"Can someone explain why mold lines are so elusive to me?" Topic

So this is something I'm hoping to get some relation to from some of my fellow modeling community.

I've been modeling and painting and gaming since the mid-2000s.

I learned with experience how to entirely remove mold lines and especially sprue flash with a progression of scrapers, files, then fine sandpaper, particularly on parts for sci-fi vehicles and cars where you want smooth surfaces that can be sprayed over.

However, when it comes to mold lines on models like infantry, fantasy characters, etc. I have always had a peculiar problem.

I swear, no matter how thorough or careful I am in checking over a part that I've done mold lines on, I ALWAYS miss something. It's become almost a standard procedure to do mold lines, assembly, prime, and have to go back and rescrape and file because somewhow I missed a line, then I have to reprime.

Another issue I've never shaken is that I use a round file on many parts because you simply can't reach certain areas with a seam scraper. I find that when I use a thin file, what happens is that the mold line basically gets "flattened out" rather than totally eradicated. Even when I do the file in multiple angles and I'm SURE the line is gone, sure enough I prime and there's still a damn line there or at least a partial "ghost" of the mold line.

I guess what I'm asking is, is this just the nature of the beast? Or am I simply not thorough enough, or blind, or both, lol?

I have the same problem. They just don't want to go away!! 🤪

Yeah, priming usually reveals the ones you missed. ;-)

One other thing you can add to your "toolbox" is remove the high points of the mold line, then add some wood glue (or similar) along the seam to even it up or disguise it better (really bad examples may need to be greenstuffed…)

eta: I prime with gesso, so it's easy to retouch if needed

Hobby knife for scraping
Sanding sticks after assembly
Tamiya Thin cement over really hard to reach areas

Priming will indeed help you find the ones you missed pre-priming. I think of it as the second phase of the mold line removal process.

I saw a model builder use a fine tip marker along the mold line and filing or sanding until the mark is gone. It seemed like a good idea.

I think that is a universal problem! – I certainly have it!

Once, I tried putting a wash over the bare figures, but it only brought out some of the mould lines.

One other thing I have found is when I have painted a figure, it looks 10 times worse when I photograph it, all the errors show up!

Here is a trick I know of:

But have not used myself, so consider this hearsay.

Prime and locate the remaining defects. If these are minor your can "fill" them with self leveling paint. The most famous of these is Mr. Surfacer:
link

Best know when one wants a very smooth result, such as painting gloss or to look like a metallic surfaces.

But this very subtle filling effect can also be used to hide the remains of mold lines.

Thanks for all the insights and advice, much appreciated!

I did want to comment on what Herkybird said. Indeed, one major aspect of mold lines is that I have individual miniatures as well as entire units of soldiers that look entirely fine on the tabletop, and even look ok when viewing them casually much closer.

The only time you REALLY see where I missed any mold lines or didn't eradicate them completely is when I photograph them for Flickr. And that's the thing. I'm lamenting about a "problem" that in reality, I'm probably successfully removing 90-95% of mold lines when I'm painting an army. I mean that's a pretty good success rate overall.

It's like when you see your face in a mirror in one of those club or restaurant bathrooms with the florescent light overhead, and it brings out every single pimple, blemish, bump, scar, mole, and zit your face ever had!

That's a great point! If I don't ever photograph my miniatures, the mold line problem goes away because they're simply not noticeable during normal tabletop play!

Which is actually good news, because it means I am being thorough enough at least for viewing at gaming and closer distances. It's really the intense closeup of the modern digital photograph where most of your mold line neglect shows up!

Old theater saying : "Beyond the third row, they won't know."