Good morning, I have about got my UP pasenger cars painted and ready to do the assemble. Since the cars do not have interiors, I would like to tint the window glazing. I know that there some products out there that are designed to do this, but aside from ordering them I am wondering if there is something elece that would work or could be used. I was wondering if Rit faberic dye would work, any one tried this approach? I have also used a felt pen but it makes the windows very dark.
Any suggestions would be appriciated. Thanks, Mike
Hi Mike, I have never tried tinting, but as a former signmaker in Bristol England, I had many enquiries regarding vehicle window tinting, so I do know that there are some products you may wish to experiment with.
Tinting Film comes on a roll like clingfilm, is avalable in several shades, try your local customizing garage they may have an odd end of roll.
There is also a spray on window tint, the more you spray the darker it gets, but test it first on a scrap end.
Someone a week or two ago went to a train show. They posted that there was a new vendor there that had some real nice scenery products.(Unreal Details maybe??[%-)]) They posted a link to this persons web site and they had some pre cut pieces of acetate window tint in a few colors at a pretty good price. I can’t find the post or the link though![D)] Maybe this will jog someones memory.
I asked a similar question (among others) a few months ago for Santa Fe Hi-Levels. Here is a link to that thread:
Window Tinting
The first page has some info on tinting ideas and the third page of that thread describes what I ended up using, transparent color dividers from Wal-Mart. Below is a photo (also shown on the third page of the linked thread) of what the tinting material looks like after being cut to size. Note these are blue for Hi-level tinting. I’m not familiar with UP windows, but green tinting material also comes with the color dividers.
UPDATE
Smitty, looks like you remembered that thread too, similar timing too [:D]
Check out the model car paint at the LHS. Should have a tint there. Fool around with it using straight from the bottle or thinning it til you get the shade you like. Also there’s pretinted acetate around. Check the scrapbook stores. A person should check out the scrapbook stores anyway. They got a ton of cool tools and so does the beading dept. at Michaels .
If I remember correctly, the UP only tinted the windows in their dome cars. All windows at floor level were clear. If you’re modeling the UP business fleet, then you can use Testor’s Smoke Gray in a Spray bomb.
