simulating tinted glass

The place to discuss all aspects of building models from scratch.

Moderators: Joseph C. Brown, Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
blakeh1
Posts: 3783
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:48 pm
Location: Warminster, Pennsylvania

simulating tinted glass

Post by blakeh1 »

What methods can be used to make clear plasitc simulate tinted glass? Basically so you can still see through it, but it is darker, like tinted sunglasses, but not mirrored glasses
User avatar
Joseph C. Brown
Moderator
Posts: 7301
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2002 6:13 pm
Location: Oak Ridge, TN, USA

Post by Joseph C. Brown »

Questions...

-how big is the item?
-what color are you planning: smoked tint, green-tint, yellow-tint?
-are you brush painting the color or airbrushing?

There are several colors of stain-glass dyes that can be used to tint clear styrene. Tamiya makes a great 'smoke' color that airbrushes very nicely, and some folks claim to have brush painted it successfully.
________
Joe Brown
User avatar
blakeh1
Posts: 3783
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:48 pm
Location: Warminster, Pennsylvania

Post by blakeh1 »

to be more specific, it will be the cockpit canopy for the Shuttle Tydirium. Hoping to get a blackish tint, but still be able to see some detail in the cockpit

This might not be the best forum for it now that I think about it, it might be more of a painting/finishing question using some shade of stain or some kind of polish
User avatar
blakeh1
Posts: 3783
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:48 pm
Location: Warminster, Pennsylvania

Post by blakeh1 »

Joseph C. Brown wrote:Tamiya makes a great 'smoke' color that airbrushes very nicely, and some folks claim to have brush painted it successfully.
Is that the Tamiya smoke paint that has the little chunks in it? I know that is kind of transparent, maybe strain it first?
TREKKRIFFIC
Posts: 3198
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:37 pm
Location: Fremont, CA (near Milpitas north of Golfland USA)
Contact:

Post by TREKKRIFFIC »

Testors made a rattle can paint called Black Window Tint. I've used it once on a Porsche windshield and it worked well. You can vary the transparency by spraying on more or fewer coats. As I recall, I laid the windshield as flat as possible to prevent the paint from puddling and sprayed multiple light coats.
"Well--we'll be safe for now--thank goodness we're in a bowling alley--"
User avatar
Rogviler
Posts: 4379
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:04 pm
Location: Colorado

Post by Rogviler »

I'm partial to real window tint myself. A giant roll from the auto parts store is like $20 and will last forever. I find the lighter tints to work better, unless you plan on lighting the inside.

It's thin, but still doesn't work that well on compound curves, so it's not for every application.

The best way to apply it is to mix up a drop of baby shampoo in a small cup of water and liberally apply it to the windshield and both sides of the tint. Then just press all the bubbles and soapy solution out with a small squeegee and let it dry for a day or so.

-Rog
WarpeD
Posts: 8984
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2002 9:00 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Post by WarpeD »

In the late middle 1900's, around the time of the legendary US lunar space program, when I needed to tint a model aircraft canopy I used Rit Fabric dye. Duration of immersion darkens the tint, although it never got truly dark. Watch out for using just black - it has a strong purplish lean.
User avatar
Joseph C. Brown
Moderator
Posts: 7301
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2002 6:13 pm
Location: Oak Ridge, TN, USA

Post by Joseph C. Brown »

blakeh1 wrote: Is that the Tamiya smoke paint that has the little chunks in it? I know that is kind of transparent, maybe strain it first?
I've only purchased a few bottles of the Tamiya Smoke over a decade, but I never had chunks in it. :shock:
________
Joe Brown
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

Me neither, I've used Tamiya clear paints for quite some time.
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
LiebeVision
Posts: 1334
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:57 am
Location: Toledo Ohio
Contact:

Post by LiebeVision »

Yeah, I just finished a bottle of smoke, and no chunks.
User avatar
blakeh1
Posts: 3783
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:48 pm
Location: Warminster, Pennsylvania

Post by blakeh1 »

well not exactly large chunks, but a fine almost grit/flake type of thing going on.
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

Never seen any particulate in Tamiya Smoke, are you thinking of one of thier metalics perhaps?
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
Umi_Ryuzuki
Posts: 3841
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 2:22 pm
Location: PDX, Oregon
Contact:

Post by Umi_Ryuzuki »

Personally,... I use the tinted clear styrene by Raboesch.

It used to be distibuted under Midwest Products in their "super styrene center".

Brown was my preferance.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachme ... tid=277878

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachme ... id=2308610
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost ... stcount=32
.
.
.

http://www.raboesch.com/english/cat1_sheets.htm

Cornwall Model boats still seems to have stock, and they have very
quick shipping to the United States.

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/aca ... h-604.html

:wink:
'
"I have to go now,... because my life is stupid and leprachans are dorks."
Nyow!
/
=^o^=
KLINGON CAV
Posts: 1097
Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2004 1:27 am
Location: Denver
Contact:

Post by KLINGON CAV »

what about Aircraft canopies is there a way to make that slight gold tint?
Duj meQ!
User avatar
Harry Joy
Posts: 376
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:31 am
Location: Memphis

Post by Harry Joy »

The best product, as you can glean from above, would be Tamiya's Clear Yellow. You can use it straight or add it to some Future.
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

KLINGON CAV wrote:what about Aircraft canopies is there a way to make that slight gold tint?
I've played around with misting AlcladII pale gold. It looks right but is hard to get even.
Abolish Alliteration
KLINGON CAV
Posts: 1097
Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2004 1:27 am
Location: Denver
Contact:

Post by KLINGON CAV »

Thank you.
Duj meQ!
Jeff Herne
Posts: 80
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2011 2:33 pm
Location: Ixonia, WI (slightly right of center)

Future with clear paint...

Post by Jeff Herne »

I always dip my clear parts in Future. Mix Citadel inks with Future, and dip.

The ratio of the mix determines the degree of tint. Best part, if you mess it up, simply rinse and repeat.

Jeff
Post Reply