How to paint Raised Detail - Scale Modelling

A video on a technique I use to paint raised details on scale model kits. I will show you two examples, and two slightly different methods on how to accomplish this. Plastic Modelling.

[@UnMatesito]

I really like you tutorial are very useful

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thankyou. Appreciate it.

[@user-sd5go4rr4i]

So a really steady hand and good eyesight. Well the leaves me out.

[@crankfastle7919]

The steady hand gets better with practice. I started off really shaky but then got way better with time and practice

[@B.Wildered]

Thanks mate for doing this. Wish I’d seen this years ago.

[@piperthirtytwo]

I freakin love this video! I am currently on my first build since i was a kid and I am now 45. I am taking my time to build the Revell 1:48 Top Gun Maverick F-14 and all I got is RAISED lines. I was able to take the landing bay doors that have a ton of raised detail on them [edit:(hoses, clamps and other unknown metal items)] and after watching this I went back to them and "improvised" with techniques that YOU showed me and I am so proud of myself that I was able to put into play something I had just learned. Thank you for your work and I look forward to all your other videos!

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks for the comment Mathew mate. I am really glad that my video helped. Hope the F 14 turned out fine.

[@walterchadwell3318]

2023 just came across this but thank you. Very good work you do. Thanks.

[@richardcoward7234]

Love this video! What an artist you are. You sound so humble too. So much so that I am now a subscriber! Looking forward to reviewing your other videos and learning much before I start my next project. I’m just getting back into the hobby after many years away so finding wonder in the builders, constructors and artists who now populate this hobby. What a great time to get back!

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

I really appreciated your comment. I try to be humble, wether I am or not is for others to judge.

[@michaelcooke2559]

That is a very interesting way to paint raised details. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for the tip.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

No worries mate.

[@antoniovasquez9996]

You have just saved me a lot of frustration from painting detail. Thanks for posting.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

No worries mate, appreciate the comment.

[@user-ot7kp4vj7u]

Straight and to the point commentary. Thank you...

[@charlescastell4638]

Out-freakin'-standing! I've got to try this; thanks much.

[@franky_p_CarModelArt]

Great tutorial. The result looks proffesional.👍

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jeffmurphree2937]

Very nice! Thank you for sharing this.

[@warc8us]

beautiful work, came out really good. seeing a few critical comments on here which blows my mind. extremely fine detail work especially considering the scale...I will be using your technique for sure!

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thankyou much appreciated. I dont let the negativity bother me as long as they arent rude.

[@doris777dog]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So that's how it's done!! Superb!!!!!!

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks mate

[@fridonina]

Now that looks nice ! Thanks for the tip

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

No worries.

[@AlbertD711]

Great idea. Thank you.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Your welcome.

[@triwiratjandra9461]

nice technique.. really useful for me. Thanks a lot!

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

No worries. Your welcome

[@alexeyermakov7958]

Nice technic! Thank you very much!👍🏻

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

No worries mate.

[@leslieosborne904]

It’s really bloody good tutorial mate

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks mate

[@keithsmodelsandrcs6593]

Very cool handy tip for my engine painting i just subbed to u my moddeling freind only modelling 2years still lots to learn glad u done this video im mainly motor vehicles but i will be trying new other stuff soon but again thanks for sharing i enjoyed ill be watching more as im new to ur sub count, 👍👍👍Keith

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks mate. Appreciate the comment.

[@user-sd5go4rr4i]

So really good eyesight and a steady hand. Well that leaves me out.

[@animalyze7120]

Alternatively and far easier way would be to drybrush the raised details until details were crisp and clear, then just shoot a coat of matte clear over it to lock it in. Good video and nice idea, always good to know multiple ways to achieve something.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks for the feedback. Ive already done a video on that and jts called how to highight raised detail. This technique helps paint the sides of the raised bits too as i discussed in the video

[@jthompson1080]

You're awesome man that is so cool

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Some great tips!

[@everythingrc2324]

Amazing, thank you!

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Glad you liked it!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Nice video, thanks for sharing!!! 👍👍👍

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks mate

[@stevecam724]

Thank you very much 👍👍👍

[@ModelkitStuff]

Brilliant video

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thankyou.

[@uncut_cowboy]

What size brush?

[@bradm8205]

Hello! Thank you for this video! So much to learn to really build a model properly. Do you have to split between enamels and acrylics as you did? Will all acrylic paints not work?

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

It might work if you have a large item with large raised detail. You can try with all acrylics but you would have to gloss coat your part after each paint colour, which will increase the thickness of the total coat of paint, making it difficult to paint smaller details. In theory it might work, I dont know if it will actually work. Use an enamel or non acrylic gloss goat though to ensure that when you clean your paint spills with thinner you do not eat through your gloss coat. Hope that helps.

[@viper1597]

Nice technique.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks!

[@batingbunnies]

You could always drybrush those details on or take a piece of plasticard and put paint on the edge to get the details without much mess. Jun's Mini Garage does this quite often

[@mikejungferman4744]

You need to show us this, that's the way I've seen it done ,with a card 👍

[@Nambabwian]

Thank you for an excellent tutorial. I assume one can paint instrument panel dials and faces using this technique?

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

I havent tried it on an instrument panel. They are much smaller, that does change the dynamic as its harder to get into the gaps or raised detail. It might work.

[@angryyank]

so whatever type of paint used to do the raised parts wash with the same type thinner or opposite type?

[@tboyz1]

great tutorial - subbed :)

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks mate. Appreciate it.

[@artvandelay0073]

Great tutorial and greetings from the States! What technique do you use for paint detailing raised lettering or scripts on car bodies? 😄👍👌✌🇺🇸

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks mate. Thats a tricky one. I would use highlighting in that case. See my latest video for that technique.

[@mdd47]

I just did that same Skyline kit and had a hell of a hard time with that valve cover. Those little areas between the sparkplugs don't hold the color as well as you'd think, but I did mine in red.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Hope it worked out in the end.

[@darkwood777]

You can wait for the thinned overcoat to dry and then reapply additional overcoats. Eventually you will build up to an opaque paint coat. Also you may be thinning the overcoat a bit too much.

[@andrewjessett28]

Thanks for posting. Really informative video.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Razgriz911]

what brush did you use for this? excellent tips im learning so much!

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

I honestly can't remember now. Any detail brush should be fine, Army painter does some good ones

[@mxboy96]

mic drop! Haha. That's awesome! Thanks for the tip

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

No worries mate. Appreciate the comment.

[@kevinu6004]

Looking to invest in tamiya paints soon but in the meantime, would normal acylic do an alright job or any other cheaper brands/options?

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

It should work too, as long as it maintains some consistency when thinned.

[@mwilliams1854]

great approach, thanks for sharing. One question, at the beginning you comment that the enamel was to cover all the parts. So did you paint the whole part first, then the detail, followed by the wash. or as the part bare when you started?

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

I painted the part with enamel first

[@mwilliams1854]

@@ScaleModellingVideos thanks for the reply

[@robinhooduk8255]

i guess thats one way to skin a cat, although still seems more work and a worse/rough result than spraying a light silver laquer base and then spraying a enamel gray. and uing a qtip in lighter fluid to rub away the gray from raised areas. that way is still better in my opinion as not hand painting which leaves uneven finish. but if not airbrusing, i guess thats a way to go.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Yeah but that way the edges of the raised part are still not painted the right color. Because the q tip will only take paint off the top not the edge. I do agree that the finish would be better. Thanks for the comment.

[@robinhooduk8255]

@@ScaleModellingVideos oh yeah thats true, alot of people seem to not like the fact the sides of raised detail are not silver. i dont have problem with it, but others ddo mention it alot. cheers

[@GrandNational66]

Enamel base the piece in gray...once cured then apply silver acrylic craft paint over the raised sections...then using a wet and a dry tooth pick you can rub out any excess...once dry you can pledge over it to protect it from chipping you can also add pledge to the craft paint as it self levels as they are both acrylic.

[@AFV85]

You can also lay down the silver over the whole thing you have the lettering to be in acrylic then paint the grey over the top of that with enamel then dampen the cotton bud with thinner and rub over the raised detail lettering and the acrylic will show through perfectly without the need for used washes that leave tide marks

[@darkwood777]

That requires a very steady hand. I would use Tamiya 87105 extra small pointed buds which would give you much more precision that a regular cotton bud.

[@LastBastian]

@@darkwood777 Hey guys, what is a "bud"? ...cotton or otherwise.

[@CortxVortx]

I twist a paper towel into a blunt "stub" and moisten it with thinner. The flatter the stub, the better. Lightly brush across the raised detail several times without much pressure (to avoid taking off the underlying acrylic).

[@uncut_cowboy]

​@@LastBastiancotton swab = cotton bud = Q-tip

[@Grunchy005]

Fantastic technique! But I have a question, why is it necessary to alternate the acrylic and the enamel? Also let's say I paint the raised in enamels, you then make a wash out of the acrylic? How is that, do you just add some water?

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks for the feedback. I use Tamiya X20 Acrylic Thinner to make an acrylic wash. I alternate the paint so I do not damage the underlying paint with the paint I put on top, hope that makes sense.

[@darkwood777]

Not all acrylics are the same. For example, Tamiya, AK, and Vallejo acrylics are all different. Stick with the recommended thinners for each.

[@tntlife73]

Thanks for the tips why use separate brushes

[@ashtondickens2005]

For cars, If I want to paint the interior a different color than the exterior do you have any tips on doing that? Like the sequence of events, or when and how I should do what? Anyone answer if you have tips, I'm building my first car model.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Check out my Nissan Skyline Build and also the Tamiya Supra build as well. I Think the interiors were coloured different.

[@thescalemodelcarguychannel8681]

Great tutorial brother

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks as always mate

[@thescalemodelcarguychannel8681]

@@ScaleModellingVideos your welcome my friend

[@leslieosborne904]

Thankyou

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Your welcome

[@SprueFascinationChannel]

Nice technique mate 👍

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks mate appreciate it.

[@TJRohyans]

Were the parts/pieces bare plastic when you started, or was there a primer used beforehand?

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Bare plastic. I didnt prime the parts. You can choose to do so.

[@tiger_icecoldlive6762]

You don’t need a primer, if you are using enamel paints as the first coat.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

That is true. Appreciate the comment.

[@mikejungferman4744]

I don't know why but all the types of paint are mind boggling, and im a handyman! I only know oil and water based paint, which is acrylic i think, anyway awesome job looks like you used oil and acrylic to achieve the results

[@richardh1764]

I thought you were British until you said aloominum. great video by the way.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

I'm an Ozie if your still wondering.

[@richardh1764]

@@ScaleModellingVideos I thought I heard the ozie twang Good on ya. To be honest I dont have a problem where you were from but thought only Americans called it aloominium

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

@@richardh1764 Honestly I have no idea how its pronounced :)

[@johnmclean6498]

@@ScaleModellingVideos Here's a clue : Al U minium...Americans coined it something else, just like hostil (hostile) and Missil (missile). My favourite rant! Good work on the video mate.

[@lorbor1050]

Do you need to add primers before painting these small parts?

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

If you use Acrylic paint as your base I would recommend you prime.

[@redzack1983]

what Brush should i use for small details?

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

I just use one with a pointy end, never really knew the sizes. A good one is the Army Painter Insane Detail brush.

[@2shoestoo]

A 12” roller

[@racim86]

👍🏻 ok

[@c123bthunderpig]

Detailing seems to be in the eye of the beholder, I know your a great model master, I just didn't see a difference in the part you were trying to highlight. Maybe my screen is too small or the part was to small. Filming through a lighted hobby magnifying glass might have brought it out more clearly. I'll stick with my current technique for now and catch you on the next one.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

No worries mate, thanks for the feedback. By the way, I am just an average modeller with a bit of instructional experience.

[@darkwood777]

It was very obvious to me.

[@LastBastian]

Turned out great! But: 1- How the heck do you NOT get the wash color all over the top of everything when you're not wiping as you go? (I've done tons of washes, and it *ALWAYS* darkens *EVERYTHING* even with wiping, let alone *NOT* quickly wiping excess) 2- How the heck are you going back later and rubbing it with paint thinner *without* removing all the paint? This isn't making sense in my brain. Lol

[@TowMan127]

Very nice

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks mate.

[@serchmarc]

why you use enamel instead of X acrylic tamiya? whats the difference?

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

I use both enamel and acrylic.

[@gordonyork6638]

Should I worry about spilling the paint?

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

When painting raised detail, no. The spilled paint should be covered by the wash

[@MorsDengse]

2:47 is how my absolute best try would look

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Appreciate the feedback mate

[@SheepWaveMeByeBye]

MAGIC!

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks mate

[@oldthudman]

Try using an eraser (on pencil), dab in paint and lay on raised portions......Eraser come in various size

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks, thats highlighting though, and it doesnt paint the edges as well. This is more to do with actually painting all of the raised detail, not just the top of it.

[@lanewisdom6330]

Okay

[@adamchaszczewski5033]

A couple of points: 1. i know this is going on your finished model, but for a demo video using grey, silver & gloss black makes things blur together & gets a bit lost due to the angle of the light; 2. the music is horrible imo. otherwise good info.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Thanks for the feedback mate. Music is personal choice so each to their own.

[@Karsoncommander]

Only the bustle rack part left and I will finish the M1A2 sep tusk 2 , I may buy a Iraq T-55 Enigma to make a fighting scene between the M1A2 and the T55 , lol

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Sounds awesome mate. Goodluck.

[@Karsoncommander]

I finished the M1A2, did you watch my video?

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

@@Karsoncommander I cant see the video. Can you send me the link to your channel mate

[@Karsoncommander]

Here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/inrIh5eupteJgK8

[@Karsoncommander]

It's in my modeling channel

[@Karsoncommander]

Very nice ! But unfortunately I painted my M1A2 model already , even though it's not finished , I think that I made a huge mess just painting it , I will make a video about it after I finished , please don't dislike that video because I spent a lot of time painting it , I tried to paint the best I could , but I have faced a difficulty, the tank basket needs to cut a mesh to it so that I can put things in there , but I suck at cutting things , can you teach me how to do that if you have a model that needs to cut mesh ? Thanks !

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Karson mate don't worry about making mistakes. We learn by making mistakes mate. As for Cutting mesh, I don't have a model with mesh yet, when I get one I will definitely do one, but it wont be till next year maybe.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

I will check your video out mate. I will not dislike it brother.

[@Karsoncommander]

@@ScaleModellingVideos Umm it's in my modeling channel

[@Karsoncommander]

XD , I did not expect that you entered my main channel , but that's fine , I hope you enjoyed my videos

[@Karsoncommander]

But the video is not out yet because the model is "Almost Finished" , yes , it's not done because of the mesh part

[@mpetersen6]

Only I wish you had zoomed in some more.

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

Im still learning mate, but thanks for the feedback.

[@chansukkin2506]

怎麼搞的，字幕老把最重要的畫面蓋住了，叫人怎看？！

[@reddave8628]

Can I ask where you're from. Me and my wife couldn't place it. Sounds a bit Australian one minute the American the next and then a bit British 😂 👍

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

No worries mate. I am Ozzie and am from Townsville North Queensland. My accent is a but of a hybrid though and I have no explanation as to why.

[@kevinb9327]

?🤔

[@Dave-sg6om]

This is NOT the best or simplest way to do this by any means

[@ScaleModellingVideos]

This is NOT about highlighting raised detail, but painting it in its entirity. Including its edges. In any case if you have a better technique please share.