discussion Instrument Panel Painting

[Guest]

Hi all,

Any tips how to detail the instrument panel? Any inputs are greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

Cheers

Leo

 

[Alan 45]

I usually just dry paint them in aluminium and if you do touch the panel it gives it a bit of a scratched worn look

just make sure you wipe as much of the paint off your hairy stick

 

[Ian M]

First stop is fine some clear photos and if its a modern job, it should be easy to find some good colour photos.

Paint the cock pit the main colour and with a fine brush, or a cocktail stick, add a dab of black for the dials. (unless there is a decal that is).

Jets are full of toggle switches that are normally silver (the paint is worn off) Critical switches are normally in red or yellow. but you can refer to the photos for that bit.

trying to paint a tiny switch is often (for me) hit and miss. A fine wire rod and a tiny drop of paint on the end works well.

Dry brush the edges and corners with a metal colour paint to show wear.

A drop of gloss varnish makes a good dial glass.

Ian M

 

[eddiesolo]

Depends on the instrument panel, some dial bezels would be made from either steel or brass so, as points out, a dry brushing of either a steel, ali or brass colour could be added-this is before you add the dial detail. The frame again would be 'rubbed' in places from hands, kit banging against it when entering and exiting-again dry brushed ali. Switches and knobs use a small pin or wire to add paint. Coat the dials, once painted, in clear resin or the like to achieve a glass look.

Si

 

[Vaughan]

I tend to use Airscale instrument decals when the kit doesn't provide them lot's of decal soft to help bed them in. Then a drop of klear in each dial to imitate glass. Then some dry brushing with aluminium finishes the job.

 

[Guest]

Thanks all for the inputs. I already have few pics online for the real thing, gonna use it as a guidelines. I'm building 1/48 Kinetic A6 btw.

 

[Gern]

I use Uni Posca paint pens with the finest tip I can find. You can add tiny dots of colour to switches and buttons with just a touch. With care you can also do fine lines on raised bits.

View attachment 73828


This needs some touching up but you can see the yellow bits I added with a pen. One other thing is that they cover with just one coat. This yellow was painted directly on top of the dark blue and the red.

Gern

View attachment 186851

 

[Guest]

As Dave above, I often use paint pens for highlighted bezels, buttons or shrouds etc, they come in all colours I've found gold and white the most useful for vehicle instrumentation.

I'll use a thin paint mix to fill the dial ... That way any detail in the dial shows through slightly darker when dry so you can, if you want, pick it out with brush or pen.

When done a dry brush finishes it off nicely

 

[Guest]

Well, after amazing tips from the lads. Thanks all

Cheers Leo

View attachment 73988

View attachment 187011

 

[eddiesolo]

Well, after amazing tips from the lads. Thanks allCheers Leo

Yeah! Freaking superb mate, the ejection handles are a treat and look superb. Well done Leo, top work.

Si

 

[Guest]

Thanks Si, need more practice though.

 

[eddiesolo]

Thanks Si, need more practice though.

Tell me about it, one day something looks spot on and then...fubar. You think you have the hang of something and then it just doesn't go right. I think you are good at this and look forward to seeing more.

Si

 

[Guest]

Little tip I have just accidentally found. A console with lots of switches. The moulding represented these by raised dots in different sizes. Airbrushed in grey/black.

Tried some UNI pen on the dots but found the ink turned into larger dots. So decided to file the top of the dots to give a flat top rather than a rounded thinking the ink would stay on the top of a dot.

After I filed I found the answer. The black had been file off the dot obviously at the same time. There were my switches all looking like switches shining out of the black back ground. A few dabs where the switches were coloured & finished quick time.

Pictures on my next episode in the construction of a Merlin Helicopter.

Laurie