Panel lines and rivets

[stona]

I've started this in response to a question from dubster72 (Patrick) on another thread.

"Actually, maybe someone will answer this one for me-I've noticed that older kits have raised panel lines/rivets & such whereas newer don't. Which is correct? I'm assuming that better manufacturing techniques have improved things but if I fancy making a plane I'd like to get it right."

Older kits tend to have raised panel lines simply because it was easier to cut a mold that way,the mold being a "negative" of the model. I suppose it is modern techniques that makes it easier to cut molds for recessed lines.Panel lines on models are always way over scale. Real aircraft had generally either let in flush skins or overlapping skins.This means that both types can be correct! Either way to scale they would be virtually invisible and impossible to mold. I think both recessed and raised lines can be made to look good on a model. They are only a representation of the real thing. Many joins on the real thing were not easily visible. For example the joins on the frames of the fuselage of a Bf109 (lines much beloved of modellers) were usually puttied and sanded. The front third of a Spitfire wing,including the join between the leading edge and the wing (another line beloved of modellers) was always treated the same way.The entire surface of a Mustang wing was puttied and sanded smooth.

Rivets tend to be overscale for the same reason. Some,scaled up,would be the size of dinner plates! It's each to their own. I tend to go with what's on the model,though I'd like them in the right place (not always the case). I'm too lazy to re-scribe and re-rivet a model.

Real aircraft often had a combination of raised and flush rivet heads as a compromise between smoothness (speed) and ease and speed of construction.

Nothing gets modellers going like rivets and panel lines! I'm in the camp that chooses not to over emphasise them but that doesn't make me right and someone who likes prominent lines wrong. It's just a model.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Cheers for that Steve! I've read a couple of articles where people have sanded their models & re-scribed panel lines which seemed a lot of work! Also, if I build a plane it may well be a cheap one to start with (in case I muck it up!) so that could mean an old one with lines & rivets standing proud!

As you say, it's about enjoying what you do, not so much about the technical accuracy.

Thanks again, Patrick

[stona]

You are quite correct Patrick. I like my models to look like what they represent,but at the end of the day it's a model. Some people like to build with every line and rivet in the correct place, which is fine,but I'm doing it for a bit of fun and don't want to beat myself up too much. My models end up on a shelf and the nearest you can get to them,without climbing over a sofa,is four or five feet. You can't even see a rivet from there! It's just as well because I don't have the skills to build some of the incredible models you see,but I'm happy anyway.If I was bothered about the rivets being spaced wrongly by .02mm or the tail being 0.5 mm to tall there are other places where I could go and moan about "fatal flaws".

I think it's Ron who hits the nail on the head when he says the most important thing is to have fun...there's no point otherwise!!!!

If you build a plane with raised panel lines there are ways of subtely highlighting them. I don't think they are any less "realistic" than recessed ones as neither exist (as molded) on a real plane!

Cheers

Steve (planning to have fun with the airbrush this evening)

[Guest]

Cool coz I'm taking the plunge & going for a Monogram kit of a Mustang (pictured) as that's a favourite of mine. Should be interesting after only building tanks!

Patrick

[ATTACH]21064.IPB[/ATTACH]

[stona]

Should be interesting after only building tanks! Patrick

It certainly should be,particularly if you do it with a natural metal finish. Make sure you keep us all posted.

Cheers

Steve

[jimpman120]

Right on the nose steve you are doing this as a hobby not work. I think its all about perspective, picture the real plane at a distance in which it would be at the size of your model. then if you want to embellish any particular aspects of that plane to get a focal point go ahead make it pop out its all about what you want to see. wether its weathering, damage, sterile off the assembly line rivets that stick out so you see them at a distance from the model factory or with a magnifying glass. its what you want to SEE not what others do. as far a re scribing pannel lines time wise i tried it for the first time on the B-24 i just posted and i took me about 2 1/2 (4h+ -) nights i cheated and grabbed a new blade ran it along the line and shaved it off like a plainer then sanded i dont think ill use this tec. all the time tho.

[yak face]

hi patrick , i couldnt agree more with everything steve says, an old model with raised panel lines can look just as good as a new moulding with recesed ones, i think the only reason most people prefer the recessed ones is that after sanding a joint they are usually still there, unlike the raised ones which can sometimes get sanded off. A lot of my favourite recent builds have had raised lines , sometimes the challenge of trying to make an old kit look good is half the fun, which is the whole point as steve says. looking forward to seeing the mustang cheers tony