Myth Exposed..."Black Door Lines on Your Model? Why?! They Don't Really Exist!" Hold...My...Beer

Even though it seems ridiculous to have to even broach the subject, I wanted to put the panel line debate in it's grave, once and for all.
If one seeks to build a realistic looking model, the body panel lines must be deepened and also darkened, it's that simple .
Hopefully, this video proves once and for all the futility of arguing otherwise ......

[@youknoweverything7643]

This is one of the legends in model building his videos are amazing and will make you a better modeler

[@productboy9658]

Problem is a lot of guys take a 1:25 scale car and put in a 1:12 scale body line.

[@greg1158]

Exactly. Especially on old cars, they had bigger gaps and were much more visible.

[@theguythehobbyshop7880]

the kit manfacturers wouldnt include them on their molded bodies if they were not there! this is a step that gets overlooked by alot builders most certainly. thank you for taking the time to bring this topic to the table

[@Riverrockphotos]

The car manufacturer and designer wouldn't include them either if they weren't there for a reason. designers love lines.

[@daphnedesrochers9599]

"Cant see the lines, can you Russ"?

[@markdesantis6325]

Agree with you 110%. Easiest way to ink is using a .05 marker pen!

[@rogerarmstrong8893]

Your builds are fantastic ! I have been building for years and learn something new all the time Love watching your video's many thanks to you sir.

[@jonathangodwin9410]

You're absolutely correct! It's always there. If there's a gap there's going to be a shadow line if will..... anyone who doesn't see one isn't looking!

[@biggstan870]

Absolutely, Mr. Yost. I've been all for adding the lines ever since I was introduced to the method in 2012.

[@kentphares5050]

Can’t get any simpler than that. Excellent video👍🏻

[@jimcollins4758]

Thank you so much I've been butting my head against a wall trying to get this across to thick headed people and if you don't mind I'll share this with sime of them

[@roberthenderson2580]

Same debate about panel lines on aircraft. Photos and real life viewing show that YES the panel lines do show up.

[@animalyze7120]

Yes but those are gaps or separation lines not paint. Shadow creates the visible lines not black paint underneath or some black wash. The problem with people and panel lines is they preshade or add paint for the effect but don't take into account light angles and it just ends up looking fake. Let light do the work and it'll be as real as it can, light touches work but full on paint just looks fake.

[@traviswright456]

I agree, the lines look better, more defined, and way more realistic. Thanks Don

[@weekendmodeller2740]

Many thanks for the information and great video, I am not a car builder but will be mindful to put one in if I build another car.

[@garyparker2969]

Thanks For Sharing Don n God Bless All

[@northernrush420]

Damn old man we thought you fell of the face of the earth...lol Welcome Back!!!

[@waynesmodelworld5503]

I thought everyone already knew that I use a sharpen #2 lead pencil works for me

[@nigelhutt9921]

Great video, short and to the point. Can I ask what you'd do with a black bodyshell to get the panel line effect but maintain a credible look please? Many thanks.

[@user-ll1js4wr4y]

Good job! You do great work ' ol man!

[@munchkinmodelingman72GAM2]

some folks you just gotta throw it in their face for them to understand , great video sir .

[@josephlfrazier9727]

I agree. And why did this even need to be explained? I didn't even have to watch this video to know this. Some people are just total idiots.

[@Anathema_Infinitum]

I develop computer games: we call this (absence of light) ‘ambient occlusion’. The light gets ‘occluded’ (aka stopped) and therefor darkens in recess (and even in the corner of a room you’ll get the effect). Directional light, where light shines directly on something, is when you do lose those shadows but even in the case of a door jamb, there are still recesses so shadows still occur.

[@ronstewart9792]

Great explanation and your Chevy looks awesome. Ron

[@jrod66ify]

You are right. Your builds speak for themselves. So clean.

[@styrenejunkie73]

True statement Old Man. Great video showing the facts. Keep doing your thing brother

[@timrhine2910]

Well said and I agree 100% Now what was that about the horse😂😂😂

[@CycolacFan]

Recently started using Tamiya's Panel Line Accent Color on, you guessed it, panel lines. Made a massive improvement. Great looking Chevy.

[@animalyze7120]

Used to mix my own now I just buy Tamyia's and call it done lol

[@Madlabmodels]

Yes sir.... nuff said!

[@arthurscott8583]

The genius of simplicity: "Black is the abscence of light" . . . . . boom boom. Nail on the head. If you don't address the issue light will reflect off of the door lines of a model but not out of the deep recesses of a 1:1 car. I am a total newbie to this art but I know a guru when I come across one. Thank you for what you do sir.

[@mikehundt7350]

Maybe some time , you could explain ascribing a line ,on just plain plastic,. I tried to , where there was no line, and whoops, the back of blade, doesn't want to stay straight. GREAT VIDEO

[@REKlaus]

I have not been a big believer in panel lines. But what I think my real problem is unrealistically too wide and dark panel lines. Stand back 25 feet from you car and see how wide and dark the panel separations look. Stand back 48, 72 or 144 feet from an airplane, and look at the panel lines. Does your model Look like that or is your panel line width and color to much?

[@anthonywise1535]

Thank you.

[@nlpnt]

I started using it on diecasts before my builds, I'd pick up a lot of diecast four-doors with opening doors only in front that needed the rear ones evened out.

[@000207poosh]

Amen Don!

[@caseyj5518]

Didn't even know that was a question!

[@militarymodellerpaul5932]

100% correct happy moderling.

[@alremley6754]

Ugh - to those complaining the panel line is too dark... You can thin your pigment, mix in more grey, etc to add the line but not have it so dark. For my black Tamiya wash, I thin it with mineral spirits and some grey or use brown panel liner with grey (depending on the paint of the car) and go at it. Another benefit of the thinned panel liner is that capillary action is improved providing better coverage with less pigment. Any excess can be easily wiped off with a q-tip dipped in a little mineral spirits - doesn't affect laquers. But if you use enamels, what the old man uses with india ink works great too. Thinning down your pigments keeps everything closer to scale.

[@anthonylockman4116]

im just getting back into model building after years of ...well life. i have learned a ton from your vids already and enjoy them! i am in search of custom parts (original crager s/s and aluminum slot wheels) but also other stuff like engines and such. could you possibly point me in the direction of quality distributors? i share your opinion on maintaining the integrity and quality of the hobby and i dont have enough of a steady hand to make my own stuff. thank you for any help you can give me and KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!

[@ScaleModelTechniques]

Check out Joe Cardoza on FaceBook. He owns JDS Racing . He has a top quality selection of aluminum wheels including Cragars and slotted wheels …..

[@mkennedy7431]

you are 1000% right mate

[@brentonnoel5189]

Hi, I have a kind of unusual project and really need some advice regarding primer colors for a special custom color automotive paint. Is there some way to contact you privately (email, etc.)? It's too complicated to ask about here. Much thanks, Blake

[@ScaleModelTechniques]

[e-mail]

[@brentonnoel5189]

@@ScaleModelTechniques Thanks! Email sent. :)

[@bigeddie1231]

yes sir i use a micron 005 tipped pen on my lines

[@robertmassucci1]

why does that red car have a kam back

[@jesseortega8598]

Exactly what he said.

[@rosemaryr.long-morgan9704]

Thanks Don, yes Your right obvious. I'm new to modeling & even I recognize that to look realistic they have to be incl. Take care, keep up the great videos!. Great Chevy!

[@ritaheggdal453]

A better alternative to ink would be thinned gouache paint. Just take a damp paper towel and wipe it off. I use oils myself.

[@a70dejavu8]

yes sir so true

[@bigchef2112]

Your right. Not enough ammo.🐴🔫 😤🤔😱

[@robertdoherty2001]

They can be a pain in the ass, but if you want extra realism of course you accent the join and seam lines. I lightly scribe with a compass point to remove embedded paint; hacking too much with a knife can result in raggedness which the ink will emphasize. Worth the effort.

[@BigLisaFan]

Seeing is believing.

[@jesseortega8598]

R.I.P Don!

[@bkmodelcars]

Great video. Great to see you what do I search on ooooooooooh Facebook. My paint has improved 💯 thank you thank you thank you I know your time is precious but would appreciate an opinion thanks again 😁😁😁👏👏👏👏👏👍✌️

[@Riverrockphotos]

Hello is there anybody there? The designer put the lines on the car so you would see them. You don't notice them because of how slick they are. If those black lines were missing along the door jambs the trunk line the windows or what have you the car would look weird. Anyone that says you don't need those lines on your model is absolutely an idiot and is not a serious model builder. The designers put it there for a reason. God people are dumb!

[@lordofthestings]

Black lines do exist but they are mostly fine lines. On most models I see, the black lines are too wide and too dark.

[@GDB18PSI]

The Silverado is parked in a no parking zone. Kidding.

[@ScaleModelTechniques]

Monkeybars718 Lmao ! Not quite ... This sign refers to parking in the street . Truck was sitting on Mom's property .... 😂

[@dennisneal4046]

Had the same disagreement. Guy insisted they didn't exist on a real car. I said, okay believe what you want. No sense in arguing with unknowing knowitalls.

[@tankscrittersandurbanhomes5579]

You think I should put the line in every model I build. I don't agree. You should put a line in every model you build if you want to. Build for you, not for conformity.

[@animalyze7120]

You can tell Old Man is used to explaining minutia to complete idiots almost daily lol. I love it!

[@DangerIsMyMiddleName]

But when they were looking at the truck, all the panel lines disappeared from the car. At that distance, the car looked 1/24 and the lines at scale width were so thin that they were invisible.

[@jonce6750]

thank you for that

[@hoytwhitmore8872]

YES 100% OLD MAN

[@superprettyko]

OLD MAN - please for the growth of modeling and the young modelers clean up your language. - - PLEASE......You have much to say and tell. Knowledge and experience go hand in hand . DO YOU WANT YOUNG KIDS TO SPEAK THE WAY YOU DO??

[@ScaleModelTechniques]

A year or so ago , KZbin issued a statement concerning individuals channel . I choose to have mine registered as adult content , thus removing the right of an individual to sue me for being “ offended “ by any content on my channel . No one under 18 can view or comment on any of my videos . As I have stated from the very beginning, this is my channel and I will run it as I see fit . By the time that they reach 12 or 13 , most of these young modelers that you are so concerned with can out cuss a boat load of drunken sailors on any given day . I , thankfully , can and will not have any blame for this laid upon my shoulders . Credit their peers , parents , video games , and the internet, for this ongoing malady that has you so upset , not I .

[@martysievers3855]

You are too cocky