Scribing door lines

[TarheelRick]

Any tips on scribing door lines across body filler? I sectioned the body on my 51 Ford custom.  The cut wasn't really pretty and I had to glue some thin stock in places to hold the body filler in place. Now is the time to scribe the new door lines and I cannot get a decent line.  The rear door line is no issue since it is straight and I can cut it with a razor saw, however the front line has just the slightest suggestion of a curve.  My Trumpeter scribe rides just fine in the kit plastic, but as soon as I hit filler it jumps all over the place.  I have started with the back edge of an ex-acto blade and it will work for the first two or three passes then it will also start wandering in the filler area.  I have a mixture of the first layer of Bondo glazing & spot putty, once I got that sanded fairly smooth I applied a coat of Tamiya white putty.  I filed a groove in the door line in order to remove all the scratches than I filled with Mr. Hobby "Mr. White Putty", still having problems keeping successive passes with the scriber in the same line.  I have considered using tape as a guide, but since the door line curve is so subtle it is difficult to get tape to follow it. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. 

Edited July 13, 2023 by TarheelRick

[Dpate]

If you had some scribe tape that would help. Basic tape would be too thin, but would help from scratches if you slip. Curve tape from Tamiya might work too as it’s little thicker than regular tape, and can do corners good.  AKs curve tape has a little thickness to it, and works great around curves. If you have to just piece up the tape around the curve making sure the curve still showing. I’ve done that with scribe tape, and worked good. 

Edited July 13, 2023 by Dpate

[Bainford]

A couple of times I’ve had a difficult scribe, I made a template out of beer can aluminum. I cut out a piece of aluminum from the can 1.5 inches square or so, and file/sand the subtle curve on one edge. Then securely tape or clamp the template into position. It gives a nice solid edge against which to hold the scriber for good control. 

[TarheelRick]

Some good advice. I assume a Coke can will work just as well as a beer can, haven't had a beer in a month or so.

[Len Woodruff]

I made a .020 template and taped it to the body. Then used the Tamiya pin scriber to make the do line. I like this scriber because it doesn't jump out of the line once it is started.