[hworth18]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

This is precisely the point. It's not a question of ink or no ink. Instead, its a matter of degree. I voted for inking in this poll, but I am very unhappy with the apparent lack of flexibility by the factories, especially when they are dealing with lightly colored surfaces. Can't the inking be toned down in such cases by using a medium gray rather than black? I agree that the inked HM Avenger looks far more realistic than the Corgi-distributed version of this plane and that goes for the F-6F also...but primarily on the dark upper surfaces. Turn the models over to expose their bottoms and the lines are overly emphasized.

I'll have to agree to disagree with folks that say the HM Hellcat/Avenger looks better than the Corgi version.. I think the Corgi Predator version looks SO much better without the wash. And for those that like the wash, but only to a degree, that would be fine on some models, but as Skunky pointed out, no manufacturer can seem to grasp the right technique.

I brought this topic back up because the more collectors I talk to, the more I hear don't like the panel lines, just because they make the model too "IXOish" or toyish.. And I have to agree.....

[kabelace]

Till they learn how to do it in a more subdue fashion I say NO. Most of the inked panel lines look like my 4 year old great nephew got a hold of the model and ran a pen down the lines.

[STARMAN 352ND]

A very light inked panel line is ok on some of the planes but not all of them.
But i still picked "NO" because i think some panel lines are just too wide
on some of the their planes.
JP

[lanslide]

Black panel lines are very unrealistic to me. I've never seen a real aircraft with this weathering. It just looks artsy. I vote no.

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by hworth18

I'll have to agree to disagree with folks that say the HM Hellcat/Avenger looks better than the Corgi version.. I think the Corgi Predator version looks SO much better without the wash. And for those that like the wash, but only to a degree, that would be fine on some models, but as Skunky pointed out, no manufacturer can seem to grasp the right technique.

I brought this topic back up because the more collectors I talk to, the more I hear don't like the panel lines, just because they make the model too "IXOish" or toyish.. And I have to agree.....

I can see your point. In fact if they give us reasonably deep---but not too deep---panel lines, I'm perfectly willing to weather my models more realistically before displaying them. So I can go either way for most Hobby Master, Corgi, FOV and even Dragon models. The problem arises with Witty planes and ,to a lesser extent Gemini's product, when the panel lines---even if scaled accurately--don't permit me to use a wash effectively.

[Cruver Collecter]

If done right, highlighting the panel lines really can bring out detail on a model. In the past I would use a drafting pencil to highlight the panel lines. The light grey did not standout as much as inking with black. Some of the models I have seen have been a little over done, but last few I have had from Hobby Master have looked great.

[lanslide]

But black panel lines do not happen in real life! Why are we trying to bring out the detail with this technique when it is sooooo unrealistic? Just because it looks good?

[Old Crow]

I voted yes, but with a caveat. I think some method of highlighting panel lines is preferable, if done correctly. If it cannot be done correctly, then I would probably say no.

From my observation of real aircraft, panel lines are apparent. This is usually due to various factors, such as an actual gap or slight separation in height, or weathering which gets caught in a groove or gap. "Inked panel lines" or "black panel lines" is, in my opinion, a bit of a misnomer. I would still like to see what HM or some other company could do if they used, for example, a light gray wash or some similar technique to highlight panel lines.

[Hoverbug]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

This is precisely the point. It's not a question of ink or no ink. Instead, its a matter of degree. I voted for inking in this poll, but I am very unhappy with the apparent lack of flexibility by the factories, especially when they are dealing with lightly colored surfaces. Can't the inking be toned down in such cases by using a medium gray rather than black? I agree that the inked HM Avenger looks far more realistic than the Corgi-distributed version of this plane and that goes for the F-6F also...but primarily on the dark upper surfaces. Turn the models over to expose their bottoms and the lines are overly emphasized.

You nailed it!

[lanslide]

Panel lines are represented on models as grooves since there is no other way to represent them. Why make a bad thing worse by exaggerating them? At least just let their shadows do the work like the real thing - sort of.