Simulating tinted glass-passenger cars

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’ve been looking for a way to simulate tinted glass on some of my pre-city UP passenger cars from Walthers. Finescale Modeler, a sister publication to MR has numerous articles expounding the use of Future floor wax for use on clear canopies. Supposedly makes the part clearer and gives a better representation of real glass.

I currently don’t have any “Future” on hand but I’m wondering if a drop or two of food coloring in a quantity of Future and sprayed on the clear parts/windows would work? Future is harmless to plastic according to what I’ve read. Anybody have any techniques they could share on window tinting?

Has anyone tried this Future concoction?

2

I have not tried this yet, but if seems like a logical approach to me.

paraphrased from the scale auto forum;

for black tinting the best way is model tinting paint (TESTORS OR TAMIYA).

But for colors, food colors are compatible with Future floor wax, (mix in small batches, testing to achieve the color!)

So if you need a blue, yellow, red, or green shade (natural glass tint), a few drops in a badger jar of Future will give you realism.

shoot it on the inside of the “glass” in very light coats, until the desired shade is achieved, and finish the windows with clear Future (after the color has dried of course).

3

Thanks, I’ll give it a try on some of my older rivarossi junk cars. Tinted glass, in my opinion, adds a great deal of relism to a model. I pick up a copy of Finescale Modeler every once and a while and I’m always blown away by the realism and the techniques. Too bad a lot of this info doesn’t migrate over to sister publication MR.

4

Sorry to double dip but I forgot to ask what do you use for thinning Future and cleaning your airbrush. I’ve never used this stuff before.

5

Years ago MR did an article on building various HO vehicle kits. They suggested using a Testors Gloss Enamel #1539 Sappire (like a metallic blue).

Well, I tried it and was very happy with the results on the vehicles, and suspect it would work just as nicely on railcars.

Oh, when I built a “plethora” of Athearn based ATSF Cabooses (per Andy Sperandeo MR article of several years ago), I used a wash of black/thinner on the inside of the windows. If you are not using interior lights, this works out extremely well.

“Twer I were you”, as my dear ol Daddy used to say, I would get some window plastic and experiment for the desired effect you are looking for. Perhaps some Athearn passenger car “windows” would be good to practice on…

6

no need to thin, and clean up with ammonia based window cleaner.

FYI,

Future is now marketed as “Pledge with Future Shine”

7

I’ve been looking for a cheap source of 1/16" Plexiglass in 1 foot squares or so. I remember when I was in Jr college studying Architecture it was all the rage for model-making. They had several brown or bronze tinted colors that would be perfect for passenger cars. Any ideas?

8

I know this may not be a cheap source, but look at some of the office supply stores that offer supplies such as what you are looking for. Your best bet is to look at these stores in college towns where a large university that offers architectural and engineering degrees.

Another option is to search through the yellow page and contact an architectural firm and tell them what you are looking for. They may be of some help to you.