Painting Gauge Needles
 

I have managed to get my hands on a spare gauge cluster and decided to play around with it. I've taken apart the needles and want to repaint them. From factory, there is a thin layer of paint on top.

I've tried a few different paints. Tried brushing and spraying. I just can't seem to get the colour as even as the factory coat was. The trick is that is has to be thick enough to look solid when it's not backlit and thin enough to allow the light from the PCB to shine through.

I know next to nothing about paints and techniques so I was hoping someone with a bit of experience can chime in here. Any recommendations on what paint to use and how to go about making the paint even would be a great help.

Many thanks!

I would try film instead of paint. Just my $0.02.

E46 people used to "paint" their white needles red using a red Sharpie marker.

are you sure the paint is on the front? a lot of brands will paint the rear of the needles, so the light is just bouncing along the surface of the paint, not trying to pass through it.

Definately on the front. I've already scratched the old paint off.

Cheers guys. I'll give that a go.

try using some translucent paint or watering the paint down some.