Window tint?????

[Peej]

A mate of mine is about to build his 1st kit for quite a number of years. He has decided on a tamiya Toyota Celica. He wants to do it so it looks like his celica. He asked me how he can tint the windows. I haven't got a clue so I thought I would ask you guys.
Thank you in advance.

[Steve O]

Hi Paul i use Tamiya smoke spray it works a treat, use it on my truck sun visors and give it about three coats.

All the best Steve.

[Guest]

That’s what I’d suggest too: transparent paint. Tamiya X-19 Smoke is the best-known, but other manufacturers have similar paints. Don’t brush-paint it, though, that’ll just ruin the kit’s windows because you won’t get it to cover evenly enough (voice of experience speaking there).

[Peej]

Thanks guys. Is there any way it can be achieved without the use of an airbrush as I haven't got one (yet), my wallet won't allow it. lol.

[Mr Bowcat]

I haven't tried myself, but I guess you could dip the piece in the Tamiya smoke, much like you would a canopy in Klear.

(Bowcat assumes no responsibility of this goes horribly wrong :tears-of-joy.

[PaulTRose]

you could always find somewhere who tint real cars and ask if they have any little off cuts in the bin

[Guest]

I haven't tried myself, but I guess you could dip the piece in the Tamiya smoke, much like you would a canopy in Klear.

(Bowcat assumes no responsibility of this goes horribly wrong :tears-of-joy.

Try it with a spare window first, or do it next to the kitchen sink so that you can immediately put the part under the tap to wash off the paint while it’s still wet if it looks like it goes wrong.

Also, Tamiya paint dissolves in methanol, so you could try that to get it off the window if it turns out wrong. Again, better try it on a spare piece before you actually coat the windows you need to use, though (a length of sprue that holds the window will do — but don’t try it with the windows attached to it ).

[stillp]

The problem with dipping is that it will pool on the lowest part, so the film thickness won't be even. I'd suggest thinning it a lot, then, using a wide flat brush, apply as many coats as it needs to get the degree of tint you want, leaving it to dry between coats. The multiple thin coats will prevent (hopefully) brushmarks being a problem.

Pete

[Peej]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I have got some old canopies in the spares box to play about with.

[minitnkr]

I've used magic marker to good effect by painting just the inside. PaulE