Sun roofs/tinted glass

[Lee]

It seems about 20 percent of the vehicles that I see on the street nowdays have sun roofs. Every type of vehicle seems to have one from sport cars thru suvs. Is there any model available with sun roofs? Also all sun roofs have tinted glass. Has anyone found a clear smoky plastic to use for tinted glass? Or has someone found something else to use?

Also the windshield and other windows usually have a lighter tinted glass. Again, what is used?

[skunk]

My old Rietze Honda Accord has a sunroof, and so do a few other Rietzes. If you want to make your own, the easiest would probably be to find a product that is packaged in clear tinted plastic and bend and cut to suit.
Tamiya also makes a smoke color, but you would probably have to apply several layers with an airbrush to get the desired darkness.

[Albert]

The Rietze Mondeo 5 door Mk I is another model with sunroof. Also some Busch models (Escort, AX) have the sunroof, this time opened.

I used the Tamiya "Smoke X-19" to paint the sunroof hardtop of the Mercedes 500 SL. I have also used this paint for the rear windows in some cars. Two layers slightly solved with thinner were enought for the 500 SL.

Another solution is use the negatives of a film.

If you needed a completely dark windows you could paint their internal side with an edding marker

[Eric]

I've tried the Tamiya 'smoke' paint as well but couldn't get it right, the colour kept flowing to the edges of the windows somehow, forming a darker edge.

Using a marker didn't work for me either.... streaks all over

The easiest way to imitate tinted windows I can think of is using the same foil that is used on real cars. Or would that be too thick to use ?

[Lee]

I think we have found a product for someone to manufacture - a clear smoky plastic sheet. Not only could it be used in model vehicles of all scales, it could be used in model building windows. Someone want to email Plastruct or Evergreen? ;D

[Albert]

I remember I used an adhesive tinted paper years ago when I was in the school. It was available in diverese colours including dark grey, black. I don´t know if it would stick well on the plastics.

[cfesmire]

I just purchased a product used to tint the windows of real cars. It is a film that comes in 4 colors, from a light tint to an opaque mirror and one peels a protective film from self adhesive side of the tinted part. I have just done the windows in a Herpa Setra bus and they look great! And it was very easy. $12 at your local auto supply will get you a roll of this stuff to last a lifetime in our scale.

[cfesmire]

Now that I've gone to the trouble of buying the expensive tint material, my hobby shop guy tells me Testors make a spray actually called 'window tint' in three colors. Next time a little more investigating will be necessary. I am happy with the results of the film however.

[Lee]

Stick with the film. As Eric said, the paint will gather in the corners giving an uneven coating if you are not very careful.

[Eric]

I think that painting could work if you paint a piece of clear plastic that is bigger then the windows you need. (This only works for kits ofcourse) Since the paint gathers in the edges just cut these off and you'll have an evenly coated piece that can be used.

[cfesmire]

If anyone would like some of the tinted sheet that I have please message me your address and I will send an envelope sized piece.
As I said, I have a 30" x 20' long roll .

Chester