I am kitbashing an HO scale streamline era Mopac observation car using a Rivarossi car as a starting point. I want to replace the the window glazing with something more realistic. I have been trying to find a thick flexible plastic film with a faint green tint. Does anybody have any ideas or past experience? The only thing I found so far is an 8.5" x 11" sheet from Railway Classics that would cost at least $35 with s&h.
Really? did they have any deep blue, almost black sheets? looking for some for a building i’m thinking about making.
No, they only have the green tinted sheets. You can go to www.railwayclassics.com and look in their in stock parts section of the .pdf catalog. Good Luck!
Bah guess it’s time to hit the weird hobby places in town (you know the ones, they don’t do trains!), Hmm…wonder if Michaels will have them…
Jay.
Perhaps an office supply shop for tinted sheets.
I think the term is Transparencies
yea for what he needs a Transparency will probably do, if he can find a nice green. but i need semi-dark blue and the plastic needs to be thicker than a piece of paper, otherwise i’m going to have to paint clear plexi and hope i get it coated just enough for the right effect and still be able to get light to shine thru.
NTDN,
Did you look in the automotive store for that window tint stuff they sell. It should give you even coverage on the plexiglass and let the light shine thru. Just an idea - I have not tried this.
Later…
Actually, now that you mention it…That might work.
And look what i found that’lll be perfect! https://www.tintking.com/Secure/orderfilm.cfm#4
I know they’re expensive, 20’ rolls, hmm…maybe i can find smaller units elsewheres.
Jay.
I have a box of overhead projector transparencies designed for printing with ink jet printers. They have some kind of coating on one side that makes them very slightly opaque but the glossy side would go out any way. They are the standard 8 1/2" x 11" size. I would think you could print almost anything on them as I sure have for business purposes. It should be possible to lay out venetian blinds, tinted windows or curtains in one of the illustrator or CAD programs and print them out as a strip. they are readily available at office supply stores and are not at all expensive.
Projector transparencies should do the trick. If you have the color you want they should be able to print it out for you. The local Kinkos charges a dollar a sheet to print an 8X11. Once printed the transparencies are relatively color-fast but will oxidize over time if exposed to sun. They are pretty thick as i recall …on the order of .006 to .010 as I remember, which may be a bit thick for your scale. Also i dont know how they stand up to CA or styrene adhesives so you will have to test a sample.
Another option is to use transparent paint. Tamyia makes transparent green, blue, red and smoke gray. Testors makes transparent blue and smoke gray in spary cans. Tamyia has be either brushed or airbrushed. Art stores sell transparent Mylar. For the Mopac only the dome windows were tinted. remaining windows were clear.
Ch