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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Catullus on 19 August 2014, 06:17:00 PM

Title: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: Catullus on 19 August 2014, 06:17:00 PM: I'm making some windows from some salvaged plastic from a blister pack and some cross stick mesh. Anybody have ideas about how to make the plastic look like old, dirty glass? One option I'm considering is spraying it with a matt varnish in the cold and deliberately trying to get that frost effect that you'd normally try to avoid.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-si19WoSPzRA/U_OFeU31MTI/AAAAAAAAA10/1FvCKQ_6a9w/s1600/1463934_10152272129560848_2792070009297803304_n.jpg)
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: nic-e on 19 August 2014, 06:26:10 PM: use a wash paint on it ? or thinned oil paint, you can stipple it on in a few layers for clear and multi toned dirt.
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: Mr. Peabody on 19 August 2014, 06:37:18 PM: A dusting of matte varnish over the plastic will give you some texture upon which you can apply some very light washes to suggest dust.

You don't need to over do it, and won't need to try for the 'frost' but that might be cool...

An airbrush is a great tool for this, but not necessary.
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: FramFramson on 19 August 2014, 06:58:29 PM: I've done a thin wash of watered down craft paint (a suitably light dirt colour), though this scratches easy, so you might need to do a matt varnish anyway.
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: sundayhero on 19 August 2014, 07:00:42 PM: You could use some Future Floor (or Klir), perhaps. This way, you'll keep the window transparency.

Use the FF brushed or dipped, and then I'd spray some pigment dust in the fresh, before the FF dries.

Using a cotton dip, you could then rub some windows to make diferent effects (like someone rubbing his hand on a dirty window to see thru).

You should first cut a few bits of clear plastic and make some tries ;)
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: Mason on 19 August 2014, 07:08:08 PM: Try putting a small piece of the plastic in a zip lock bag with some superglue on a seperate piece of plastic.
(Being careful not to glue anything together, of course.)

The superglue fumes should frost the plastic and give a 'dirty' appearance.

Cheap and simple, test it out and see if you like the effect.
;)
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: Sangennaru on 19 August 2014, 07:12:01 PM: Oil paint did the work for me!

(http://i45.tinypic.com/v7se40.jpg)
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: zizi666 on 19 August 2014, 08:39:30 PM: Mig pigments has a dirty glass wash.
here's a review with some photos of the result : http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/reviews/showReview.aspx?ID=2320&Type=TR (http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/reviews/showReview.aspx?ID=2320&Type=TR)
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: blackstone on 19 August 2014, 10:32:48 PM: I've scuffed the blister plastic with a fine sandpaper in the past. Works well and if you then apply a wash of ink or acrylic it's pretty effective and fast.
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: Cory on 19 August 2014, 10:59:18 PM: I've seen some good results from using a sand color from a spray can and spraying through a nylon or other fine mesh.
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: Catullus on 19 August 2014, 11:26:19 PM: Thanks for the replies! Who'd have thought there could be so many ways to do this? Since I posted I sprayed the piece of plastic with satin varnish. Here it is, hung up on the washing line afterwards:

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-35ebyHi1Vfw/U_POc2vIGZI/AAAAAAAAA2E/fSGA_YB0Twg/s1600/10628299_10152272325795848_2221775428973394379_n.jpg)

I'm going to try thinned paint over it once I've assembled the first window. But I have five windows to make altogether so I think I'll try some of the other methods suggested here as well.
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: Oldben1 on 20 August 2014, 01:15:34 PM: This is going to sound crazy, but I've used 4 litre milk jug plastic in the past. It has a foggy, slightly dappled look. You can even use tea lights behind it for an eerie glow. If you click on my Flickr site you can see some examples in my Innsmouth board.
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: Catullus on 20 August 2014, 05:11:05 PM: Actually, Oldben, that idea sounds quite smart. It certainly works well in your Flickr photos (it took me a while to find them cos I'm new but I figured it out!) and I'm a big fan of recycling so that idea has a certain appeal.

Meanwhile, this is the first set of windows:

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3ZpB3U528c/U_THtrYA-2I/AAAAAAAAA2U/6gozsPuN36I/s1600/10414575_10152273794100848_1193767776720971666_n.jpg)

The minis are 15mm Peter Pig US Marines, for scale. Paint job is a bit rough and ready - I've just quickly blocked in the colours for now.
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: Mr. Peabody on 20 August 2014, 08:25:39 PM: Looking good!
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: muncehead on 20 August 2014, 09:22:06 PM: For my Old West buildings I got clear plastic from a document folder, cut it to size and smeared PVA over one side with my finger (worked really well to glue straight onto the MDF at the same time before it dried). This when dry looked suitably foggy and I suppose dropping some yellowy/green pigment in the PVA would keep the colour too.
Title: Re: How can I get a 'dirty window' effect on clear plastic?
Post by: SotF on 20 August 2014, 11:34:09 PM: One thing that might also work to make them look dirty is the smoke spray that some people use to reduce the brightness of mounted LEDs...