Hi guys,

I know much has been said about exaggerating panel lines and rivets on plastic models, but what about balsa? I am working on a scratch-built scale of a certain aircraft and have to do the panel lines from scratch. What techniques would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

Balsa won't take engraving panel lines well, so I'd recommend painting the panels in slightly varying shades of color and/or using a dark shade to draw the lines on the plane. For rivets, you can either use the same method (use a dot of slightly lighter color to make the rivet appear proud of the surface, or if you dont need to worry about weight / balance (ie. non-flying balsa model) they you could glue individual plastic / resin rivet heads of the appropriate scale.

My thoughts,
Mika

Well, the thing is I don't want to just paint it on: I want to "groove" it on. This will be a very large model (think at least 50 inches long), so just painting panel lines and rivets on would look cheesy and "un-scale." Is there no other way?

One possable idea, add the individual panels as separate panels using paper or thin card stock. Rivet detail could be impressed before application.

Wow, that is a great idea! I was thinking of 1/32 balsa, in sections, but using paper will probably be much easier, not to mention lighter! Thanks for your suggestion!

Anyone else?

Howdy scubyfan,

Not sure if your moniker is 'scuba', or 'scooby' related...but just in case it's the latter, maybe I've got a 'scooby-treat' for ya.

I've done a wee bit of sculpting myself, and I have never really used Balsa that much. What I have used successfully is Basswood. It's almost identical to Balsa, except, the wood is denser, is much easier to carve, and resists 'tear-out' a bit more than Balsa. Now, I've never tried to etch panel lines in it, so I'm not entirely sure it will work, but it's certainly worth a try. Just stop by your LHS and pick up a small piece and try to lay your line.
And please, if you do, let us know if it works.

Also, if money is no object, you can use REN shape.
hth.

Tread.

....now, as to the rivets...............sheeeeeesh.......

Since this project is obviously 'Secret'.....can you at least tell us it's scale? I mean, "50 inches" tells me something, but certainly not enough to go hogwild with the input.....

Howdy,

Thanks for your post. I'm not too sure what REN shape is, though.

As for the model, I can't divulge what it is...yet. It should be ready within a few months, and I'll be sure to drop in and show it to you guys!