Detailing Grilles

Hey everyone

I'm trying to give myself motivation to get some kits done. One thing that worries me when finishing them off is detailing exterior parts especially grilles.

I read alot on here about doing a wash on these parts. Can someone give me some insight into how you go about doing this? I like the outcome that I see on some of your builds.

Correct me if I am wrong but this technique can be used to give some depth to panel gaps as well can it not?

Cheers
AJ

Correct. I like to use enamels for my washes, it just needs to be thinned out to run.
You can also buy water based washes from The Games Workshop, ask Chris about these as he seems to get good results from them.
Panel lines are a bear for me, but I still do it. Basically you want to go a shade darker than what your paintwork is. Unless it's a dark coloured car, black panel lines look too heavy and unrealistic.
There is a tutorial on it under this section just scroll through.

for chrome grilles u can also simply paint with flat black paint and before the paint dries wipe the grill with a tissue the paint will be wiped of all the high spots leaving black paint in all the crevases

For grilles I use Humbrol satin black (number 85). I just slap it on really thick and then take off the excess with a cotton tip. Once it's dry (give it at least 24 hours) I then give it another polish with a cotton tip to get the detail. The paint won't stick treal well to the chrome and comes off easily. You can also use a sharp toothpick to get the hard to reach spots. Once this is dry you can also add a coat of Tamiya 'smoke' for added depth like this:





In terms of panel gaps, if you want the best possible result, forget about the washes and just scribe them out with the back of a #11 blade before paint. This gives extra depth that won't fill up with paint and creates a realistic shadow. I am yet to see a wash that looks anywhere near as good as this technique.

I usually spend an hour or so doing this before primer. I do about 20 passes per line (10 each way) but it depends on plastic thickness. Just do as many as you can without cutting through or making the body too weak. Like most things in this hobby after a few bodies it becomes surprisingly quick and easy and you get very realistic results like this:

For panel gaps I combine Bryces scribing technique with washes.
I use a thinned Tamiya smoke wash as it is clear enough to allow some of the body colour to show through but dark enough to add depth.
I find a wash is often necessary to hide the dried polish in the gaps...
Black The Detailer is alos good for the gaps. Just make sure it hasn't partially dried out as then it looks too dark.
I like the Tamiya smoke & The detailer as they are both water soluble while wet and so will wipe off with a wet cotton bud. It also helps to wax the body before washing the gaps as then excess will definately not stick to the paint.

This is a smoke wash

And this is The Detailer that has got a bit dried up. As you can see it is too dark and doesn't look right.


I have also read of puting black into the panel gaps before putting on the colour coats. The theory being it darkens the colour coat in that area. I've tried it but it didn't work. Maybe my paint was too heavy though.

Thanks for the tips guys, its much appreciated.

I will definately be giving them a go on a couple of kits I am building and see which works best for me.

Once again cheers

Bryce, that Crown Vic... BAAAD ride!!!!

Need more pics on the bad arse Victoria lease
Rod

fat141 wrote:Need more pics on the bad arse Victoria lease
Rod

.......search function will find it in the showroom somewhere mate!!

Paul wrote:

fat141 wrote:Need more pics on the bad arse Victoria lease
Rod

.......search function will find it in the showroom somewhere mate!!

The search function on here is next to useless! After half an hour I still couldn't find that thread and had to go back to my photobucket to look up what I called it... I've bumped it in the showroom - thanks for the nice words!

Thanks for that, will go check it out
Rod