I have a kit that need the panel lines rescribed. I've never done this before - any ideas where i can buy a scribing tool? or can i use a #11 scalpel blade?

Andy

Squadron or MicroMark would have them. You can also use the #11 blade, or a heavy guage needle, or an al, or sharpened nail.

I personally find it best to use a multi-pass aproach. Slowly build up depth (if that can be done - building depth? ) with multiple easy draws.

I have two scribing tools. A mission model (www.missionmodels.com) scribing kit and a bare metal foil tool (http://www.bare-metal.com/).

I've used both, but had better luck with the bare metal foil one. It does take patience and practice. I've only started scribing on the model I'm currently building. I'm somewhat pleased with the results, but I would highly recommend that you use rulers or other tools to keep the scriber straight or round, depending on the figure you're doing. You can easily mess up your work if you don't.

I got my scriber from Micromark and it's a fantastic tool. A #11 blade will leave plowed up ridges on each side of the scribed line but the Micromark scriber does not. It actually removes the plastic. To keep the line accurate I use duct tape or a steel ruler and make a series of light passes.

From what I've heard, our Japanese colleagues use tamiya scriber or hasegawa (tritool) tools or both. rounded or curved surfaces would surely be better scribed with tritool sribing saws (at least I'm definitely going to purchase one).

here's a nice selection of hasegawa's modeling tools.

I have heard that a craft blade/scalpel can be used to scribe but it needs to be used backwards. The normal way round just makes it dig in and leave furrows but backwards makes it strip a small strip of plastic out like a scribing tool. It may need practice and some blades may be better than others.