Dashboard detail advice

[steven]

Hi everyone One of the modeling goals I made this year to improve my dashboard detailing.Right now I just brush paint the gauges/vents they never seem to come out looking really good. What advice do you guys have at detailing them ? Oh I am currently building a stock amt ertl Peterbilt 359 .

Edited January 17, 2010 by mackinac359

[mackinac359]

On my instrument panels I use everything from brush paint to a tooth pick to add some detail.

I've even used Bare Metal Foil for the dials.

Here are some dashes I've done

I used a "drybrush" method to highlight the molded in detail. Drybrush=dip a brush in paint (silver in this case), wipe off most of the paint so the brush is almost dry and then gently brush over the raised detail.

On the dash below, I used Bare Metal Foil for the dials, then painted the detail.

Future Floor Finish is great to make the glass face of the dials. Fill the dial with Future and let it cure, then repeat until you get a nice domed effect.

Here's an AMT Autocar (or White Road Boss or White-Western Star interior)

Here's a Hayes Clipper interior (okay, AMT Peterbilt 352 Pacemaker). I drybrushed over the upholstery to highlight the detail.

And here's a Ford LNT interior.

Toothpicks, thin plastic or metal can all be used to dab a tiny amount of color onto a raised detail to highlight it.

Tim

Edited January 17, 2010 by mackinac359

[Jim B]

Dashes are my nemisis as well. These tips will help me, too. I was working on my Astro's dash today, and I went as far as saying "Maybe I'll just tint the windows!"

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

What's goin' on...

Here's one of my interiors. I pretty much learned from Tim. Apply Bare Metal Foil to the face of the dash then use either Sharpe Markers or Acrylic paint. When dry take some fine sand paper and run it across everything you want to have a chrome finish. I like to use 5 min. Epoxy to creat gauge lens. I think it's Model Car Garage has a photo etch set of itnerior junk I used on this.

Good Luck!!!

[Tony Bryan]

Some great advice there, but if you scratch build a dash, How do you simulate the wood grain effect?

[mackinac359]

You can use a sharp blade or a scribe tool to lightly carve in the woodgrain, or use the drybrush method to paint the woodgrain.

Tim