Flat black for cockpits?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

What do you guys paint cockpits like the F-15E with that call for “flat black” for the color? I painted mine flat black but it just doesn’t look “real” if you know what I mean. Flat black Model Master paint is just so dark it looks like charcoal. [:D]

What have you found to look better and more realistic?

I remember reading in an old issue of FSM where that woman that builds the 1/32 scale scratch built kits used india ink I believe mixed with dullcoat to achieve that semi-gloss blue/black look that looks more natural.

Ideas?

Thanks

Mike

2

I’m not sure for the F-15, but in the case of French aircraft, where the interior is often black, I use a very dark grey instead. It can be ‘washed’ with a very thinned black, then drybrushed with lighter tones of grey.

3

I have to agree with the above - a very dark gray looks better than flat black. It also gives a greater feel of depth when viewing. Also, drybrushing a lighter shade over DARK grey looks less severe…