Paint suggestions for inside a liquid-filled ship's compass?

[RigidRaider]

I am restoring a replica ship's compass, which I got in Pakistan. The white paint inside had flaked and the water-alcohol mix gone all mucky, leaving muck on the moving compass rose.

I have cleaned it back to the bare brass and solder and painted it with a coat of anti-corrosive metal primer. Next two coats of standard Dulux white gloss, thoroughly dried before refilling with a mixture of water and Fernox, which I thought might be better than water and alcohol.

Do you reckon I'm on the right track here?

 

[ColJack]

the water /alcohol mix probably had a specific gravity to enable the dial to float.. can you get the same gravity with the fernox ( and what is fernox? )

which parts were painted white?

have you considered getting it powdercoated or having enamel put onto it?

 

[RigidRaider]

The dial is plastic weighted with two magnets and sits on a needle. I'm not even sure if the original liquid was a water/alcohol mix - I'm just going off my Silva pocket compass, which I believe is filled with alcohol to prevent freezing in low temperatures.

The inside of the bowl is painted white, presumably on a real ship's compass this is to reflect the night lighting onto the dial.

I don't really want to throw money at it; it's just a cheap replica turned out for tourists in Pakistan, based on real compasses taken from ships on Gadani Beach where they break ships.

I thought I'd add the Fernox, which is an antioxidant used in central heating systems.

 

[JohnD]

I have an idea that the paint was traditionally matt white, with gloss black marks (like an old clock dial)

 

[therackals]

I spoke to Silva customer services some time ago. the liquid they use to fill their compasses is clear paraffin oil. I don't believe this will affect your choice of paint. However I would try model-makers paint such as monokote. Over the years this paint has served me well in many applications.