Venom Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Please recommend for me a good scribing tool. I want one that is good for the door and trunk lines etc. on 1/24 models. I was about to buy a Tamiya line scriber, but in reading the description, it sounded like it was more suited for cutting through plastic rather than enhancing lines. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Brian Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 I took a wooden dowel about 3/16 in diameter and six inches long and drilled into one end and stuck the unwrapped core wire of a wound guitar string in it. I left about 1/8 of an inch of wire exposed and it's just a bit thicker than an Xacto blade. It also makes a good scratch awl for marking tiny holes for drilling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete75 Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Hi Josh. I avoided the Tamiya line scriber until recently because I didn't like the look of it, but my preconceptions were wrong: it's brilliant! Depending on which point you use, you get a different depth or width of groove. And yes, it's also designed to score/snap styrene, which it does equally well! I have two other scribers, a needle scriber and a fatter tipped one (looks like a short pencil nib) and find them all useful for different sitiations, but the Tamiya one is the best for panel lines. Cheers ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrObsessive Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 I have used this for engraving/deepening panel lines in the past. I've found it to be very handy and a bit more user friendly than other scribing tools out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Smith Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 4 hours ago, Pete75 said: Tamiya line scriber I recently purchased the Tamiya Fine Engraving Tool. They make a few different widths and they attach to the handle like an exacto blade. The Tamiya engravers are expensive but are very well made and work very well. The different widths allow deeper grooves in door and trunk lines, or wider ones to give the gap more room. I purchased the handle from Burbank’s hobbies and the “blades” from Plaza Japan. You can always use the #11 blade trick or make you own, but the Tamiya tool is easier for me to control and, so far, takes a nice spiraling piece of plastic out with each light pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedotwo Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 My go to is the Trumpeter scriber but use others, including a good old backside #11 xacto. The Trumpeter is thinner than the Tamiya and unless I want to widen door gaps a bit I use the Trumpeter. I like to use the PE Tamiya saw blade too, as for me it's pretty easy to use if you go slow and it seems to remove most of what it cuts as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plowboy Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 The best scribing tool I've used is one I made by modifying a dental pick. It will follow even the faintest line without jumping out and cuts whether I push or pull with it. It cuts a finer line than photo etch blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venom Posted February 7, 2021 Author Share Posted February 7, 2021 (edited) 7 hours ago, MrObsessive said: I have used this for engraving/deepening panel lines in the past. I've found it to be very handy and a bit more user friendly than other scribing tools out there. Thanks everyone! I went ahead and ordered the Trumpeter as Bill and Rich mentioned. I’ve gotten by without a scriber for so long that this one should be just what I need. I like the simplicity, and smaller contoured look of it better than the Tamiya. I just watched a video on the #11 blade trick...essentially just creating a burr on the back side of the tip, so I think I’ll make one of those also. Rodger if you’re seeing this I’d like to know how you modified your dental pick since I have a few of those around. Thanks Edited February 7, 2021 by Venom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrObsessive Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Josh, several years ago I had a running thread on my '59 Chevy Impala WIP where I used the back edge of a #11 blade to open things up. If you check here, the entire build pics are there and you can see what I did. Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venom Posted February 7, 2021 Author Share Posted February 7, 2021 1 minute ago, MrObsessive said: Josh, several years ago I had a running thread on my '59 Chevy Impala WIP where I used the back edge of a #11 blade to open things up. If you check here, the entire build pics are there and you can see what I did. Hope this helps! Thanks, I just edited my previous post which mentions that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrObsessive Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 1 minute ago, Venom said: Thanks, I just edited my previous post which mentions that Oh Ok! Interesting enough, on my photo album for the Impala, I'm no longer seeing the descriptions of the pics. Some time back, Fotki had a change in servers and I wonder if that's why the descriptions are no longer showing up. Here is the thread on the board if you want to read through it. I'm sure the descriptions are there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venom Posted February 7, 2021 Author Share Posted February 7, 2021 15 minutes ago, MrObsessive said: Oh Ok! Interesting enough, on my photo album for the Impala, I'm no longer seeing the descriptions of the pics. Some time back, Fotki had a change in servers and I wonder if that's why the descriptions are no longer showing up. Here is the thread on the board if you want to read through it. I'm sure the descriptions are there! Bill, I was just looking through your build (without descriptions) on your Fotki link and I will say that your work is marvelous! The engine, undercarriage, door and trunk hinges, all some of the finest work I’ve ever seen...You are an exceptional craftsman Sir! Yes, I will also go through the link you posted for that build on this forum so I can read the pic descriptions... Thank you, and keep on keepin’ on brother? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrObsessive Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Why thanks Josh! That was one of those models I've been wanting to do for a looooong time ever since it came out, but couldn't get past the wonky roofline. Thanks so much for the compliments! I still have the model and it sits quietly in its case AWAY from my nosy cats and dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 After looking at all of the different scribers I think I'm going to have to upgrade what I'm using. For years I have used a couple of tools that look like you might have gotten from your dentist. They have worked well but now I'm thinking that some of these more dedicated tools might be a better investment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plowboy Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 2 hours ago, Venom said: Rodger if you’re seeing this I’d like to know how you modified your dental pick since I have a few of those around. Thanks Josh, I ground it down with a Dremel and cut off wheel. Then finished with a file. To be honest, I thought I had made it so thin that the tip would snap off. But, it hasn't after around 40 models. I just recently sharpened it for the first time. The reason I made it was because I always had trouble with 90 degree corners even with an Xacto blade. With this dental pick, I can go to the corner, turn and go the other direction. Here's a couple of photos of it. I tried to get a photo to show the thickness of it. But, my device couldn't focus on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venom Posted February 7, 2021 Author Share Posted February 7, 2021 12 minutes ago, Plowboy said: I tried to get a photo to show the thickness of it. But, my device couldn't focus on it. Thanks Roger. I can see it well enough to get the idea. I think I’ll make one of those as well.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89AKurt Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 6 hours ago, Erik Smith said: I recently purchased the Tamiya Fine Engraving Tool. They make a few different widths and they attach to the handle like an exacto blade. The Tamiya engravers are expensive but are very well made and work very well. The different widths allow deeper grooves in door and trunk lines, or wider ones to give the gap more room. I purchased the handle from Burbank’s hobbies and the “blades” from Plaza Japan. You can always use the #11 blade trick or make you own, but the Tamiya tool is easier for me to control and, so far, takes a nice spiraling piece of plastic out with each light pass. I was also going to suggest this. It's expensive, but you get what you pay for. I have the green tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doorsovdoon Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 I'm glad I stubbled on to this thread, I've been looking for a tool that can scribe lines like that of the door jams. I have some kits I'd like to convert to four door models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venom Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 Just got it out of the mailbox tonight ... and I love it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straightliner59 Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 I think the real lesson in this thread is that one can never have too many tools! Variants may perform certain aspects of a task more, or less, effectively. There's a lot of fun in experimentation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venom Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share Posted March 9, 2021 On 2/13/2021 at 9:41 AM, Straightliner59 said: I think the real lesson in this thread is that one can never have too many tools! Variants may perform certain aspects of a task more, or less, effectively. There's a lot of fun in experimentation. So true... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteski Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 On 2/13/2021 at 11:41 AM, Straightliner59 said: I think the real lesson in this thread is that one can never have too many tools! Variants may perform certain aspects of a task more, or less, effectively. There's a lot of fun in experimentation. That's what I thought too, but at this point I have so many tools that I sometimes forget what I have, and end up using another tool that is not the best for the job. And yes, they are organized, but not all are in plain view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straightliner59 Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 8 hours ago, peteski said: That's what I thought too, but at this point I have so many tools that I sometimes forget what I have, and end up using another tool that is not the best for the job. And yes, they are organized, but not all are in plain view. I recently realized that I have 11 pinvises! They're all in the same drawer, but... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteski Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 45 minutes ago, Straightliner59 said: I recently realized that I have 11 pinvises! They're all in the same drawer, but... Exactly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straightliner59 Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 7 minutes ago, peteski said: Exactly! Even more oddly, it's about 6"×6", and dedicated to pinvises!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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