I'm not sure where the practice started, but modelers now tend to grossly over-exaggerate the panel lines.
Look at actual photos of the aircraft. Often from 20 ft the panel lines are just that... FINE lines, if visible at all. But on models of these same aircraft, the panel lines are represented by HEAVY lines even when on the full sale they were putty filled, sanded and painted to become invisible.
Almost every EPO "scale" model has deeply molded in panel lines where the lines actually might be better represented by using an X-acto to carefully scribe the line then going over the model with a weathering "wash" (very thin paint) or using a straight edge and a very fine draftsman's pen. Or often... just not bothering because just the paint of the full scale aircraft filled the line.
I'm working on (excessively slowly...) a 107 inch span Me-262 and at appx 1/5 scale the majority of panel lines should be invisible from 3 feet. In some paint schemes (because of the lightly applied paint late in the war to save paint) the "bondo" would show through as a COLOR variation with wavy edges, but NO dirt filled joint between panels because the joint is filled with the "bondo" (whatever the putty was the Germans used, it was light tan) The planes that only had the putty but no paint other than markings had the slightly wavy putty about 2 to 3 inches wide covering the flush rivets and panel joints. You'd see the putty, not the panel edge or rivets.
Often the only panel lines we should actually see on the models would be the edges of access hatches, doors and where the canopy could open.
Even on the 70+ year old aircraft, if you go look at them from appx 20 ft away (close to what you should see at 3 ft from a 1/6 scale model) YOU OFTEN CAN'T SEE THE PANEL LINES.
Don't overdo your panel lines.
Look at actual photos of the aircraft. Often from 20 ft the panel lines are just that... FINE lines, if visible at all. But on models of these same aircraft, the panel lines are represented by HEAVY lines even when on the full sale they were putty filled, sanded and painted to become invisible.
Almost every EPO "scale" model has deeply molded in panel lines where the lines actually might be better represented by using an X-acto to carefully scribe the line then going over the model with a weathering "wash" (very thin paint) or using a straight edge and a very fine draftsman's pen. Or often... just not bothering because just the paint of the full scale aircraft filled the line.
I'm working on (excessively slowly...) a 107 inch span Me-262 and at appx 1/5 scale the majority of panel lines should be invisible from 3 feet. In some paint schemes (because of the lightly applied paint late in the war to save paint) the "bondo" would show through as a COLOR variation with wavy edges, but NO dirt filled joint between panels because the joint is filled with the "bondo" (whatever the putty was the Germans used, it was light tan) The planes that only had the putty but no paint other than markings had the slightly wavy putty about 2 to 3 inches wide covering the flush rivets and panel joints. You'd see the putty, not the panel edge or rivets.
Often the only panel lines we should actually see on the models would be the edges of access hatches, doors and where the canopy could open.
Even on the 70+ year old aircraft, if you go look at them from appx 20 ft away (close to what you should see at 3 ft from a 1/6 scale model) YOU OFTEN CAN'T SEE THE PANEL LINES.
Don't overdo your panel lines.
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