1/72nd B-17 revell cockpit guage paint tips

The main issue is that the scale is so small, and the ability to see what's there is also limited by the glass structure. If a decal is available for the panel, I would use that, otherwise a simple drybrushing with white would suffice. As for the panel color, I believe it to be black.

Here's a good ref photo. . . 

If there is raised/recessed detail on the instrument panel parts, then dry brushing with silver or white, or picking out detail with a silver or white pencil usually do the trick.  In this case i would also get out s a very small brush or toothpick, and apply light touches of red paint where appropriate.  

Chris

The method I use works for me;  I first paint the raised areas ,like the square perimeter around the guages in the pictured example, the proper colors. Then overspray the black and carefully scrape the black off the raised areas revealing the color underneath. I get better, straighter lines that way.

Mississippsi, Jay & Boss, Thank you all. The Real Photo was of great help. I'll end up using a bit of all your idea's. It may sound whacky, but if it comes out well, I was thinking of deleting the  Pilot & co-pilot windows just to show the detail. This is actually a gift to an older vet that waist gunned on one. So, I do wanna make it easy on his older eyess. Thanks so much.   keith r.

For 1:72 panels here is what I do.  This is primarily for older aircraft with flat black panels and black instruments.  I paint panel flat black.  Then I dip end of toothpick in a shallow amount of gloss black (usually just shake a bottle of black paint, take off cap and lay cap down upside down on bench- gives just the right amount). I then fill in the dials which are usually embossed on the panel.  Makes it look like shiny glass over black instruments in a flat black panel.

You're very welcome Keith.

 I now what you mean about old eyes. I'm 68 and i couldn't do any modeling with out my trusty 6 inch lighted magnifier hanging over my bench.

Google http://www.eduard.com/store/Eduard/B-17G-cockpit-interior-1-48.html

Many of the Zoom sets have a pre-printed instrument panes, takes the pain out of shakey hands & myopic eyes...

Available is 3 scales from above, from the online vendor or LHS of your choice...

I have that kit and it has some excellent molded details. The only issue here is that once you close up the fuselage and install the clear parts that have very small windows, not much will be visible so even adding pe will be hard to see in this scale and particular model unless one is making a see thru version by cutting out sections. So with that said, some light drybrushing as previously suggested will be more than sufficient.

I looked into that option [ as I suffer the same eyes & shakiness ! ], but just the cockpit set cost 1/2 as much as what the kit cost. If I crash & burn, I'll have to,though. Thanks Jon

I afree,plastic Junkie, about the visibility.If it comes out decently,I thought I'd just leave the side windows off. Thanks, k.r.