Anyone try using automotive window tint film?

[Jon Cole]

I need some model car windows tinted dark, and I am considering buying a roll of window tint. The model has no compound curves, so that shouldn't be an issue.
Also, does the raw plastic makers such as Evergreen, Plastruct, etc. offer dark smoke tint clear sheet plastic?

[Matt Bacon]

I don't know if they do this in the US, but the local window tint suppliers in the UK will send you samples (to decide exactly how black.grey/gold you want) for a few quid. I ticked a few boxes and got 6x 4"x6' pieces of tint, which will do quite a lot of 1:24/1:25 cars...

best,

M.

[BigTallDad]

Instead of foil, take some watercolor paints made for kids and add chunks to Pledge with Future. Apply a coat with a paint brush, let it dry, then decide if another coat is needed.

[DPNM]

You may want to read the label of the window tint as I know some say not to use on plexi-glass. I believe there are some made that are recommended for use on plexi. I know styrene isn't plexi but some tints may attack plastic.

Another idea, if you have an airbrush find some cheap (as in WalMart) dark water base paints. Spray the inside of the glass you want to tint. If you don't like it, wash it off. Just a thought.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Testors makes an aerosol #2949 "Transparent Black Window Tint" in it's "Custom Lacquer" line that works very well.

Clean your glass well and spray light coats on the inside of the glass until the desired darkness is reached.

 

Steve

[89AKurt]

I wanted to try a mirrored type of tint, but it's flat, and don't see how it can form to curved windows without getting crinkled up.

[stitchdup]

4 minutes ago, 89AKurt said:

I wanted to try a mirrored type of tint, but it's flat, and don't see how it can form to curved windows without getting crinkled up.

I havent tried it, but diluted molotowe might work for that. It might not work as I dont know how much it would need diluted to get it transparent

[Michael jones]

I have used window tint film on this AE86. It was some stuff I bought from Aliexpress.  Came rolled up and crinkled. Went down with a few small bubbles. I tried my best to get rid of them. The stuff is quite sticky which is great. I think the best idea is to go to a window tinting business and ask for some off cuts. At least they will be flatter then... This idea came from the Nascar modellers who do this all the time.

[Intmd8r]

That Toyota looks great!

I purchased a vinyl headlight tint off of eBay a while back.  Its self adhesive, has the right look, no mess.  Cost me roughly $10 delivered.  

Being self adhesive vinyl,  it performs well around curves too.

[Zoom Zoom]

On 2/11/2019 at 11:15 AM, 89AKurt said:

I wanted to try a mirrored type of tint, but it's flat, and don't see how it can form to curved windows without getting crinkled up.

That's where Alclad Chrome works. These old photos are grainy and it looks perfect in person, but since Spaz Stix mirror chrome (similar to Alclad but will stick to a black lacquer base) was intended to be shot inside of clear R/C bodies, I tried Alclad II chrome inside this Kaminari Celica's windows. It looks great in person. Just shoot it through an airbrush in a couple light coats, followed by some smoke tint. You can get a nice fade too.

 

[89AKurt]

2 hours ago, Zoom Zoom said:

That's where Alclad Chrome works. These old photos are grainy and it looks perfect in person, but since Spaz Stix mirror chrome (similar to Alclad but will stick to a black lacquer base) was intended to be shot inside of clear R/C bodies, I tried Alclad II chrome inside this Kaminari Celica's windows. It looks great in person. Just shoot it through an airbrush in a couple light coats, followed by some smoke tint. You can get a nice fade too.

[...]

That's the look I'm talking about.  The project I am thinking about, the BMW Nazca, the greenhouse is gold tint.  I got the Alcad gold, tried on a parts box window, not thrilled.  Did you thin the Alcad to do that?

[Zoom Zoom]

1 hour ago, 89AKurt said:

That's the look I'm talking about.  The project I am thinking about, the BMW Nazca, the greenhouse is gold tint.  I got the Alcad gold, tried on a parts box window, not thrilled.  Did you thin the Alcad to do that?

I doubt I used any thinner, the chrome is very thin itself and goes on in very thin coats. 

Their gold doesn't have the plated/reflective qualities that the chrome does. 

Aren't the Nazca kit windows molded in smoke tint? You might want to try a test by replicating the smoke tint on spare kit glass using one of the transparent smoke colors. First see how the Alclad Chrome looks under the smoke tint. If it's still not gold enough, apply a thin layer of transparent yellow to the glass on the outside. Or try it inside the glass before applying the Alclad. It might get you a lot closer. 

[89AKurt]

2 hours ago, Zoom Zoom said:

I doubt I used any thinner, the chrome is very thin itself and goes on in very thin coats. 

Their gold doesn't have the plated/reflective qualities that the chrome does. 

Aren't the Nazca kit windows molded in smoke tint? You might want to try a test by replicating the smoke tint on spare kit glass using one of the transparent smoke colors. First see how the Alclad Chrome looks under the smoke tint. If it's still not gold enough, apply a thin layer of transparent yellow to the glass on the outside. Or try it inside the glass before applying the Alclad. It might get you a lot closer. 

That's what I thought, seems no different than Testors gold.  Yes on smoked clear plastic.  Someday will experiment on parts box glass, thinking of adding some gold to the chrome now.

[Zoom Zoom]

17 minutes ago, 89AKurt said:

That's what I thought, seems no different than Testors gold.  Yes on smoked clear plastic.  Someday will experiment on parts box glass, thinking of adding some gold to the chrome now.

Adding Alclad gold to their chrome likely won't work. The chrome metal particles are a much finer grind than the gold, it gets reflective look by how each molecule lays down flat on a surface and reflects light. The gold is just regular gold flake, it won't have any reflective quality, the metal pigment doesn't work the same way the chrome does because it lays down in more 3D particles. That's why I suggested using clear yellow (or perhaps orange, or a mixture with orange, or perhaps smoke) to fine-tune the tint/look of the chrome to more of a gold appearance.

[89AKurt]

Ok, thanks!

[martin9428]

 

[martin9428]

If you decide to use window film, make sure you wet the window good with water first so you can position the film, then use a peice of credit card of something soft as a squeegie and push out from the middle to the glass edge. If you don't use water, the film will stick and you'll get air bubbles and wrinkles. Don't ask how I figured this out.

[Jon Cole]

Thank you all for your suggestions! I may try the Tamiya smoke on clear spoons.

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

2 hours ago, Jon Cole said:

Thank you all for your suggestions! I may try the Tamiya smoke on clear spoons.

 

He says in the video, "If you screw it up, there's no way to fix it"?

I don't know about the Tamiya paint, but if you use Testors #2949 "Transparent Black Window Tint" you'll get the same results, and if you're not happy with the results, an alcohol swab will take it right off so you can try again.

This stuff is very forgiving.

 

 

Steve