Panel line painting technique question.

[Geno]

Hi guys, how do you guys do your panel lines? They always look so nice and neat. I tried on an old body with paint reduced down with alcohol to 4:1 that a friend gave me but it seemed to want to etch the paint on areas that didn't get down in the gap. What's you magic solutions? Thanks, Geno.

[High octane]

I use the Detailer after my primer coats and before the color coats and it seems to work just fine. I simply brush it on the lines with a small brush, and wipe any wash that got on the body with a tissue while it's still wet.

[Snake45]

I scribe door and trunk lines out about 2/3 of the way through the plastic. BEFORE primer, I run a black wash in there, and then I prime and paint normally, doing nothing more with the lines except cleaning them out with a toothbrush under warm running water after final paint or clearcoat polishing. It works well for me.

[935k3]

I used thinned Tamiya Acrylics mistakes can fixed with a q tip and it does not attack any type of paint. The Detailer is pretty good too. They both clean up with Ammonia. I use a 10/0 size brush. Here is one I am working on now that was done this way.

 

[kilrathy10]

I use a method that may be surprisingly simple.....I use flat black as a primer....Just some of the cheap Walmart brand stuff that can be had for a $1.....Then go on with a mist coat or two of your chosen color, and then hit it with some coverage coats.....The paint doesn't really want to go into those cracks, anyway, so you end up with those little lines peeping though.....The other methods will yield a good result, but this one is way easier.....As soon as I get my Photobucket account paid, I'll show you a pic to illustrate.....

Edited March 23, 2017 by kilrathy10

[microwheel]

I use any water based acrylic flat paint thinned with plan ole water, usually 50/50 and even sometime thinner. You are basically making a wash out of it.  I primmer my bodies first and then use a really fine tip paint brush dipped in my wash and then just let it flow into the lines. It can even be done after paint and clear coat. I always try to use a flat color just a shade or two darker than my color coat. The nice thing about thinning with water, it cleans off easy if you happen to get any excess outside the panel lines and on the body. Just dont let it dry to long before cleaning it off the areas you dont want it. I keep a couple of q-tips handy for just that reason, to wipe off the excess.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Acrylic craft paint.

I use Ceramcoat paints, mixed a darker shade of the body color, thinned & applied.

You can clean up any flubs with plain old water on a cotton cloth.

This works best after the paint has dried for a while.

 

Steve

 

[Geno]

Thank you all for your input, I really do appreciate it. Now to try them out lol. Love the models guys, you all keep me inspired. Blessings to you all. Geno.