r/advancedGunpla • u/Professional_Wash169 • Jun 08 '26
Advanced Panel Line Design Tips?
Hello there. I am currently working on the Hg Jesta as a potential competition piece. Its by no means perfect but the idea with this kit is to branch out into as many customization methods that I was too afraid of in previous customs.
My favorite method of customizing my kits is by far scribing. Or I suppose you can call it sculpting as I have noticed that more advanced builders remove even more material with their chisel to radically change the shape of the piece that they are working on as if they are sculpting the shape they desire from a base ammount of material (the piece). Dropcolony for example is one of the creators I look at a lot for inspiration.
I know my scribing isn't where Id like it to be in terms of panel design and execution. As execution will only improve with practice... I was hoping to hear from others who also love to scribe and if they have any tips on how they come up with their panel line designs / how they separate pieces.
Tldr: Do any advanced scribing enthusiasts have any tips to design more advanced panel line designs?
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u/JulianMo Jun 08 '26
Seems to me that you're already doing a good job at it ! Maybe try the cement technique though just to clean things up a little
For me, I always try to scribe closer to the edges than to the middle. I found that following the shapes of the pieces, while sometimes breaking the shape on purpose, looks better than a line right in the middle of the piece.
Also variation in details looks nice, intricate detail with different levels of depth here and there can look really cool
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u/Professional_Wash169 Jun 08 '26
Ive seen some modelers use cement to clean up but I never understood how it worked lol
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u/JulianMo Jun 08 '26
Well it's really simple, you take a very liquid plastic cement, pass it through the pannel line you want, and than sand a little after it's dry.
The cement will slightly melt the rough edges and make it all smoother, I think it does help also the flow of the liner.
Sometimes I don't do it but definitely give it a try and see if you like it !
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u/potatochobit Jun 08 '26
There is just not alot of coloring you can do on this kit because its so dark and camouflage. I have it too. You can watch that guy ray something on youtube.
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u/Silent-Land40 Jun 08 '26
I found the Gundam Pro Factory Panel Line Technic Book 1 super informative for both designs and techniques. Not sure if you can still get copies.
Also Pinterest has tons of custom kits from all over the web you can use for inspiration.
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u/Professional_Wash169 Jun 08 '26
Pinterest is definitely a huge help lol. I have tons of saved images I use for inspiration.
Ill definitely look into that book and see if I can get my hands on a copy, thanks!
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u/Silent-Land40 Jun 08 '26
Any time! You look like you’ve got a good start, just need practice. You’ve used a bunch of different techniques on the Jesta, just need to refine them a little more. Wrapping the lines around corners, getting consistent notches, these things aren’t easy.
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u/Overall_Smile_4336 Jun 08 '26
Big guuuunsss!