I just got around to trying this. I read somewhere that gel pens could be used in detailing models. So I got a white, fine tip gel pen and used it on the Tamiya Jeep dashboard. Now, I'm old and have a pretty shakey hand but it worked very well. It would also be good for chalk writing on AFV's, like loading orders, ect. I plan to pick up a few more colors.
Also, I've tried sharp-point drafting pens to do panel lines and that looks pretty good too.

CF - I've never seen a gel pen - where'd you get it?

Gunnie

Any craft store will have them. I think most any store that sells pens, as I found out about them from my Granddaughters. There are all the rage with the pre-teen crowd here in North Dakota.
BTW, I found the pic of your Hummer Ambulance. It was the Jan 01 issue. Very nice work! It might just inspire me to start mine.
Chuck :-)

Hmmmm....looks like I may have to raid my wife and daughters stash. They have an abundance of them they use for scrapbooking.

Yeah - me too! Blame it on Chuck!

Gunnie

I never heard of them. Maybe they're not yet in Europe. If that's the case, someone could make a bundle marketing those here !
I'll keep it in mind next time I visit the hobby shop, though.

What I currently do to write "chalked instructions" on armor is the following :

paint small piece of paper (post-it) with unthinned artists oil paint from tube. Let it dry.
Once dry, I gently place paper on the vehicle and write on the back with pencil or pen. That transfers the color of the paint to the vehicle.

As always : "before you try it on a nice model first try new techniques on something else !!!"
(a suggestion that not only applies to scale modeling )

If it's stupid but it works, it isn't stupid

That's an interesting method. One of those "Why didn't I think of that?" moments. Seems like every time I check out the posts here I learn something. Thanks.

... this is not a textbook method. It's something I discovered by trial and error.
It needs refining and sorting out, though : what kinds of paint work best, how much drying time is best....
Until now, it worked well several times. Once, too much paint came off the post-it. Therefore : try it elsewhere first !

If you whine about the weather, someone else will whine only louder

Wow, Jan!
Always surprising us with these great tips....
thx!

Hello all. I am not a military man so I don't know what chalk writing is. could someone fill me in on what this is and maybe put in a link to where I could see an example? Thanks for the help.

Andrew,

There's a picture in my article on the M577 (see homepage). Those are loading instructions that are chalked (like on a blackboard) by the support unit that organises the ship loading/unloading. I think they are the ship's number and sailing dates...
I've seen stuff like that in the Belgian army many times during exercises, too. Mostly to temporarily number vehicles in convoy, etc...

I think this is mainly for peace time use, modern armies only. The chalk gets washed away by the rain and during exercise...

I'm pretty sure I've seen pictures of loading info chalked on Korean Conflict vintage stuff. I'll see if I can find them again.
Chuck