Help with weathering and colour correcting PE cockpit panels

[JoeB]

As per the title, I am looking for tips on making PE cockpit panels more realisitic, weathered and coloured correctly. When I look at the fret with the PE it looks great but doesnt seem to look so good in the model. The colour seems to be slightly off and there is a graininess to the surface. All in all its not realisitic to my eye.

I have looked online for videos but dont really seem to be coming up with anything. 

 

I would be interested in your views, tips and tricks and links to help improve this aspect of my modelling.

 

Thank you all

[Grey Beema]

I would at least Matt varnish the panel and gloss varnish the instrument faces.  

 

I sometimes repaint the base colour to match my own interior colour.  Bright light, magnifier, fine paint brush and steady hand.  Beyond that nothing really (unless I want to change switches etc)..

[Ray_W]

Simplest way is to use a wash of the desired colour. As I use Gunze paints I'll take Aqueous Hobby Color dilute with water and put it where I want with a fine brush. Build up the density with a couple of coats. I might add a little matt base to the mix to flatten it further if needed. Good for hiding vinyl pixelation, changing the colour to more closely match the cockpit colour, and toning down the bright white.  I might still pick some details using Vallejo Model Color. This is my Fw 190 currently on the bench.

 

 

I'll try not to get it in the dial faces. Easy to prevent this with a fine brush and floating the wash between the raised dials. I may go back with some Tamiya X-22 or Future to pick the dial faces if required.

 

You may still see the pixelation of the vinyl under the harsh light of close-up photography, but, as you can see above, not really that noticeable.

 

 

I use the same process on Vinyl PE belts and harnesses and also 3D printed material. For belts I use an enamel or oil wash and remove the excess with a soft brush slightly moistened with naphtha (lighter fluid). Here's a previous Bf 109 build since finished.

 

 

And another Fw 190.

 

 

Quite simple.

 

HTH 

Ray