Anyone have suggestions on a clear but darkened window for use on Amtrak cars? Mostly these windows look black in daytime with only hints of the interior visible. I am about to finish my OK Engines cars (not Viewliners yet) and prefer to darken these windows.
Photo by me, Toledo OH. National Train Day
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Scott you may want to check out Michael's, Hobby Lobby or some other craft store.
Good ideas! Thanks
RRDOC posted:If you already have clear windows and just need to darken them,
look at the Alclad II transparent paints. Their smoke color should give the right effect.
Bob
I have some of both situations, mostly with windows that need darkened.. will check it out. Thanks
If you want to replace, go by an auto glass shop that does window tinting. They have different shades that goes on with an adhesive. Our local shop had scraps that he gave us and which worked perfectly. We chose to replace what we had with it.
Bill
Any pics of the windows youve done with this product? Sounds great
sunglasses?
ZZ Top style . (''CHEAP SUNGLASSES'' 
)
Scott we are at the beach on vacation. When we get back home, I will try to locate or take some.
Our layout is being built and a lot of our stuff is packed away pending completion of level one. Locating things in the attic this time of year requires a significant cold front. I went in there to get something for the boat before we left home and 3-4 minutes were brutal.
Ask around for some old unexposed and outdated 35mm film (about 1-1/2" square). Maybe a pro photographer or wedding photographer who switched to digital years ago. Strip it out of the canister- viola! - dark tinted window material.
You might want to try Roscolux, a film material (gel) that we have used in the photo industry for many years. Lots of colors to choose from.
As much as I hate to recommend them, B&H might be your easiest option unless you have a well stocked camera store or video rental company near by.
Charlie
If you're in a metro area, look/google around for gels at theatrical supply houses - they're used to provide different colors on stage lights used for everything from stage productions to rock concerts. These are like thin flexible plastic, easily cut with sissors, and color choices cover the waterfront. They're also heat resistant, because they're normally mounted on frames in front of hot stage light fixtures, although that shouldn't be a consideration for your use.
Many great ideas! Thanks!
Bill, no rush, whenever you get time after vacation.
I have used the static cling window tinting kits that you can buy in stores like Hone Depot. Works great and not permanent. You put it on the inside of the car over the existing plastic. I put on 2-3 layers. The first photo shows in normal lighting. Second picture is with the lights dimmed.
You may also want to take a look at an office supply. I found report covers that were dark in color and transparent. I bought several for just a few dollars and then cut them in strips to fit/slide over the existing clear windows in Superliner cars. Perfect tint to the windows! AND...very inexpensive and quick!
OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:You may also want to take a look at an office supply. I found report covers that were dark in color and transparent. I bought several for just a few dollars and then cut them in strips to fit/slide over the existing clear windows in Superliner cars. Perfect tint to the windows! AND...very inexpensive and quick!
Alan,
Thats a fantastic idea! Will be looking for that later today!
Scott
No luck at the office supply stores in my area. All other colors imaginable though. The manager at one store said they didnt get any grey or black transparent folders or anything like that this year.
A stop at Walmart and I bought a spray paint can of Rustoleum transparent tinting. Will try that out on the clear sheets I have here from OK Engines. Hopefully it looks good.
One other possibility that I have used: inkjet transparency sheets, which I believe are used mainly for overhead projector slides. They will take any inkjet printer color you like and as long as you set the opacity to something like 50% or less, they will not blot out all the light from the interior of an illuminated passenger car.
In my case, I used these sheets to dim down the light from overly bright Lionel LEDs.
Here is an OK Engines Slumbercoach with window strips painted with lens tinting paint on clear plastic. If I add some lights to the car they will be transparent blackened tint. I think I will go with this for now. Maybe put a minimum of windows illuminated. This car still needs undercarriage details added.
Did you check on Amazon to see if they have the dark grey file folders or something similar. Other option would be a clear folder, and some window tinting material from the auto parts store. Mike
Here is a K-line dome, with tint painted strip of clear plastic taped behind the existing k-line clear windows. Night running reveals some irregularities in the paint. I will probably switch to an already tinted plastic as ideas above suggest. These painted ones will do for now. 
I almost decided to tint paint the inside of the dome glass but having added a few riders up there I hated to hide them. What do you guys think of the dome being tinted also?
Automotive parts stores sell window tint in different shades for fairly cheap. I think a roll is about 10 bucks. It is peel and stick.
I use exposed X Ray film. get it from my doctor for free
Mike D posted:Automotive parts stores sell window tint in different shades for fairly cheap. I think a roll is about 10 bucks. It is peel and stick.
I think this is what I will do. The spray type just does not give an even coat.
Art supply stores sell acetate sheets about 2' X 3' in many shades and all the colors of the rainbow. It also comes in rolls. j
Charlie posted:You might want to try Roscolux, a film material (gel) that we have used in the photo industry for many years. Lots of colors to choose from.
As much as I hate to recommend them, B&H might be your easiest option unless you have a well stocked camera store or video rental company near by.
Charlie
Roscolux would be my first choice. It's development and primary use is in theatrical stage lighting industry. It's also used widely in the film industry for altering color temperature and diffusion. I would recommend sourcing it from a theatrical supply company. They are more likely to stock the entire range and certainly cheaper than B&H. The color that would best suit your needs would be #98, Medium Grey. You cand double it up if it needs to be darker. Here's a supplier:
https://www.norcostco.com/lighting.aspx
https://us.rosco.com/en/produc...g/filters-diffusions These are mylar film sheets used in theater, concert lighting and throughout the film industry. They come in different sizes. I use for green window tint. They also have neutral density filters in almost any light Transmission percentage like window tinting without the adhesive. So basically you can cut strips and put inside or outside the window depending on the manufacture.
i just finished doing the windows in my house, how much do you need? Thin mylar type stuff
needs no adhesive
If you have old camera film tucked away, you can expose it to light and use that
In r/c airplanes I need to "smoke" the canopies now and then. I use ritz dye in heated water until it is the darkness I am looking for.
The key is to heat the water just under the temp (around 170 degrees) that will distort the plastic. It takes a few minutes so you can keep checking to see that you don't get it darker than you want. It is permanent and will not rub off.
A tip from Tim Allen...don't use your wife's best pan.
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