any body have pointers on painting gauges on 1/48 instrument panels , I just can’t seem to get it right
Depends on the panel. If it’s got raised details, I prefer to paint the overall panel black or whatever color (RLM something-or-other for Luftwaffe, etc), then, with a small brush, drybrush the gauge detail white or silver. Then dab a dot of Future over each gauge face.
If you’ve got blank circles…if the IP is highly visible, I reach for Mike Grant’s IP decals, then finish with Future. If it’s mostly buried (say in a Wildcat), I’ll use a Prismacolor silver pencil to draw vaguely gauge-looking lines in the faces, then finish with Future. No sense wasting those precious decals for something very few people will be able to see.
I use a very tiny paint brush, just barely tip it to the paint, wipe it on the lip of the jar to remove most of it, then barely touch it to the inst. Some come out better than others. It’s tedious and makes me sweat, but when it comes out good…it’s really something special!!!
1/48 P-61
1/32 F-15, drybrushed, as per Doogs’ suggestion
1/32 Mig-15
1/72 P-40
1/48 A-20
Thank you very much guys , it was very helpful
If the panel is, as common, a matt finish, I paint instrument faces gloss black. I don’t try to put any white markings on- markings are usually small enough they are not very visible in 1:48 at scale viewing distances. Larger scales do require something fancier, but I don’t do anything fancy in 1:72 or 1:48 unless the kit comes with fancy photo-etch and decals.
One thing I have found helpful is to find a nice (color if possible) photograph of the panel on the Internet. Google image search and www.airliners.net are your friends here. Either print it out or do you painting right next to your computer so you can use it as a guide as you work.
Like the rest of the guys here are saying, just getting a hint of the right color in the right places goes a long way in the smaller scales, as does getting the right things glossy and and the right things flat.