I am in the process of laying 1/64 chart tape on my p47. Some of the panel lines (actually look like small square hatches) have very tight rounded corners. I can't use the chart tape for these as the corners won't stay down. Like a rounded 90 degree corner.

The tape is great for straight lines and even curved lines.

Is there a solution for these tight corners?

I have just finished applying panel lines to a model. It is not a true scale airplane and the lines were a bit of an experiment and more for effect than true scale. However they do look good.

I used a Pentel collet pencil. Those pencils will accept different diameter leads. The leads of course come in different hardnesses. I ended up using an "H" lead of 0.50mm dia. For small corner rads I used some old plastic drafting templates to draw around.

Ed S

It's time consuming, but use an Xacto knife and cut the radius in your tape, and continue to march. If it were easy everyone would do it. Just put it on square, and carefully cut it.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

I used aluminium tape for any hatches etc. Just stick them down and paint over them. Use a piece of small tubing that has been sharpened to create rivirs or hatch screws.

For hatches with rounded corners, like Terry, I use aluminum tape. I cut the required shape and apply. If it's truely a panel and not a hatch, that could be a bit more difficult. To clean out the lines after removing the tape, I took an extra .05 alan wrench and ground a small hook into the end and used it as a scraper/scribe. If one were careful, you could use it to scribe the corners freehand.

Scott

HI
I have a Top Flight Giant Scale P-51 mustang ARF.
Is there a way to put panel lines on Monokote?
I would love to hear your opinion on this.
Thanks ...Fabio

For Monocote, I'd go with a panel line pen or drafting pen. You may need to clearcoat it for fuel proofing. I would recommend testing on a sample piece of Monocote and some glow fuel or gas, depending on the type of engine.

Scott

In one of my covering books they suggested using narrow strips of clear monokote with the lines & rivets drawn on the adhesive side then applied to the already covered model with windex. This seals the lines and fuel proofs... The pictures I saw looked pretty convincing but nothing like panel lines done with paint/chart tape.

They also suggested using letraset rub on transfers of lines and dots (panel lines & rivets...) on the adhesive side of clear monokote.

If your using a panel line pen or other marker they also suggested not to use dark colors for panel lines or rives as it doesn't look right. ei: on aluminum monokote use a platinum colored marker for the lines.

Hello, I am new to this site but not new to rc. I have a question on rivits. I am building
a 144" b-24j ( Shy-Chi) and need a few pics of the rivit pattern for the top of both wings on the b-24. There is plenty of pics on the net but not of the top of the wing. I tying to go scale with this, After 4 years I figured there would be some on there that I just missed.

Thank all

Gary

The only problem I see with drawing the lines and rivits on the clear is that none of the pens I know of have waterproof ink. The Windex is going to take the lines/rivits off, especially if you shift the covering.

Topflite Panel Line Pen... or if you don't want to pay the $6 that Topflite wants get a superfine Stradford. It looks EXACTLY like the topflite pen just with the Stradford name....


I drew on the monokote with the panel line pen on the glossy side & adhesive side and then sprayed the windex on it after a few seconds. I let the windex pool and sit on the glossy side and the adhesive side of the monokote for a good half hour. No smudging. Considering 99% of the windex would be squeegeed out it should work. I myself would probably get the monokote clear in place fast and squeegee fast, just in case...

However I also tried using my trim iron on low heat (not with windex, dry of course...) and was able to adhear the clear with no bubbles and then go over again on high setting to really lock it. This takes a VERY careful hand to keep the line straight. lol. Windex much easyer!