Windows

[fsn]

Dear Chaps.

I've been painting WWII US troops, which includes several jeeps and 2 1/2 ton trucks. I generally paint the windows black, but it doesn't really do it for me. I've noticed some of you clever types paint blue reflections on windows which I've given a go at as well.

What do you do to paint vehicle windows?

[nikharwood]

I do black - grey - light grey - white gradation; works better for me than blue 

Example here:

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Black, white flash

[petercooman]

I use GW shadow grey:

[Steve J]

Just plain black for me with a gloss lacquer, if I remember the latter that is.

[Matt J]

same as Peter, I use GW shadow grey and blend it black through white when doing anything glass

[Sunray]

A tip I learned from N gauge railway modellers was to shade the window with an HB  pencil. The "lead" shading gives the effect of glass reflection very well at this scale.

[Rob]

I have used all of the methods outlined and the most effective is to use a pencil. I think it is because you get a natural reflection from it.

Another effect I achieved with a "pencilled" model by accident was a window wiper effect. I had decided a SdKfz7 I was painting for a friend needed a touch more weathering and taped a cardboard strip over the windscreen to mask it. Then a quick swipe along the lower half of the model with an airbrush and voila, finished. To my horror paint had got onto the windscreen because window wipers had kept the cardboard off off the windscreen. However on closer inspection they had acted as a windbreak and there was an area of the windscreen with no paint which looked as though it was cleared by the wipers.

My friend was over the moon with my apparent skill. I have unfortunatly never managed to repeat that on my own models. 

[fsn]

I like the pencil idea - I must give that a try! Thanks.

[Russell Phillips]

As an aside, our (very small) local railway station has some boarded windows, which have been painted black with white frames. I saw something similar on a disused industrial building in Carlisle.

I've no idea how common this is, but it always makes me smile when I see it :-)

[Rob]

I like the pencil idea - I must give that a try! Thanks.

Not just for vehicles, it can also be used on buildings.