"Small Vehicle Windows.. method" Topic

So I'm painting up some matchbox cars to do the Road Warrior kind of thing. My method has been flat primary colors and then inking and drybrushing the surface. That's a great overall effect and it executes quickly, but I want to paint over the windows, which are a little garish in Day glo Hot Wheels colors. One method I've seen is to paint the window/portal/whatever pale blue with a little dab of white as a window shine. Is there a nice tutorial on this somewhere? Or another idea or color combo that might look "windshield like"?

Walt

A good search term might be "jewel painting" -- that's the shading and highlight technique. Another idea is to look at manufacturers sites -- they often have top painting talent doing their vehicle windows.

I paint mine gloss black with a white "corner"

I like the different methods from this Flames of War article

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I tend to like dark gray for this, with perhaps a bit of highlighting to add interest.

Follow with a gloss coat over the window sections, for a more realistic appearance.

I use a light blue/grey and then brush on gloss coat after the overall model has been hit with dullcoat.

Quite a while ago on my blog, I talked a bit about how I do windows, as well as canopies:

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link

Your models (or at least their windows) will only 'reflect reality' if you use real glass.

While we're on the subject, a question:

If I break a window will it reflect badly on me?

Just remember that "Blue" windows are a reflection of the sky. So if youre doing a post- apocalypse theme, you might want to try a gray color scheme.

I guess it depends on what caused your apocalypse. Nuclear Fallout (gray) v. a virus (blue).

Very good point.. I went with a dark grey scheme.

Walt