simulating tinted glass

blakeh1 · Post by **blakeh1** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:43 pm

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

Joseph C. Brown · Post by **Joseph C. Brown** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:09 pm

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.

blakeh1 · Post by **blakeh1** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:26 pm

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

blakeh1 · Post by **blakeh1** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:28 pm

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 · Post by **TREKKRIFFIC** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:33 pm

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.

Rogviler · Post by **Rogviler** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:45 pm

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 · Post by **WarpeD** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 6:32 pm

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.

Joseph C. Brown · Post by **Joseph C. Brown** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:33 pm

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.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:35 pm

Me neither, I've used Tamiya clear paints for quite some time.

LiebeVision · Post by **LiebeVision** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:37 pm

Yeah, I just finished a bottle of smoke, and no chunks.

blakeh1 · Post by **blakeh1** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 1:37 am

well not exactly large chunks, but a fine almost grit/flake type of thing going on.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 11:54 am

Never seen any particulate in Tamiya Smoke, are you thinking of one of thier metalics perhaps?

Umi_Ryuzuki · Post by **Umi_Ryuzuki** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 1:02 pm

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

KLINGON CAV · Post by **KLINGON CAV** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 8:33 pm

what about Aircraft canopies is there a way to make that slight gold tint?

Harry Joy · Post by **Harry Joy** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 8:35 pm

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.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:59 am

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.

KLINGON CAV · Post by **KLINGON CAV** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:34 am

Thank you.

Jeff Herne · Post by **Jeff Herne** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 9:04 am

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

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simulating tinted glass

simulating tinted glass

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