines
 

I thought that Chart Pac made the tape all the way down to .020. Could be wrong, but don't think so.
Hans

chart tape
 

Hey Tmoth I got like 10 rolls of it and what I had to do was to goto my local art supply store and they special ordered it for me. 5 rolls 1/64" x 648" black chart tape ran me 22 bucks. the Item Number for it is

BG1501 that is for Chartpak graphic tape just give local art supply store or drafting store that number and they can get it for you so for 44 bucks i got 540 feet of it just enough for 2 planes hehehe


Joe

Photo
 

Does this right?

Tools to use for making panel lines
 

http://www.chartpak.com/rubonart/deco_tapes.html


Deco Tape?

Chart Tape
 

No it isnt the Deco Tape. You have to order it through a local or online art supply store. just tell them Chart Pak BG1501

Joe

PS I will see if I can find an online source

Chart Tape
 

I get all sizes except 1/64th through my local Dick Blick art supply store. here is their online store and they may carry 1/64 where my local doesnt but my local carries 1/32 and up http://www.dickblick.com/zz550/13/pr...m=0&ig_id=1612

I found the company that orders my 1/64th chart tape http://www.bettoffice.com/ just give them the product number I listed above for 1/64 chart tape and they will order it and ship it to you

Joe

Panel Line tape
 

I too used 1/64" Chartpak tape on my Hawker Hurricane project. I ordered mine from someplace in California that I found via a Goggel search.

On my Hurricane most of the panel lines were done with 1/64" tape with 1/32' tape used in some places. The access panels where done with aluminum duct tape and semi gloss photo paper for inkjet printers. The 1/64” tape gives a very realistic effect, especially when a weathering wash is applied to the finish. There are pictures of my project on the war bird forum if you are interested. My post is “Ginger Lacey’s Hurricane”.
Best regards with your model

Rip

Hurricane
 

Yea bob looks good I just got my instrument panel parts in for mine. rough dimensions of it is 5 1/2 x 10 1/2 hehe need a new pilot now as mine looks too small at 1/5th scale for a 1/3.4 plane but was hoping it my be close now i need to find a good 1/3rd scale pilot. Need to find my contact info for pilots by Diane and give her a call and get her to make 1.

Joe

Panel lines
 

I use either Flite Metal or if subject is painted, 'needle files'. The chart tape is good but !

Try this - Get yourself a set of jewelers fine needle files, then first draw panel lines in pencil over primered surfaces, then using regular masking tape as guide run edge of needle file gently along masking tape for instant fuss free panel lines. There are a few different shaped files available experiment to create different width and shapeed panel joints. For raised panels eg access hatches use Flite Metal cut to size is my choice...

Cheers-

Tools to use for making panel lines
 

To simulate access hatches I use aluminum tape with sticky backing from dollar stores . You can get large rolls for 99 cents. a great deal