Aircraft instrumentation has always been a key element of cockpit detailing. More and more companies are including instrument panel details and decals to better replicate the dials and gauges in the cockpit. The old school way of giving definition to cockpit instruments is to create a contrast between the gauges and the panel. With any technique there is a right way and a wrong way. The wrong way is to create “rings” or “bezels” of silver or white around the gauges…real aircraft DO NOT have chrome, silver or white instrument bezels…it creates too much reflection in the cockpit.
In the example shown in this picture the panel is flat black while the instrument faces and bezels are a glossy black. You can achieve this by painting the panel flat black then applying a drop of gloss clear to the dial face. Use any clear such as Future…If Future is too glossy to your liking, then use one of the many other clear coats such as SnJ Spray Metal Clear which will give you a satin finish.
You can add the white gauge markings inside the gauge face by using either a white pencil or drafting pen with white ink. Another way is to print out to scale a photograph of the cockpit instrument panel. Then punch out the gauge faces and apply them or the whole panel to the dashboard part of the model. Or source a decal to use. Those white and silver rings just have gotta go! Need some good cockpit reference pictures for your next project? Then I suggest a visit to: http://uscockpits.com/
I laughed at your email yesterday! I’m still laughing. What I asked was whether or not you had ever added some kind of Black to SnJ until it sprayed Black and if so, what were the results?
No, I have added enough to get the SnJ to tint to a darker color. If I wanted a black with a metallic tint I would add SnJ to some sort of Black such as Testor’s enamel. What your suggesting is much like adding coffee to a cup of milk until the white of the milk is gone. Its better to add the milk to the coffee. Then again there are those who like a little coffee with their milk.
This looks much too tedious for 1/72 scale. I just paint the panel white, when gages are shown, then dry brush with white or an off white. Usually, enough is not showing when you finish the model anyway.
White on white? That’s different.