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How To Scribe (re-scribe)
I rescribe a good number of my models, usually the models with raised panel lines. Many modelers
seam to be afraid of this technique. It is not that hard. If you can draw a straight line with a ruler and a
pencil you have all the talent need to scribe models.
Lets start with the tools I use when I scribe my models. From the bottom up, Scribing tool (in this case
a scribing tool by Bare Metal Foil), various metal scribing templates (the warped metal things, Dyno
Tape (blue tape on the right of the picture, liquid cement, and the model.
The basic technique is to hold a template to the model and pull the scribing tool along the edge of the
template.
When you have several line scribed it will look like this. Top is before, bottom is after. When I rescribe
models with raised panel lines, if the panel lines are in the correct locations I do not sand off the raided
panel lines at first. I use then as guide where to hold the templates. They get sanded off in the next step.
Next I sand the piece down with a light grit sanding stick. This takes off the edges on the scribed panel
lines.
The next step took me a while to work out. That is how to clean out the scribed lines after sanding. The
best way I found is to trace the scribed lines with liquid cement. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense at
first but when you realize that the cement “melts” the plastic together when used on plastic dust it is so
strong that it dissolves the plastic dust leaving a clean scribed line. It also will leave a sheen on the
plastic so it is very easy to see where you are on the model if you leave and come back later.
The blue Dyno tape is used on compound curves. Trying to hold a template on a compound curve is
taxing to say the least. I cut short section as I need them and then cut those in half lengthwise. The
Dyno tape will be good for only two or three uses before it loses its tackiness.
One last trick I use when scribing is to wad up an old tee shirt under the model. This allows me to
position the model in most any position to make getting the any part of the model easier. You will find
out by trial and error on that one.
In the picture above you can tell that I have rescribed the front part of the fuselage on the Blackbird by
the sheen on the forward panel lines/