 ochoin  | 13 Apr 2026 10:40 p.m. PST |
I have some WW2 resin & plastic kit softskins to paint.
Can someone give me some clues on how to paint the windscreens? I've never done it before but I have vague recollections of people painting them light blue….? |
| The H Man | 14 Apr 2026 1:13 a.m. PST |
Beat me to it. A very light grey/white with a hint of blue, ideally streaked may be more realistic. Black for tinted, perhaps streaked grey. Or cut them out, perhaps adding blister pack glass??? |
| BillyNM | 14 Apr 2026 2:20 a.m. PST |
Depends on the scale and camouflage. WIth small scale (1:200 and smaller) vehicles in desert schemes, black looks good. |
| 79thPA | 14 Apr 2026 2:48 a.m. PST |
I use a skybkue with some white "reflection" marks. |
| ochoin | 14 Apr 2026 4:58 a.m. PST |
Any visual references, 79thPA?
Thanks, BillyNM – mine is 1/72 (the only scale I use): still black? |
| John Armatys | 14 Apr 2026 5:12 a.m. PST |
Nowadays I tend to go for black or very dark grey or dark blue – have a look at cars around you…. |
| colgar6 | 14 Apr 2026 5:53 a.m. PST |
Try this: link . That's where I got the technique I use. |
| ochoin | 14 Apr 2026 6:05 a.m. PST |
colgar6 I like the first method. To my eyes, the second method looks "cartoony". Thanks. |
| CAPTAIN BEEFHEART | 14 Apr 2026 6:30 a.m. PST |
I'm with John Armatys on this. Always observe the real thing if possible. This applies to tree colors, brick colors etc. Look at windshields in different lights and angles.
Eventually some commonality can be found, such as grey tones
that range from light to very dark. Bring a sketch pad and take notes. …for what it's worth. |
| BillyNM | 14 Apr 2026 10:38 a.m. PST |
Never painted 1/72nd windscreens, but I think black will look wrong. I'd probably go with a mid blue-grey, maybe with a reflection streak and then gloss varnish it – hopefully the shine will distract from the paint. You could try silver, like I do for aircraft canopies, but doubt it'd look right on vehicles. OTOH the guy at the link below has great approach, albeit with transparent windows. BUT if you went for a slightly darker grey and then a lighter dirtier colour for the area not swept by the wipers? Worth a try? link |
| ochoin | 14 Apr 2026 12:14 p.m. PST |
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| Martin Rapier | 14 Apr 2026 12:50 p.m. PST |
I undercoat them black, paint them mid blue and then highlight with white lines and dots as a representation of reflected light. Black with gloss varnish looks OK too. When I was a kid I used to paint them silver, which looks OK on 6mm. |
wants to know if you can tell the difference between weaker and stronger magnets with 3mm aircraft.