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Guys,

Anyone has a simple tip to draw straight lines on vehicules, for, let's say, heraldry. Most of my lines looks blurry, even when I try using a straight paper guideline...

Any good tips ?


Seb.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Lines look like that :

Straight lines can be a pain in the arse. Try using masking tape and then painting from the tape to the model using a lightly loaded brush (helps to prevent paint from seeping back under the tape and creating a horrible line).

If you got a steady hand using a brush with long bristles and dragging it in the direction of the stripe edges usually works. Not many miniature painters use longbristle brushes though... The kind im thinking of is used by custom auto painters making pinstripes... Those with steady hands use these brushes, others use masking tape. The bristles are about 4 times as long (or more) as an ordinary GW brush.

Id say masking tape, but me and masking tape have a history....

I'll give you two options that are related to the above posts.

1 Go to an office supply store and pick up some chart tape, you'll find it along side the lettering and drafting supplies. Chart tape is narrow and thin so it will follow curves and uneven surfaces better than masking tape. Now this is where you make a choice as to how you use the tape, if you just need a cheat or speed line spray the lines color first and when it's dry use the tape to mask off the lines. If, you need a wider line, use the chart tape to mask the outside edges and then use masking tape to back fill behind the chart tape and then brush or spray away.

2 If you prefer to brush freehand, go to an automotive store that carries paint and body repair items, ask the clerk for a "pin striping" brush. This has a short handle but the bristles are set in a way that it looks like a knife, you'll also notice that it comes to a nice point. Just dip it into your paint and hold the thing almost sideways and draw out the line. This is good only for long flat surfaces and curves, remember it's intended for cars, so on a SM or IG vehicle it will just make a mess. Don't ask me how I know this.

Of the two, option one is your safest bet.

Practice, practice, practice. I practiced with painting military lettering without stencils. Now my lines are straight as a railgun shot.

I second using masking tape if you're not steady, but I recommend hitting the tape (especially the edge) w/ a coat of varnish to help keep the seepage issue down.

If you burnish the edge facing the paint you won't need to seal it with varnish. All you have to do is run the blunt end of a paint brush or the end of a hobby knife ( not the blade end) over the demarcation line the tape should seal well. Remember the more coats of anything you apply is going to leave a very slight step.
There are actually burnishing tools available but in the 40+ years I've been building kits never bought one, the brushtip works fine for me. Just make sure the tip is a little wider than the tape for better controll

SilverMK2 wrote:Try using masking tape and then painting from the tape to the model using a lightly loaded brush (helps to prevent paint from seeping back under the tape and creating a horrible line).

This, but I'd add a few points:

-Lay your strip of tape down on your cutting mat, first, and grab a straightedge and knife. While it may be good enough for painting lines on walls, 28mm stuff needs as clean an edge as possible, so give one side a trim to get it nice and crisp.

-Burnishing the tape down is a good idea here - anything smooth and flat-ish should work, from the back of a hobby knife to sculpting tools.

-Where SilverMK2 says "lightly loaded brush," I would also advise you leave your paint on the thick side, to prevent seepage. Essentially, you're drybrushing with more paint than usual and on a flat surface. If you don't overload the brush, you can actually maintain a rather smooth finish without taking years to get total coverage.