Thoughts on Passenger Car Windows

[KisNap]

Hi Everyone,

     I'm finishing up some NJ Transit passenger cars and am stuck on the last part - the windows.  I thought of using black tinted cellophane, but it's proving hard to come by and it's only sold in large quantities for wrapping gift baskets.  I also thought of using the window tint stuff for cars, but I don't know where to pick some up and there's no Pep Boys or anything close by besides Sears Auto.

     I want the final look to be a glossy black that's not opaque.  I want to be able to possibly light the cars in the future.  Any ideas?  I've run out.  Thank you!

[mlehman]

Have you checked your local art supply house? They often have plastic and other materials artists use. Not sure about black-tinted plastic, but worth a try.

Try the auto dept's of big box stores or the window treatment places like the Home Despot, Lowe's, etc for window tinting film as they often do carry it.

[ctyclsscs]

These are kind of odd suggestions that may not help, but I'll throw them out there anyway.

Years ago I used to work at a place with a photography studio. They often shot large format  transparencies. I was able to save some of the leftover shots, which were often of items shot on a gray background. I've cut them up and used them over the years for darkened windows. I know most people wouldn't have that kind of thing lying around, but as a last resort, if you had an old film camera you could shoot some slides of a dark sheet of something and then use them in your windows. I know..it's a pretty far fetched idea.

The second is much simpler. If you live anywhere near a dollar store, I'd look around in one. You might find something in a blister pack with tinted plastic, or something in the crafts section, maybe even something in the wrapping supplies, etc. You never know what you can find that will be useful to a modeler.

Jim

[gmpullman]

Hi,

I have seen several shades of Smoke gray, Bronze and an awful green like the Chicago area bi-levels used for a while.

Through the '70s and '80s a deep green color was the norm. Testors has a translucent spray that you could use.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?I=LXNV75&P=8

They also have the green shade.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=TESR2501

Here's a short article about representing the Solex tinting that was popular on many lightweight passenger cars.

http://www.model160.com/n-scale-news-blog/passenger-car-window-tinting/

I have not used these Testors sprays myself but they look promising.

Tamiya and Alclad have their own transparent window tint sprays but I believe they are only available in bottles for airbrushing or hand brushing.

I found several sources for tinted acetate and cellophane. Around Easter time many of the closeout stores or gift wrap centers have pastel colors of cellophane available.

I have also come across color transparency film used for overhead projectors. You usually have to buy a box of multi colors but I have found this stuff handy for many modeling projects.

Hope this helps.

Ed

[ndbprr]

I would look up a local place that tinted windows and raid their dumpster (with their permission).

[BroadwayLion]

Hobby Lobby has paints intended for glass, as if making stained glass like windows.

ROAR

[Geared Steam]

This kit from Woodland scenics has both a large sheet of tint and a sheet 'diffusing" film"  It also comes with these wonderful "sticky spots" to glue the film in a building or a car. I have used it for lighting a stamp mill that had no inner details, it works great, and in my opinion, a great value as the kit comes with everything you need, except scissors.

 

[ctyclsscs]

I just had an idea! I was at the eye doctor a few weeks ago and they gave me a pair of those cheapo tinted things to slip behind in my glasses.

https://www.bernell.com/category/1267

I wonder if you could go to any place they do exams, even a Walmart type optical, and ask for a few of them? They are thin enough to cut with scissors.

Jim

[wjstix]

Several companies make transparent paint that you can use on the inside of clear plastic window glazing. It allows some light in, but prevents people from seeing there's no interior (since I assume that's what you want to block out the windows for?) Check the local hobby shop for the paints.

[danno54]

I believe Tamiya has gray clear tint in the small brush bottles. I've used the red and yellow to tint clear or chrome lights on my car models. Just brush on more coats to get a deeper tint.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

I have tinted the clear windows of dome cars with green colored cellophane sheets (cut to size) on the inside surfaces of the clear plastic. Works great for me.

I don't know if  dark gray cellophane is available, but if it is available you should try it.