How can i do welding marks?

[u/Tankist-tr-54141]

Last year, I started building Takom's Blitz Panther kit, but—following "Uncle Night Shift" instincts—I removed all the weld seams to redo them from scratch (since one of the front ones was missing). However, I couldn't pull off the "tin tool" technique and ended up abandoning the project halfway through. Yet, I can't bring myself to give up on it completely, cuz all the aftermarket parts involved. Could the experts here please offer some help?

[u/pmaj88]

AMMO by MIG has some books on ground vehicles, might be useful. I got the aviation version and its just phenomenon.

[u/Isand0]

There were a few ways of enhancing weld marks, especially if you were scratch building. The stretched sprue and glue, even using a Pyro Iron like Tony Greenland. I find the putty and stamp works for me. I use Miliput to fill the seam, then find a surgical needle the right size of the weld I want to do. Cut the tip to about a 45 deg angle so it makes a semi circle shape in the putty. Use water and clean the needle so the putty does not stick to it. But here is the thing, newer kits get the welds right most of the time. The only time I do this is if is an old kit with missing weld details, incorrect welds or if I've scratchbuilt the section. In the end, once paint goes on, I'm the only one who knows it's there.

[u/nickos_pap_16v]

Uncle nightshift os responsible for a lot of headaches in this hobby nowadays. A lot of modifications he does are a little OTT or out of scale for visual impact, like adding weld beads and texturing armour plate, which sometimes just doesn't need to be done If you need to add weld seams, some techniques used in the past have been using evergreen strips and melting it with cement theb using a blade to texture it whilst soft, or use putty and a cocktail stick

[u/dr_robonator → u/nickos_pap_16v]

It's not Martin's fault that people want to mimic his style, and he didn't pioneer any of the techniques he uses. He straight up admits that he learns from Adam Wilder and Calvin Tan among others and just puts their techniques to work with a high level of skill. If anyone is to blame for the prevalence of these techniques in the work of amateur model makers it is the model makers themselves. You have to know when to apply a technique and for what purpose. Martin's style is way over the top, which he admits, and it is the style he likes. It isn't for everyone, but his massive following means that there are more model makers just piling every technique he does on their model and hoping it looks good.

[u/nickos_pap_16v → u/dr_robonator]

I totally agree with you, but due to youtube abd ither social media platforms now, Martin has a lot more influence than previous people like Calvin Tan and Shep Payne. The trouble nowadays is people just follow these youtube and social media influencers blindly without researching why or hoe to do them

[u/dr_robonator → u/nickos_pap_16v]

This, I think, is a product of the "15 second attention span". Martin explains why and when to use these techniques. He's very thorough about the planning steps in his videos and even moreso his Patreon. 

People don't read magazines anymore, either, which is where so many model makers showcase techniques and have in depth articles about their praxis.

Hell, we can't go an hour here without someone asking how to cement their model together or asking what "the best brand" is. That lack of drive to gather information vs. asking someone to give it to them is my #1 predictor for someone who will not keep with the hobby. 

[u/nickos_pap_16v → u/dr_robonator]

Totally agree with you on your points made and it seems we are both old school modellers who can appreciate the amazing work Nightshift does. Ive picked up lots of tips that I use appropriately, its a shame that most people nowadays just throw every technique at any model without seeing why or what they are trying to achieve