How to Panel Line Your Gundam: A Complete Guide

Panel lining is one of the most effective ways to make your Gundam model (Gunpla) look professional. By filling in the recessed lines on the armor, you create artificial shadows that give the kit depth, scale, and a realistic “mechanical” feel. Using products available exclusively at aztoyhobby.com, here is a step‑by‑step guide to mastering three different panel lining techniques.

Method 1: The Beginner Approach (Fine‑Tip Markers)

This is the safest and easiest method for those just starting out. It gives you maximum control and requires almost no cleanup.

Steps

Choose Your Color: Use Gray for white parts, Brown for red or yellow parts, and Black for blue or dark gray parts.
Trace the Lines: Simply draw directly into the recessed lines of the plastic.
Clean the Excess: If you wobble or go outside the line, use the DSPIAE Panel Line Eraser or even a clean finger to smudge away the excess ink before it fully dries.

Method 2: The Capillary Action Method (Pour‑Type Markers)

Pour‑type markers use a thin liquid ink that flows through the lines automatically using capillary action. It is faster and often produces cleaner, thinner lines than the fine‑tip markers.

Steps

Prime the Marker: Press the tip of the marker on a piece of scrap cardboard until the ink starts to flow.
Touch and Flow: Touch the tip of the marker to a panel line. The ink will “run” through the groove.
Wait to Dry: Let it dry for about 1–2 minutes.
Clean Up: Dampen a Tamiya cotton swab with alcohol and lightly wipe across the top of the panel line to remove the “dots” where you first touched the marker.

Method 3: The Pro Approach (Enamel Accent Colors)

For the most professional results, modelers use pre‑thinned enamel paints. These flow better than markers and offer a wider range of shades.

Steps

Shake Well: These paints settle over time, so shake the bottle vigorously.
Protection: apply a gloss clear top coat to prevent parts cracked.
Apply: Use the brush included in the Tamiya cap (or the DSPIAE Aluminum Alloy Panel Liner for even more precision) to touch the lines. The enamel paint will zip through the channels.
Dry Time: Let the paint dry for 10–15 minutes until it looks matte.
The “Wipe” Technique: Dampen a Tamiya cotton swab with cleaning solution. Ensure the swab is just damp, not dripping. Wipe perpendicular to the line to remove excess paint while leaving the color inside the groove.
Seal and Finish: apply a gloss or flat clear top coat to seal and protect the panel lines.

Pro Tip: Scribing for Better Results

Sometimes the molded lines on a kit are too shallow for the paint to flow well. Before you start panel lining, you can deepen them using a scribing tool.

Recommended Products

DSPIAE Tungsten Steel Push Broach Chisel (0.1 mm, 0.125 mm, 0.15mm, 0.2mm)
DSPIAE Carving Guide Tape

By lightly running the DSPIAE chisel through the existing lines using the guide tape, you create a deeper “trench” that will catch the Tamiya Accent Color perfectly, resulting in crisp, razor‑sharp lines.