Panel Lines: How to do Rounded Corners?
 

I am having a hard time getting 1/64 chart tape to make a nice even corner radius to create a curved panel line. Any ideas here?

Thanx, Mark

There are a couple of different kinds of chart tape. One is paper based and the other is plastic. The plastic stuff goes around corners much better, although I prefer the paper based stuff for most everything else.

Thx for the response Chad. But are I'm wondering about tricks of the trade or tempates used to form the corner radius and then lay the tape against it or is it done by eye ( my method, which prooving to be tedious) which is not providing consistent results. Trial and error?

Thanx, Mark

I have always done it by eye Mark or by laying down a light pencil line and following that. With some practice I can usually find the right combination of variables to achieve consistent results. Sorry I don't have more to offer!

Yes to both techniques.
Ive done tons of panel lines on models and you can also combine techniques for a final effect. Your not bound to any one method just the end result matters.
There are radius templates that are made of metal you can buy for example which feature graduated inside and outside radii. With a scribe tool you can scribe a line tangent to your tape line for instance. You can make your own from spring steel sheet too. Use Dykem Blue paint or a sharpie and color an area then scribe your radius. Cut and file the edge to the line and your done, easy radius tool.

Another hand tool I use is a jewelers engraving tool. You can take away very small amounts of material with each pass and pretty much draw anything with it once you practice. A radius is a breeze with this tool. You have to learn to pivot on your thumb basically. Since your working in primer you can feel the material change if your too deep.

One of my favorite and most used tools is just a simple #11 Xacto blade and I cut the tip off. Drag it backwards along any edge and it tracks nicely once you get the hang of it. Its just under a millimeter wide though so you have to watch it compared to tape. Just for a radius its probably ok. I have a special way I cut the tip off to get a certain angle I can explain if interested.

If your doing hatches with radius corners its usually easier if you have an inside template rather than outside. Its how you hold the tools that makes it easier. Working around your hand is harder than working between them.

If you use tape then the paper tape is better than vinyl only because it keeps a more consistent height. Vinyl stretches and becomes thinner so its another detail to consider. You get deeper better looking results with the paper tape but its harder to work with.

Post some pics and lets see what your trying to figure out.

Ok, so it looks like its a matter of practice and technique, and I am not missing anything here. I will try and send pictures when i have some. I was also wondering if it is easier to get the same effect by using a scribe and cut a panel line in the primer rather than using the tape method. Although that method may require applying the primer over the entire surface rather than just over the tape, adding weight.

Mark

I prefer the tape method, but it's a matter of personal choice.

If you find scribing easier, go for it !

Since this thread is about panel lines.....How much primer does it usually take to build up the panel line with the tape method? I've used a whole can on my fuse and can still see the tape easily.

Use what you like, but I use a high build primer surfacer on my master models prior to creating a layup tool from them and the high build works very well for this purpose.

Bob