Having had trouble with sanding away raised panel lines I would like to scribe recessed ones instead. How do master model makers out there do it. Is it best to try it free hand or use a verlinden Panel scribe template?

I find that it depends on the pannel lines that i am doing at the time i can occasionally for some panel lines do them freehand but when it comes to shapes like cicrles or ovals i tend to use Eduards scribing templates and get good results everytime. Hope this is of some help.

I know one popular way is to use masking tape (or electrical tape) to mark off each side of the line. Then scibe in between.

Hi Chris:

One of my good friends of many many years, who lives in Topeka,
Kansas, USA, not too far west of Kansas City, is Bill Pettyjohn. Bill is a
master modeler and has many first place awards at the IPMS/USA
National Conventions, usually in 1:32nd and 1:48th scale. His FW 189
took first in category again this year at the Nats in Kansas City in August.

Bill uses "Chart-Pak" tape for this kind of scribing of styrene plastic. It is
a tape that artists have used for many years to make borders on posters,
etc. (before the age of electronic imaging via the 'pooter) It comes in
various widths and is thick enough that with care you can keep the
scribing tool from cutting in the wrong place. However, Bill also told me
that when he slips and cuts in the wrong area, he hits that mistake with
Super Glue Cyno-acrilate(sp). When the glue is hard he sands the cured glue
smooth and goes back to rescribing. I use the steel templates as well.
Also, at times I've used masking tape that I have stacked up several layers
of tape on top of one another to give me a tall enough "edge" to help keep the
scribing tool "on track".

You may want to keep in mind that rescribing a kit is not for the faint of
heart, or the modelers with a small amount of discipline. It is a time
consuming and difficult job to achieve, requires a great deal of patience
to rescribe an entire kit. I should also mention that I rescribe as many
kit parts BEFORE I GLUE THOSE PARTS TOGETHER, if
possible, since you can lay them flat on your bench.

I suggest you practice on some sheet styrene or throw--way part until
you're comfortable with your results. And then the
Super Glue can fix the "glitches" when you slip up. Good luck