How to refurbish faded gauge needles

[jdmccright]

I'm in the midst of refurbishing my instrument gauge cluster...polished up the clear lens and replacing all the bulbs with LEDs. What I also want to do is repaint the back side of the gauge needles so they aren't faded out.

My potential problem is not putting them back onto the shafts in the right position, making the gauge readings useless and creating a nightmare trying to get them reset. Or will the needles reset themselves? My thinking says no.

My thought process, though tedious is as follows:

1) Install the cluster in the truck with the lens removed.
2) Key on to note the gauge needle positions...use some small bits of tape or take a digital photo. Then key off and note the rest positions with more tape or another photo.
3) Remove the needles, scuff away old, faded orange, down to the clear plastic (the scuffing will help the new paint adhere, too).
4) Apply paint using a brush (going to use Testors acrylic model paint) and let dry. Thinking of changing the color, but haven't decided yet.
5) Reinstall the needles at the marked rest positions.
6) Key on again to check positions. Readjust as needed.
7) Install lens.

Let me know if I have missed anything, or if this is all completely unnecessary. Otherwise, consider this a little write-up for refurbishing your truck's faded gauge needles. Thanks!