Sharpie Markers for Pre-shading?

Yoda Jammies · Post by **Yoda Jammies** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:03 pm

Is this a good idea?

It seems like it to me, for those small 1/144 and 1/72 kits. Just marker up the panel lines, let dry, and spray on the base coats.

I'm guessing though, there is a reason why no one does this.

THANKS

Jammies

Rogviler · Post by **Rogviler** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:19 pm

I wouldn't personally do this because Sharpie marks rise up through paint really bad. I found this out the hard way once when I did a painting over a sketch I did with a Sharpie and no matter how much paint I put on I could never get rid of the black lines. Even primer doesn't seem to block it out.

So basically the lines will probably be too heavy and defined to look good, in my opinion.

-Rog

kenlilly106 · Post by **kenlilly106** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:25 pm

DON'T DO IT!

I marked some parts with Sharpie for alignment purposes, painted over the lines with enamel paints cut with lacquer thinner, no problems so far.

Used Future as my clear coat, it pulled the Sharpie ink right through the paint.

Had to work around the problem by repainting the parts, I couldn't strip the model since I was too far along in the process.

Ken

Rogviler · Post by **Rogviler** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:30 pm

If you do want to go the marker route, get some good waterbased drawing markers or paint markers. It'll definitely need some experimenting so that you don't end up with a line that's too defined. Shading is supposed to be subtle.

-Rog

Yoda Jammies · Post by **Yoda Jammies** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:39 pm

Maybe a black/grey Gundom Marker?

See, this is why I look to you all FIRST.

(especially after the hot water/sprey can incident)

THANKS

Jammies

Rogviler · Post by **Rogviler** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:52 pm

As long as it's either water based or paint based, I wouldn't hesitate to use a marker. It's just the ones that are based on nasty industrial solvents that will give you trouble.

I think it would work better with darker top coats, I'd probably avoid using it under anything in the white or yellow range.

-Rog

b5ranger99 · Post by **b5ranger99** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:18 am

Yoda Jammies wrote:Maybe a black/grey Gundom Marker?

See, this is why I look to you all FIRST.
(especially after the hot water/sprey can incident)

THANKS

Jammies

Excellent idea.
I'll have to give this a try.

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:09 pm

DON'T DO IT. IT's almost impossible to get the feathered edge along the preshaded areas this way.

When you're model's complete, you'll look at, say, a gray area and see a nicely defined, dark grey stripe following along all your panel borders.

Don't ask how I know this.

Kenny

Post by **TER-OR** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:44 pm

I have done it with panel lines, but be careful. Actually, it's not sharpie, but the disposable Micron technical pens. I paint the base coat, do the marker, seal it down with Future, then do weathering on top. It seems to work pretty well. Of course there's another coat of paint atop the marker which tones it down.

jgoldader · Post by **jgoldader** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:31 am

If water-based markers are okay, then perhaps the "washable" ink pens made for kids would work. They generally come in sets with many different colors, so you'd be able to get a variety of effects. Crayola makes some.

Jeff