Scribing new panel lines...?

[Captain Mark]

Hi all,

I've come to a point where I need to scribe new panel lines into a 1/24 Honda NSX kit I'm working on.

If you're familiar with the Tamiya kit, you'll remember that the rear spoiler is moulded separate from the rest of the body and has to be glued on.
No problem here accept that there's one join line that needs filling and sanding, etc, and the other join lines that actually need to stay are so badly gapped that I'll have to fill them and scribe new lines in the plastic/putty so it doesn't look dodgy.

Can anyone tell how I should go about this???
I've never had to do it before, and am stumped as to how to get perfectly straight, smooth, realistic lines carved.
Any tips and pointers appreciated!

Thanks,

Mark

[jswillmon]

I know that some others will give better solutions to your problem than i will but, just take your time and go at it in small incriments. I would use either a pannel scriber or a dentist pick of some sort, i have even seen it suggested to use the back edge of a hobby knife and drag it slowly over and over to scribe the panel.
You could also cut a template of the shape of the edge and tape it to the car then use it as a guide to scribe it.

Hope this helps.

[Captain Mark]

You know I'd thought of using a template, or perhaps even a fine-tip marker with permanent ink.

But I'm just not sure i can get the crisp accurate look the other panel lines have with perfect gaps, crisp straight lines, etc, when I actually go carving it up.

By the way, where would I find a panel-scriber, never heard of it before?

[jswillmon]

i honnestly don't know, i don't have one i juse have a set of dental pics. I looks similar to a dental pic though.
I've only heard of them here so try searching for panel scriber and see what you come up with, try it several times. I always get diffrent results if i try more than once. Or you could just wait for a while, someone will have a little more info I'm sure.

[Captain Mark]

Thanks jswillmon. Will check it all out.

[supermod04]

on my civic the body was really bad from a preivois (oops cant spell) WBK, and well i just smoothed the sides then used a razor to redo the lins worked nice, i just kept cleaning them

[flyonthewall]

My method for this sort of thing is to make templates from masking tape - sometimes 3+ layers thick - and use it as a guide to scride new lines. I start by tracing the outline of the template with No11 blade a couple of times, the cut you make is then used as a guide for the panel sriber...

Originally Posted by Captain Mark

By the way, where would I find a panel-scriber, never heard of it before?

Hasegawa make a couple in their Tri-Tool range - check HLJ and HS for these. Alternatively you can get a dental probe from some tool stores - that's what i use.

[Hiroboy]

You could also get one of these :
http://www.bare-metal.com/scriber.htm

[labandabonnot]

You can simply use the point of a compass to scribe your lines, or the back of an X-acto blade... It's less expensive and gives the same results as all those claimed specific modeling tools...