I am about ready to start on the windows in my Merchants Row III. I have read window shades can be made with Masking Tape, How is this done? Is the tape stuck in the inside of the outside of the glazing? Does it need to be clear coated or anything?
What about using decals placed on the glazing to use for curtains/drapes? I am wanting to do something to the upper windows so the light will shine thru but it will look as if there are window shades, open curtains, closed curtains and so on, but you won’t be able to tell if there is an actual interior inside. I am thinking of painting some of the window panes flat black on the inside to represent that the lights are off in that room. I am figuring the upper floor will be apts. I have read that curtains can be made by using glue/water mixture and toilet paper, anyone know the details on doing this?
Any info on doing the upper windows will be appriciated. I will get to the lower level later. Mike
Mike, I cut the tape to the size I want and stick it to the inside of the window. If you don’t like the color you can paint it and then glue it to the inside of the window.
I have done both decals and paper glued inside on windows , I go to store web sites and copy pictures of real windows , shades etc. print and glue or decal inside the windows. Such as this:
If you want to completely black out a window, a better method than painting would be to cover it on the inside with black electrical tape. No matter how carefully you try to paint, you’ll end up with thin spots that the light will “glow” through (assuming you’re brush painting, of course).
Come to think of it, if you want to have the translucent window shade effect, you could cover the inside with white electrical tape, and the light should be able to shine through without being able to see what’s inside.
As for the tissue paper curtains, cut to the size you want, then shape to your liking, then saturate with diluted white glue, then re-shape as necessary and allow to dry, then attach to the inside of your model with whatever method suits your fancy. May be better to use tissue paper like you get in gift bags rather than toilet paper. I haven’t actually done it myself, but that’s how it’s done as I understand it - seems pretty simple and straightforward.
I did what folks recommended on my “window dressing” thread. Did a google images search for drapes and blinds. Printed them out the proper size. Sealed them with some clear coat (like home made decals) I then sprayed the inside of the glass pains with clear coat and pressed the blinds into place on the wet clear coat. Let dry, trim and install. They’re turning out great!
I use different types of masking tape (various colors of the off white) throughout the building. Doing the entire structure from the same roll doesn’t give different coloring of the shades. Also by placing a second or third piece the light will show at different shades for the shade. You can place a few slightly crooked and even show a tattered edge.
I’ve used white glue diluted 1:1 with water applied to kleenex and allowed to dry overnight. Cut to shape and apply to back of windows–looks great to me.
I’ve also purchased something called cover slips used for microscope slides for glass windows. Actually, I think the cover slips are in fact glass, just very very thin. Purchased a box of 100 of these slips on eBay for about $3.
The use of slide covers works fantastic. Some of the oldtimers even would nick the edge of the slide, cracking the glass after it was positioned and glued in place to simulate a real cracked window. Some reglueing may be needed to hold any broken oieces not secure.
I make mine with white of off white card stock strips. Varrying the height of the shades give them a realistic look as well. Below is a pic of one building I did this way. Sorry its a little blurry.
I pick up ribbon from Michael’s when it is on sale. There is such a variety of thin ribbons for decoration. I’m putting in some “blinds” right now, and I’ll post a pick of the outcome.
Years ago I found an old green window shade in a derelict railroad building. The shade was well weathered, but when unwound the underneath looked just like new. I now cut up pieces of it for use in my SP structures windows.
I either read or saw on the Dream Plan Build videos an idea for window shades that seemed skeptical to me, but when I tried it on a very special HO kitbashed/scratch model (Grandmom’s home), they turned out beautifully.
The idea is using a regular brown paper from a grocery bag (they say sack in Texas) and just cut a piece and glue it to the inside of the window pains with the Testors clear parts cement.
This works perfectly, and you can’t beat the price!
I’ve been using ribbon from Jo Ann Fabrics to make HO scale window shades, blinds and curtains. There is such a variety in the “ribbon” aisle and it seems like there is always a bin of it on sale.
I used one style in the picture window, and a different type for the door. The upstairs window shades are actually the paper dividers that come between each “pane” of microscope slide covers, which I used for the glass.
