Filing and scribing

[countrypapa]

I'm an old geezer that has been playing with model cars for a couple of years, enjoying retired life and end up ruining a bunch of cars by experimenting different things with them hoping some day I will learn something and improve my skills. One of the biggest problems I have is doing the finish work after chopping a top. I can get the top dropped and every lined up and looking pretty good but when I try to finish it after the glue and filler this is where the problem arises. I really have trouble rescribing door gaps and any other things that need to be done to finish it off. I have all kinds of grinders, sanders, files, and sandpaper but not the knowledge to use them properly. Are there any tutorials out there can help me. I have spent hours with a fine rat tail file but still can't come close. Any help would be appreciated.

[NOBLNG]

Check in the tips and tricks and tutorials section. There are stickys on “scribing panel lines and opening doors”started by Viper Dave, and also a “panel lines tutorial” started by Cruz.

Edited July 2, 2021 by NOBLNG

[Mark]

One thing I do (more correctly, don't do) is leave the scribing for last, especially when dealing with areas where you are going through more than one material (styrene, filler, and/or resin).  Work starts on that right from the start, including aligning cut pieces to ensure minimum rescribing later.

[countrypapa]

I can do the scribing with some effort but it's the fine detail work I have trouble with like the A and B pillars. They are not square or rectangular but have curves and lines in them and this is where I get hung up. How do you do such intricate work. I can get it roughed in but the final finish is where I have trouble. Thanks again for your help.

[Mark]

Make a template for curved areas.  I use old credit cards, you can get several templates out of one.  Shape one edge to match the line you want to scribe, and make sure you add witness marks to ensure proper placement.  Bonus is, you can flip it over and use it on the opposite side to ensure symmetry.

Edited July 3, 2021 by Mark
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[super_average_gunpla]

You may find that using guide helps get into the groove.  Guide tape especially useful for rescribbing detail lost to sanding or other modifications.  I mainly use HiQ Scribing Tape for straight lines and Tamiya Masking Tape for Curves for...well, curves.  Some other things to consider:

• Take your time
• First few passes should be very light - this will help establish the line and minimize jumping out of the groove and unwanted scratches
• I usually start with a 'zero' chisel to establish the groove before moving on to bigger width chisels (panel line scale dependent)

Happy scribbing!

[countrypapa]

Thanks for all the tips so far but now I'm down to the final sanding before paint. How do I get in there to sand, we're talking about 1/2 " with curves on A or B pillars, I don't how to sand. Maybe I'm just getting too anal but when look at cars posted they just seem to be so perfect. I guess I should just re phrase my original question with how do I sand small areas?     Thanks again for the help.

[Len Woodruff]

Following.

[NOBLNG]

1 hour ago, countrypapa said:

Thanks for all the tips so far but now I'm down to the final sanding before paint. How do I get in there to sand, we're talking about 1/2 " with curves on A or B pillars, I don't how to sand. Maybe I'm just getting too anal but when look at cars posted they just seem to be so perfect. I guess I should just re phrase my original question with how do I sand small areas?     Thanks again for the help.

I cut a small rectangle of sandpaper and use it on edge to sand one side of the groove at a time. If the groove is wide enough, and the paper thin enough, you could fold it and sand both sides of the groove at once. Don’t let the perfection that you see displayed by some builders on here discourage you.

[countrypapa]

I'm dragging this out of the vault because I am still having trouble with my finish work. I know how to scribe and open doors etc. but it's the finish work I'm having trouble with. For example I just chopped the top on a 32 sedan and all the rough gluing and sanding is done and every thing lines up perfect on the A B and  C pilers but now I have to finish around the drip rail and moldings around the windows and other curved areas. How do you get into those intricate places? I have jewlers files. curved sanding sticks, dremel with every attachment you can think of, all kinds of scribers and chisels and still can,t get the job done. Maybe I,m not being clear on my problem. Where I glued the A B and C pillers there is a bunch of glue that I have to get rid of and blend it in with the rest of the area. This is my problem  Help me.

 

[NOBLNG]

Careful scraping, filing and sanding should do the trick. You may need to add some filler if there are low spots. I would recommend Fine White Milliput or sprue glue for any major filler work. Post a picture of the area to give us a better idea of what you’re up against.

[countrypapa]

Thanks for everyones input, I'll just have to try a little harder.

[bill-e-boy]

For things like drip rails a shaped edge of an old blade used as a scraper works. And yup after modeling for a lifetime cleaning up after a chop job is still the hardest task to achieve with good results. A good dose of patience, lots of filling and sanding, priming and repeat is needed

 

[Sonorandog]

A tool I find very helpful for scribing or just getting into tight places to clean things out is the Flex-I-File 6114 Ultra Fine Needle Point Scriber.