Eldar Vehicle Model Lines Question

[Crotch Lictor]

Question for all you Eldar painters out there. I'm looking for a good (lazy) option for coloring in the lines on the Eldar tanks. By that, I mean the molded lines that break up the surface of every Eldar tank. The recessed ones. I've tries some pens, and while they work well, the pen seems to only work for a few lines, then they cease and desist with the ink flow.

I know the regular option of using a small brush and just painting like a big boy, but I'm looking for a good shortcut. Anyone out there have any luck with any particular brand of pen? Ideas on why the pens quit on me? Something else?

[Image]

Question for all you Eldar painters out there. I'm looking for a good (lazy) option for coloring in the lines on the Eldar tanks. By that, I mean the molded lines that break up the surface of every Eldar tank. The recessed ones. I've tries some pens, and while they work well, the pen seems to only work for a few lines, then they cease and desist with the ink flow.

I know the regular option of using a small brush and just painting like a big boy, but I'm looking for a good shortcut. Anyone out there have any luck with any particular brand of pen? Ideas on why the pens quit on me? Something else?

1) Prime Black (or your chosen colour for the recesses)
2) Avoid paint getting in the recesses
3) ???
4) Profit!

[Lane]

Gundam Markers?

[therealjohnny5]

paint up to your next to last color, then go back and wash the recesses carefully with whatever wash you want. Finish the rest of the model after a wash or two.

[Mystery.Shadow]

Super lazy method:

Paint the model to near-completion.
Rub crayon on the cracks.
Wipe off raised surfaces.
Done!

[Lordgimpet]

trick I used on my Falcons is one i learned when doing Gundam kits as the panel lines are much smaller than a falcon and as a result far easier to do on a falcon,

I start off using an oil based acrylic like the Tamiya color range and dilute it with the required thinner
then using a fine brush i load it up and place a drop in a corner or an intersection of where multi lines meet
and like magic it runs along the detail line if i get any where i dont want it when I place the starting dot i clean this up with a cotton tip /Q-tip.

If it stops half way i place another dot at the end and it joins up.

this method can be done with water but not as effectivly and the paint surface can affect how the water behaves.

hope this helps

[RedScorpionsGirl]

Question for all you Eldar painters out there. I'm looking for a good (lazy) option for coloring in the lines on the Eldar tanks. By that, I mean the molded lines that break up the surface of every Eldar tank. The recessed ones. I've tries some pens, and while they work well, the pen seems to only work for a few lines, then they cease and desist with the ink flow.

I know the regular option of using a small brush and just painting like a big boy, but I'm looking for a good shortcut. Anyone out there have any luck with any particular brand of pen? Ideas on why the pens quit on me? Something else?

Artist Pitt Pens work for this beautifully. Unlike sharpie markers which will colour purple over time, the India Ink found in the Pitt Pens stays black. Works over all paints (haven't found one that doesn't work yet) and because there's several sizes you can get, from xs to xl you can get one that will fill in the cracks nicely with inky black colour. Run about 4.00/each, and can be found at hobby lobby. Also come in metallic, but those are single size.

Link to the Pitt Pen http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/pitt-artist-pen-820134/

I use these regularly for lining guard tank panels, and such. Still choose to freehand names and the like on banners, but for recesses these have become a staple in my paint box.

[Lordgimpet]

trick I used on my Falcons is one i learned when doing Gundam kits as the panel lines are much smaller than a falcon and as a result far easier to do on a falcon,

I start off using an oil based acrylic like the Tamiya color range and dilute it with the required thinner
then using a fine brush i load it up and place a drop in a corner or an intersection of where multi lines meet
and like magic it runs along the detail line if i get any where i dont want it when I place the starting dot i clean this up with a cotton tip /Q-tip.

If it stops half way i place another dot at the end and it joins up.

this method can be done with water but not as effectivly and the paint surface can affect how the water behaves.

hope this helps

[Crotch Lictor]

Some good ideas. thanks. The models I'm working on now are already airbrushed so some tips might not apply, but I see some that should. Thanks!

[Crotch Lictor]

trick I used on my Falcons is one i learned when doing Gundam kits as the panel lines are much smaller than a falcon and as a result far easier to do on a falcon,

I start off using an oil based acrylic like the Tamiya color range and dilute it with the required thinner
then using a fine brush i load it up and place a drop in a corner or an intersection of where multi lines meet
and like magic it runs along the detail line if i get any where i dont want it when I place the starting dot i clean this up with a cotton tip /Q-tip.

If it stops half way i place another dot at the end and it joins up.

this method can be done with water but not as effectivly and the paint surface can affect how the water behaves.

hope this helps

Any idea on how much to dilute? I like this idea and want to try it.

[Crotch Lictor]

Update.

Used the enamel paint technique. Either my primer didn't like the paint, or I didn't thin enough for it to just run down the lines, but it was thin enough that I could use an 18/0 brush and just paint it down the lines fairly easily. I was pleased with the result. The fact that I wanted green lines was why a lot of the ink suggestions didn't work for me.

The model still needs a little touch up lovin' and the energy shield winglets glued on, but it's close. 3 down, 2 Falcons, 2 Fire Prisms/Nightspinners to go.

[HarlekissofDeath]

Man up!

[jwentzel]

Use a pencil, it works well, I believe the technique was covered in the Imperial Armor Masterclass book from Forgeworld.

[Lordgimpet]

Hmm. it was a case of trial and error but i think I used almost strait thinner with enough colour to change it.
gimmie a week or so and if I got time ill see if I can make a guide up. just really busy at the moment

I like the colour sceme :D

[Crotch Lictor]

Man up!

I DID! :D

Turns out it only takes about 30 min to go over all the lines on the top chassis.

[Crotch Lictor]

Hmm. it was a case of trial and error but i think I used almost strait thinner with enough colour to change it.
gimmie a week or so and if I got time ill see if I can make a guide up. just really busy at the moment

I like the colour sceme :D

Thanks!

I may add more thinner when I hit the rest of the tanks to see if that helps.