how do you do your panel lining? it always looks so good!
Thank you! I actually use two methods:
1) good ol’ Tamiya panel liner. Holding the tip of the applicator lets the ink travel along the grooves and inside edges. I sometimes do two passes for stronger lines since I lay it on lightly. Make sure you brush the part off first with an old toothbrush.
2) Gundam/sharpie marker. These give thicker lines but they’re also a more consistent color. Specifically hard tipped sharpies. Not all markers stick but these are consistent. Gundam markers are finer, but they’re also run dry quickly and the look doesn’t always come out right. I prefer my sharpies. Cheaper too. I use them for hard accent lines and divots. If the groove is smaller than the tip, trace along it with an angle or try a felt tipped marker. Any excess than be erased for a clean line.
The final step is using a high poly eraser. Not the pink ones like on a pencil. Think white rectangular ones. You can get a pack for 5 bucks at an office supply store that will last you years. Rub it to remove excess panel liner and clean everything up. Works for dried paint as well. There’s technique, but you can figure that out with time.
With a little experience you can figure out what to emphasize for the aesthetic you want. Think of markers a bolding or line weight. In an instance of a circular divot, you could fill in fully with a marker or a light ring of tamiya on the inside. A simple panel line could look stronger with marker to imply visual importance.
