Hi,

I was wondering if any of you might have any tips regarding the painting of more complex instrument panels.

Here's one of the instruments from the Trumpeter Scud control cabin:



While decals are being supplied using them would mean shaving away at least the raised button so I decided to try and (hand) paint the elements.

How are you going about such jobs?

Thanks!

Carefully... I'm not sure there is a particular trick beyond that. You could mask each one with a punched hole in a piece of masking tape but you'd need to let the paint dry before doing any that would be covered by the tape - acrylics a good bet therefore. You might undercoat each button white before applying any bright colours to it as well.

I'd punch out individual dials from the decal sheet and attach them one by one. Then a blob of gloss varnish for the glass.

Get hold of some decent reference photos too - I'm sure there are plenty around these days.

Thanks Robert! I think I'm going to punch some holes in the decals for the button and see how far I can get with them.