Gauge needle colour question - Update - Finally done

[blown motor]

What was the original colour of the rallye dash gauge needles? Was it more of a reddish and they faded to orange or were they orange to begin with?

[Cuda Cody]

I think they are a special paint designed to glow under the dash lights.  I found out the hard way when I painted a set a (very close to original orange color) but it did not glow at night.  So when it got dark at night and I turned on the dash lights I had really hard to see gauge needles.  Went back and painted them with a florescent orange and they work great now.  So whatever color you use just be sure to check it with the factory light first.   

[MoparDave]

I've used testors model paint. I believe its fluorescent red. I have the bottle at work. 

[Jay Bee]

I was told to use MODEL MASTER FLUORESCENT RED FS28915. From what I remember this info was given to me by the guys from Mr. Heaterbox at Moparfest one year.

[blown motor]

John that looks like the colour they're using on mine but I question if it's the same as original. They should know what they're doing but I hate paying someone to do it and have it wrong.

[Cuda Cody]

I bet the key is to use a fluorescent color.

[Jay Bee]

Murray, I'm leaning towards they're suppose to be more orange. All the needles on the gauges in my car are orange, Below are pictures comparing the Model Master paint to OEM (OEM on right). That OEM tach and clock haven't seen the light of day for around 20 years or so. Now were they more red and faded in that time or not. Quite frankly, until I painted the needles in my spare cluster I've never seen any that reddish. What do the repops look like, I haven't checked them out. The Krylon paint Cody posted looks to be more orange.

[blown motor]

I also think they should be more orange. So why would a restoration shop paint them reddish? These guys do great work, you would think they would know what the right colour is. They redid my tach and speedo including painting the needles. They did not paint the oil/amp/fuel/temp gauges or the clock. You can see the difference in the picture. I sent it back and they are going to paint the o/a/f/t and clock. Now it will be all reddish but I don't think that's right.
I should have them back this week. I better have them back this week!!! We'll wait and see. I'll post a pic when I get them seeking professional input.

[Cuda Cody]

I'm not sure what the exact factory color was, but when I took the cleanest original samples to the craft store to match it up (for the 2nd time) the florescent orange looked super close.  And it works with the lights at night! 

[Jay Bee]

So why would a restoration shop paint them reddish?

I'm just guessing here but maybe it's an availability issue. You can't always get the same products in Canada that you can in America. That being said, they still should have tried to source a better match even if it meant going south of the 49th.

Too bad I'm late to the party or I could have just let you use my bottle and saved all that shipping.

[blown motor]

The shipping was $28. Worth it as they will do a better job than I would. Plus, after I got them back and saw that the speedometer looked like new it made the tach look shabby. So they're going to put a new 7000 face on the tach and recalibrate it. Then it will be correct for a 74.

[jimynick]

I've been saying you needed help for years Murray, but did you listen? Nooooo. 

[HEMICUDA]

I'm pretty sure this is the company that was supplying that type of paint back in the day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viC44r1w0Is

[blown motor]

As I said earlier I sent the gauges back for paint on the o/f/t/a gauge and clock and to have the tach refaced and recalibrated. The resto shop called today and said the lens is broke and text me a picture. Broken in two spots and now I have to get a new one. I had it packed really well and they agreed with that, so either it still got damaged in shipping or the shop broke it and won't admit it. There's no way for me to know. It looks like I'm going to have to learn how to do this stuff myself!     

[anlauto]

Who are you sending it to ? Please don't say Mr. Heaterbox