Cockpit decals and Raised detail, some guidence please.

Looks like you gotta make a decision there, Mick.

Personally, I prefer painting the raised details over applying tiny decals that are more prone to messing up, but that is a personal preference.

If the decals are rugged, you can experiment with applying them over the reised surfaces, and if it looks like a "no-go", keeping the decal backing paper moist through the process, simply return the decal to the backing paper (you can let it dry and re-moisten it later, if you are careful) and decide to paint or sandpaper the details flat to accomodate the decal.

What I like to do is I paint the background panel first, which is usually flat black, and simply paint the dials white or silver, depending on which looks better at the time. And then I do a light wash of flat black, quickly wiping any excess away with some bathrom tissue, over the gauge faces to give them a slightly dirty look that highlights any gauge marks,etc.

Using this technique, I have actually etched instrument panel details onto blank control panels that come with some cheap 1/72 kits, and they look very nice when done. 

Tom

Forget the decal! Revell did this same thing on the decal sheet for the 1/48 F-106 Delta Dart and the decal looked like ! Follow Tom's advice and paint all dials flat black then try drybrushing flat or gloss white over the instrument dials then use a black wash over that. The wash needs to be really thin so you dont obscure the dial details. This is how I paint mine.

Air Master