"Panel Lines or raised panels." Topic

Currently I am working on a 1/144model. Lots of farily flush fitting panels. The panels are thin enough that the extra thickness cannot be modeled at scale usefully. So I am trying two methods, outlineing the panel by a groove like on most kids toy cars or raising the pannel out of scale?

On the LUCHs I am going to try both but do you have a preference and why?

Suplementary question, if you do panel lines do you use a half circle i,e a pipe whose centreline is on the surface or a flatbottomed groove and again why? Me I am going for a flat bottomed groove?

I prefer grooves.

Better for detailing that way, in my opinion, since you can do a wash with them, or use fine pencil for detailing.

Flat.

At 1:144 they would be mostly invisible. However it can look good (realistic.)

Plastic aircraft modelers in the olden days scraped and sanded off raised panel lines, only to scribe them with a knife for a recessed line.

Not knowing anything about 3D constraints, would a "V" shaped groove be another option?

Most current model kits use recessed panel lines. That is what I would advise. Also helps with the weathering/detailing process as a recessed panel line can take a wash whereas a raised panel line would not look correct using this technique…

Damon.

I am another modeller who is from the sand-it-off-and-scribe-your-own-lines era.

Raised panel lines can only be highlighted, which is the opposite of what you want. Recessed lines, however faint, are infinitely better!

OK so I have now done the final Hull of the LUCHS. To be honest the panel groove at 0.4mm on a 1/144 model looks a bit big. Current experience is that doing it at 0.3mm is the minimum possible and that may still be too big. When I can get at the printer (its doing a 6+hr print) I will have a go, paint it and see.