Scratch made gauge bezels ?

[Jasper018]

Does anyone have any tips on how to scratch build dashboard gauge bezels ? Without spending the money on photo etch . Thanks 

[peteski]

The chrome surrounds can be painted on the kit's dash using silver paint, or foiled using Bare Metal Foil.  It requires some precision, but it can be done.

You could also wrap some silver color fine wire (from a craft store) around a brush handle or other suitable-diameter object.  Wrap few turns (making a "spring"), then slide if off the object and use cutters or knife to slice the coils into individual rings. Glue those to the dash using some clear paint (I would not use any actual glue for that).

[Ace-Garageguy]

Some modelers have also had success cutting thin rings from aluminum tube, and polishing it.

Extremely fine, highly-skilled and delicate work, and easily worth the cost of PE parts to avoid.

[Belugawrx]

I have had some good luck with the wire ring technique described above

 

[NOBLNG]

If you can find aluminum tube that is the correct size, it would give you a seamless bezel. The wire trick works great and the seam can be cut or filed square on both ends to give an almost invisible seam. I have a cheap set of drill bits that will give me practically any size bezel I want. I have also flattened them slightly in a vise for these tail light bezels.

Edited November 24, 2021 by NOBLNG

[CabDriver]

Michael's and Hobby Lobby both keep small silver rings in a variety of sizes - cheapest easiest option is probably to buy a bag of these rings for 2 or 3 bucks and get 100 or more to use.

I think Photoetch ones look better though, personally - and a set like this gives you 50+ for a few cents a piece:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224471128348?hash=item344385991c:g:3DcAAOSwAlVgqc5r

 

[Jasper018]

Ok great info .thank you all for the ideas pics and links great stuff 

[Richard Bartrop]

Cut out short lengths of aluminum or plastic tube, and then just rub them on a pieces of sandpaper until you get your desired thickness.  It you want to get fancy, you can put a bevel in one end with a knife before cutting off the length of tubing..

[Bainford]

These rings were made from aluminum tube. The small ones are gauge bezels for the small gauges on my Europa build, and the larger ones are for the dash vents. 
 

Tricky to make, and it often takes me two to three attempts to get a satisfactory one, but it gets easier and faster as you get in the groove, and they look 10 times better than PE. They are typically .010”-.012” thick, but I’ve successfully made them as thin as .006”. The pucker factor goes up as the they get thinner, so I usually hold up at .010”. That’s a scale 1/4” which is fine for most applications. 
 

I can post up a tutorial if there’s any interest. 
 

Edited November 25, 2021 by Bainford
Where’s my keys

[SfanGoch]

Excellent, Trevor. There's always an interest for informative tutorials.

[CabDriver]

5 hours ago, Bainford said:

I can post up a tutorial if there’s any interest. 

 

Yes please!

[R. Thorne]

Richard, what kit are the fenders on the roadster from?  Or are they scratch built?  I am attempting to make some.