"Painting MadBob's Laffly S20?" Topic

I am trying to figure out what is the best way to paint the windshield (windscreen) on MadBob's Laffly S20? Since it's a solid piece -- instead of being an open frame -- I need to paint the glass. However, I am not sure how to do that in a way which will not distract from the obvious fact that you should be able to see through it, but you cannot!!!!!

Thoughts? Help?

An old buddy of mine used to grind windscreens out out and insert a piece of transparent plastic. He then outlined the holding frame in paint. Would that work for you?

It would if I were skilled enough. The windscreen is very fragile. I am afraid if I try to remove the panels given the type of resin MB uses, I would only succeed in destroying the frame.

I've gone so far as to contemplate trying to MAKE a frame somehow and use transparent plastic (e.g., cut from Warlord Games blisters) to make the glass! However, I'm not sure I'm skilled enough to do that either! that was why I was wondering if there were not some clever way t' paint the thing!?

Why not try printing out a picture of a car interior viewed from the windshield, glue it in place then just cut a piece of clear plastic such as used in sheet protectors and glue on top?

go outside look at car at a distance 100+ meters see what colour a windscreen is and paint it that way. Most look black to me with some light reflecting of it.

Are you going to attach it folded or upright? I have the same model, and I'm thinking of painting it dusty brown with some jewel-effect wiper-shaped sections and glue it on flat.

Appreciate the collective commentary/ suggestions. Seriously! In reply, and not in order:

-- I have glued one windshield in place "deployed" or "upright" already… However, am probably going to glue at least one other "down" or "flat." Am now thinking of painting these a dark grey with some kind of highlights as if reflecting light… In fact, as I left my office on campus today, I actually paid attention to what windshields and windows looked like (reflective? opaque?) at about 75 to 100 yards, ruling out the obvious disqualified (anachronistic) cars, trucks and SUVs with tinted glass. I also like the idea of simulating the "swath" of clear glass left in the wake of windshield wipers -- but NOW I will have to determine if the S20TL wipers were mounted on the bottom of the windshield (like most cars, for example), or the top, as on American Willys' Jeeps?

-- I find the idea of scratch-building a frame to which to glue some clear plastic cut from a WG or other company's blisters rather daunting. I LIKE the idea -- I just think it's beyond my skill (and fumbling fingers) at 1/56 scale!

-- NOT beyond my skill, not as such, has proved to be a variation of the last idea. With a brand-spanking-new blade fitted in the trusty Xacto handle, this evening I carefully "cradled" the windshield of my second S20 on a double-folded hi-quality paper towel. This provided the resin piece the chance to "give" when gentle pressure was applied, and also some stability at the same time. I then CAREFULLY scored the two "panes of glass" until they came away from the frame. I should now be able to glue a piece of clear plastic behind the frame (i.e. on the driver's side), and there you go -- well, uummm, there "I" go! I will probably paint thin lines corresponding to the frame along the back-side of the plastic (driver's side) in the same color as the rest of the vehicle, so that it gives the hint that the "glass" is in fact fitted into the frame (not just "resting" on the back side of it!).

-- HOPEFULLY, I will be able to do this for the windshields of the two remaining S20s and one S15 currently in my collection!! I think this is the way to go… I think so, even for the model on which I am thinking I might glue the windshield in the "down" position.

Again -- sincere thanks for all the suggestions! They did help me crystallize my thoughts!