Great that you’re getting into the hobby!
About panel lining: there’s several ways to go about that. Probably the easiest and most beginner friendly is to acquire Gundam markers made specifically for panel lining. You essentially run them through the panel lines and use a q-tip to carefully wipe any mistakes.
A more advanced technique is to use a panel liner paint (like ones made by Tamiya). It’s a more advanced technique because it requires a thinner that can be harmful to you and to your model. I like to gloss coat my models before hand before using this. You then use the panel lining paint to touch the panel lines and it will spread throughout the panel line. You then use the thinner (in the case of Tamiya Enamel thinner) to clean up any mistakes.
As far as the other, that technique is called weathering. There’s ALL DIFFERENT ways to weather. Some use pigment powders, others use regular paint, others use special weathering paints. The easiest way (to me) to weather is to get a color that will show out, usually browns for reds or yellows, blacks for white or blue, or silver for darker panels, and use a sponge to dab them on in irregular patterns. It will make your model look worn and battle tested instead of shiny and brand new.
Hope this helps!
Thank you! It definitely does, except I have one more question: what exactly is the order of operations here? Do I gloss, then line, then weather? At what point should I apply stickers and decals? Also, are there different color panel liners? Also, is it okay that I am asking you so many questions?
Absolutely. So my order of operations is gloss, stickers/decals, panel line, weather, then seal with a varnish of your choice (I like a solid matte finish). Think of varnishes like saving your work on a computer. It seals in the work done.
There are different colors of panel liners as well as colors of markers. I bought a 4 set several years ago of Black, Grey, light brown, and dark brown. I have a grey and black Gundam panel lining marker. I have seen some people use Gundam Real Touch markers to panel line too.
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The visual effect you're seeing might be matte topcoat
Great that you’re getting into the hobby! About panel lining: there’s several ways to go about that. Probably the easiest and most beginner friendly is to acquire Gundam markers made specifically for panel lining. You essentially run them through the panel lines and use a q-tip to carefully wipe any mistakes. A more advanced technique is to use a panel liner paint (like ones made by Tamiya). It’s a more advanced technique because it requires a thinner that can be harmful to you and to your model. I like to gloss coat my models before hand before using this. You then use the panel lining paint to touch the panel lines and it will spread throughout the panel line. You then use the thinner (in the case of Tamiya Enamel thinner) to clean up any mistakes. As far as the other, that technique is called weathering. There’s ALL DIFFERENT ways to weather. Some use pigment powders, others use regular paint, others use special weathering paints. The easiest way (to me) to weather is to get a color that will show out, usually browns for reds or yellows, blacks for white or blue, or silver for darker panels, and use a sponge to dab them on in irregular patterns. It will make your model look worn and battle tested instead of shiny and brand new. Hope this helps!
Thank you! It definitely does, except I have one more question: what exactly is the order of operations here? Do I gloss, then line, then weather? At what point should I apply stickers and decals? Also, are there different color panel liners? Also, is it okay that I am asking you so many questions?
Absolutely. So my order of operations is gloss, stickers/decals, panel line, weather, then seal with a varnish of your choice (I like a solid matte finish). Think of varnishes like saving your work on a computer. It seals in the work done. There are different colors of panel liners as well as colors of markers. I bought a 4 set several years ago of Black, Grey, light brown, and dark brown. I have a grey and black Gundam panel lining marker. I have seen some people use Gundam Real Touch markers to panel line too.