Center Dash Switch Plate Painting

[timsgolf]

Hello All,
I recently found and purchased a replacement center dash switch plate. The one on the car now has the Overdrive/Normal stamp. I wanted one with Aux. instead since my car doesn't have Overdrive. I found one and purchased it. The stamped/lettered portion is not painted. I would like to paint that stamped/lettered portion white - I think the originals were white. Can anyone suggest the proper way to to the painting?

I thought about a rub-on method of some kind where you would rub the paint on with a cloth or something, allowing it to settle into the stamped/lettered grooves, then cleaning off the excess. Would that work? Or is there a better way?

Also, what kind of paint should I use?

Thanks in advance,
Tim

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

Hello All,
I recently found and purchased a replacement center dash switch plate. The one on the car now has the Overdrive/Normal stamp. I wanted one with Aux. instead since my car doesn't have Overdrive. I found one and purchased it. The stamped/lettered portion is not painted. I would like to paint that stamped/lettered portion white - I think the originals were white. Can anyone suggest the proper way to to the painting?

I thought about a rub-on method of some kind where you would rub the paint on with a cloth or something, allowing it to settle into the stamped/lettered grooves, then cleaning off the excess. Would that work? Or is there a better way?

Also, what kind of paint should I use?

Thanks in advance,
Tim

I need one. Where did you find yours?

 

[timsgolf]

Spoke (email) with a fellow named Keith Bates at A-Head 4 Healeys. He didn't have one in stock but passed it along to a parts contact person who found it for him.

Keith@ah4h.co.uk

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I think you have 2 choices: 1) the 'rub-on/swipe-off' method or 2) if you have the hands and nerves of a brain surgeon--or a really good pinstriper--you can fill it with a fine tip brush. Either way, I suspect you'll have to wipe off any excess with a soft rag and solvent and hope you don't smear your work (or let it dry and scrape excess off with a razor blade). Hobby shop model enamel--Testors is the go-to--works well.

https://www.amazon.com/Testors-Enamel-Paint-9115X-Gloss/dp/B00004YTBS/ref=asc_df_B00004YTBS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167142066433&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1281012514924217565&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032278&hvtargid=pla-311376209003&th=1

Are you sure it should be in white? I think white would be hard to see against chrome; the switch labeling usually seen on Healey knobs or plates is red on chrome, and white on black (Bakelite) knobs (like the choke).

 

[timsgolf]

Good suggestions Bob!
As far as the white is concerned, that is what the current switch plate is - except for the one word Overdrive, which is red. I could go with red easily though - the exterior is red. The upholstery is solid black, but at some point I want to go with red piping there.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

Side note: I inadvertently wiped the dials of a Smiths speedometer's trip meter. I found a near-perfect match for the yellow from Testor's called 'Blue Angel Yellow,' which I thought was pretty cool (they also have 'Navy Blue').