Cockpit Knobs & Switches Painting Tip

[Duncan Doenitz]

A good mate of mine has a youtube channel where he posts videos of his builds. He taught me a quick and easy way to paint cockpit switches. Take a cocktail stick and split the end with a scalpel, making 2 cuts at 90 degrees. Dip the end in your paint and dab it on the switch. Job done ! No brush to clean afterwards is a bonus too.

 

For all sorts of build and effects tutorials, check out his channel. I followed his method for exhaust stubs on the P-40 build on a 1:24 Spitfire. airbrushing the base of the stubs in XF-55 deck tan gives a great heat weathered effect.

 

Andy's channel

[mozart]

Well that’s handy, I’m not too far from Ilminster…..straight down the A303, so a visit could be on the cards. 

Edited June 17, 2023 by mozart

[Duncan Doenitz]

His place is not open on a Sunday due to being located on a locked industrial estate.

[ChuckT]

Does he show how this is done in any of the videos?

[Woody V]

On 6/17/2023 at 7:23 AM, Duncan Doenitz said:

A good mate of mine has a youtube channel where he posts videos of his builds. He taught me a quick and easy way to paint cockpit switches. Take a cocktail stick and split the end with a scalpel, making 2 cuts at 90 degrees. Dip the end in your paint and dab it on the switch. Job done ! No brush to clean afterwards is a bonus too.

 

This is a great idea, thanks for posting. Just yesterday I had one tiny detail that needed paint and I'm like "now I have to go through all the aggravation of cleaning the brush just to paint this?" Then I remembered this tip and I can assure you it works well and tossing a cocktail stick in the trash sure beats cleaning a brush!

[Duncan Doenitz]

On 6/28/2023 at 10:58 PM, ChuckT said:

Does he show how this is done in any of the videos?

Sorry, just saw this. Do it exactly as described and it works a treat. Cross cut the end and use it like an ink pen nib. it's as simple as that. I also use this for applying spots of glue for seatbelts etc.

[Duncan Doenitz]

Here's the video where I picked up my mate's tip. It's a fascinating build with lots of useful stuff that applies regardless of scale. See around the 1:00 mark