Striping with a drafting inking pen

[kgstakes]

I've used this on other models and it works great - if you get the paint thinned enough but not too much.  I couldn't tell you exactly how much thinner to paint but look for the consistence of ink or just a bit thicker.  Just trail and error.

 

Here's a video and some pictures of my pinstriping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shipman]

KG, that was impressive.

 

Do you mind me asking which paint you were using and did you have to thin it for the pen?

 

It's been many years since I used my own; some would like to know that the pen is best charged with a brush.

[kgstakes]

I used just regular old craft paint for striping.  So if I messed up. It was easy to remove without any damage to the base color.

 

 After thinning the paint (in a spare jar) I would dip the pen in the jar to load it then wipe the outside of it on a cloth (careful not to press too hard or you might unload the pen) and then do your striping.  Using a straight edge you have to have it off the part you want to strip or you run the risk of the paint running under your straight edge.

 

 The trim on the coach help me with this but you could easily glue small blocks on just enough to raise it and it will help a lot.  
 

free hand I’m not that steady anymore so some free hand stuff is a bit shaky but I got it done.

 

i tried Vallejo paints and for some reason I couldn’t get it to work.  I would think any paint should work just get the consistence right.  You want it to flow out smooth but not too thin to where when you start it blobs before you strip.  Hope that makes since.

 

 Hope this helps answer some questions you all have.  Paint pens that you can buy are a good choice to, I just have done it this way before so I knew what to expect.

[paul ron]

it takes a steady hand to get those lines straight. thanks for the video.

 

edit...

i remeber as a kid taking up drafting, i bought an expensive compass kit that had that pen as an accessory. but instead of using that ruling pen, we used drafting ink  koi nor pens, they came in different widths n weights. 

 

after seeing your video i dug through my tools and found my compass set to try the ruling pen. its one of those lost arts like fountain pens and speedball pens for caligraphy (another hobby of mine), which i still use to this day.

 

thanks for inspiring me. here is a basic tutorial i found online showing how to use the ruling pen. ill try it later tonight thanking you for the fun.

 

https://www.jeeamirza.com/blog/2020/5/27/quick-guide-how-to-use-a-ruling-pen

 

 

 

 

Edited 7 hours ago by paul ron

[kgstakes]

Paul Ron,

 

When I was building my first scale horse drawn vehicle I thought how in the heck am I going to get a thin pinstripe.  I tried the drafting pen and it worked !!  Been using that trick ever since.

 

Give it a try, it takes some practice (on scrap painted surface) but once you get the technique down, it looks a lot better than trying to use decals, or try masking for a stripe.

 

Let me know how it works for you.