Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I don't mind having a black dot instead, although i have always considered making actual holes, maybe in the future.

I'm terrible at painting, so drilling out the barrels is very cathartic for me.

How do you expect your models to be able to shoot if you don't drill out their gun barrels?

I used to, but I just find with the tendency of mold lines to raise the center point of the barrel, its just not worth the effort of trying to get them perfectly centered to look right. It's much easier to paint and looks about the same.

 LunarSol wrote:
I used to, but I just find with the tendency of mold lines to raise the center point of the barrel, its just not worth the effort of trying to get them perfectly centered to look right. It's much easier to paint and looks about the same.

Take a flat file and run it across the end of the barrel a few times. It helps.

Some people recommend scraping an “X” on the barrel to center the bit. I’ve never gotten this method to work. (Maybe you need a panel line scribe or some similar Gundam tool?) I take the bit and work it back and forth a little to find the center before I apply pressure and drill.

To answer the poll question, I do it for bolters on up. I like it. But I don’t nag others.