Tinting Passenger Car Windows...

[wombat457]

Afternoon All,

I have four Amtrak Cars (Con Car) that have no interior detail and have been considering what to do about that, if anything. I have been looking for interiors for the cars (72') but have not been successful in doing that. What I also considered was "Tinting" the windows so the interior can't be seen making having interior detail a non issue.

Has anyone done that, tinted windows? If so, how did you do it? What did you use? How successful was it? Could Auto Glass Tint be used perhaps?

I did test try using acrylic paint, but that looked terrible and didn't cover as I would like it too - very streaky and uneven. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

On the other hand and failing the tint idea, does anyone know of someone who makes detailed interior kits for 72' passenger car coaches, sleeper, dinning car etc?

 

[Bruette]

Tony I have Lionel Polar Express passenger cars and they have silhouettes in the windows maybe something like that would be easier to do.

 

[Espeefan]

I remove the windows and airbrush them from the inside with Tamiya clear blue or clear green, or clear smoke depending on the prototype. You can add thin coats until it's dark enough for your taste

 

[wombat457]

Tony I have Lionel Polar Express passenger cars and they have silhouettes in the windows maybe something like that would be easier to do.

Louis,

Thanks mate, that certainly is an option to think about.

I remove the windows and airbrush them from the inside with Tamiya clear blue or clear green, or clear smoke depending on the prototype. You can add thin coats until it's dark enough for your taste

Alan,

Thanks and I think that is the way for me to go and will probably give the best result.

 

[josephbw]

Back when I was a kid, I built model cars as a hobby. I bought a can of transparent green Testors spray paint and shot a thin coat on the inside of the windows. I don't know if it's still available or not though.

Joe

 

[Yannis]

Tony, i recommend what Alan suggested. You can also reduce the opacity/strength of the clear color by mixing the clear blue (for example blue) paint with some clear coat from the same manufacturer. Experiment though on how to get a wet coat on plastic so that the finished result is super glossy.

As for interiors, the only info i got is about resin seats, tables and other equipment that you install inside the car depending on the prototype.

(OT: Tony, may i pm you about an 85' car you mentioned?)

 

[wombat457]

Yannis,

Sure you can PM me.

 

[new guy]

Not a painter and have no airbrush, would old sunglass plastic cut to size and glued inside the windows work?

 

[wombat457]

new guy,

I think the plastic would be too thick, if that was a problem under the circumstances; however, any "sun glass" plastic lens is going to be curved and that would cause a few issues I think. Good thought though

 

[new guy]

I wear prescription glasses so I have a bunch of old ones that fit over or under 'regular' glasses, the plastic of some of them is pretty flimsy. When I try it I will post.

 

[wombat457]

new guy,

Will be interested in seeing how it turns out, and hope it does. I was actually thinking about the good old fashion walmart type of sunglasses though and didn't consider prescription type lenses.

 

[new guy]

new guy,

Will be interested in seeing how it turns out, and hope it does. I was actually thinking about the good old fashion walmart type of sunglasses though and didn't consider prescription type lenses.

The ones I'm thinking of using were real cheapies, just hung inside the frame of your glasses. 100% thin plastic, no frame of it's own. They were actually stamped or molded in a pretty angular shape. See em all the time on the rack .99 cents or something.

 

[Rico]

I've used window tint film left over from a body shop with a fair bit of success.
Tricky getting the bubbles to clear but I think it had to do with the plastic surface.

 

[wombat457]

I've used window tint film left over from a body shop with a fair bit of success.
Tricky getting the bubbles to clear but I think it had to do with the plastic surface.

Rico,

Using automotive film was a consideration but the issue of getting it to stick to the plastic did cross my mind, especially with getting out the inevitable bubbling that does will occur. The thought of applying enough heat to it to remove the bubbles made me wonder what that might do to the plastic.

 

[MikeOwnby]

Have you thought of printing some decals? As you may know, printing colors on clear decal film leaves the color somewhat transparent because the printer assumes a white color that isn't there on clear decal film. If you were to print brown squares they wouldn't come out as solid, opaque brown, but rather much like window tint film. You might have to experiment with which shade of brown gives the desired effect, but they would definitely be easier to apply and remove bubbles from than actual tint film.

 

[Gwpapa]

This looks like another project where clear mailing labels would work well. I have some I use for windows that work really well. I have one type that are slightly tinted and really look great. Print whatever you want on them then cut and stick.

 

[wombat457]

Have you thought of printing some decals? As you may know, printing colors on clear decal film leaves the color somewhat transparent because the printer assumes a white color that isn't there on clear decal film. If you were to print brown squares they wouldn't come out as solid, opaque brown, but rather much like window tint film. You might have to experiment with which shade of brown gives the desired effect, but they would definitely be easier to apply and remove bubbles from than actual tint film.

This looks like another project where clear mailing labels would work well. I have some I use for windows that work really well. I have one type that are slightly tinted and really look great. Print whatever you want on them then cut and stick.

Two top ideas that I hadn't thought of. Thanks for the ideas guys.