Mirror-Tinting Windows

Anybody ever done this? I was thinking of picking up a kit for cheap because it's missing the interior, so I want to be able to hide it...

Thanks! :)

That would be cool to do, but I have no idea on how to do it.

How about just using a dark smoke tint? :confused:

Originally posted by nismo kid
How about just using a dark smoke tint? :confused: Since there's no interior at all, I would want to make it completely opaque. If I wanted black, I could just paint it black from the inside, and it would look great! I used to do this on old sci-fi models all the time. I want it to look a little more purposeful than that.

(no offense ;) good idea, but not what i'm looking for...)

well i have an idea... im not sure how well it would work though. you could tint the with a dark tint like you normaly would. then once that has dried maybe you could put some metal foil ontop of that tint... does that make sense? so it would sit like this. window/tint/foil. what do you think?

it just occurred to me how stupid my plan was. cant you just run out and buy a small sheet of mirror tint at some tinting shop? if you could do that then why bother doing anything else?

I say go for it.
Visit you local place that does car window tints and ask for some off cuts.

I get what you guys are saying there, but I'd be worried about getting the film to sit smoothly on the inside of the plastic glass...

How does silver paint look on the backside of clear plastic? Is it mirror-y? If I got clever, I could airbrush tint (smoke) over the top half of the glass, then spray the whole backside silver/"mirror"/chrome.

I've got my wheels turning now... :thinkerg: Thanks for the ideas; keep 'em coming!

I use silver paint on the back of my headlights and taillights to give it an added effect. I can't say how it would look for that size and distance, but it came out looking rather nice. Hey if you ever find that old S2000 windshield that you lost, you could try it out on that. Man, that was a long time ago. ;)

Originally posted by Twist
Hey if you ever find that old S2000 windshield that you lost, you could try it out on that. Man, that was a long time ago. ;) Yeah. :rolleyes: If I ever find that secret place where half my socks go, I bet my windshield will be there. :silly:

I may try it on my S2K soft top part, since I don't really plan on using it and it's molded in clear and I know I can clean it off with CSC. :) Good idea! :)

Originally posted by jay@af
Yeah. :rolleyes: If I ever find that secret place where half my socks go, I bet my windshield will be there. :silly:

I may try it on my S2K soft top part, since I don't really plan on using it and it's molded in clear and I know I can clean it off with CSC. :) Good idea! :)

Dont do it...it will look like crap :eek: :eek:

Originally posted by primera man
Dont do it...it will look like crap :eek: :eek: Tell me why.

Originally posted by jay@af
Tell me why.

There wont be any "deepth" to the window. At least with a tint on them like on a car you can make them dark enough so you can only just see a outline of whats inside.

Originally posted by primera man
There wont be any "deepth" to the window Hmmm... I sorta know what you mean. How are they done in real life? Is there tint on both sides of the glass?

THey cut the tint and then spray with a mixture of water and dish wash.
Peel the backing away from the tint and put onto the window. Smooth out with a cloth so that any air bubbles disapear. If you dont use water it will end up in a mess.
Allow to dry. Cut the excess off from the window when dry.
Just do the inside with the tint

Warren, could you please clear out a thing or two here? Do I use water on the film (the sticly side that goes to the window) or on the window itself or both or do I have no idea what I'm talking about? :D

you put the water o9n the window

Originally posted by ales
Warren, could you please clear out a thing or two here? Do I use water on the film (the sticly side that goes to the window) or on the window itself or both or do I have no idea what I'm talking about? :D

Add a little bit of dish wash to the water and then brush it on to the window. Just enough to cover the whole area you are doing.
The windows i done on my ITR was with car tint

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/676329Mvc-157f.jpg

Thanks.

How dark would you recommend? I don't want to completely black it out, Just add a touch of luxury to the model. (yes, I remember you or someone already covered this subject, I just can't seem to find the thread!)

The tint on the ITR was called a 30% Tint what ever that means :confused:
Its not to bad, although it looks really dark in the pic,

When i got the roll from the car tint shop i just asked for some off-cuts. They had a huge box and i just picked out what i wanted

Hey p-man, just to send you some info, 30% film is reffering to the light transmitted through, therefore the greater the number the more light passes through, as well as a"lighter" look to film. and vice-versa :)

Originally posted by MaxSE
Hey p-man, just to send you some info, 30% film is reffering to the light transmitted through, therefore the greater the number the more light passes through, as well as a"lighter" look to film. and vice-versa :)

Hmmm. I was under the impression that it's the other way around - with the percentage meaning the amount of light that is being HELD by the film. Of course, I have no idea what I'm talking about :)

Originally posted by MaxSE
Hey p-man, just to send you some info, 30% film is reffering to the light transmitted through, therefore the greater the number the more light passes through, as well as a"lighter" look to film. and vice-versa :)
Thanks for the info...i thought it must have something to do with the amount of light it lets in or keeps out.
Cheers

Originally posted by primera man

Thanks for the info...i thought it must have something to do with the amount of light it lets in or keeps out.
Cheers

Lets through. I was wrong. :)

Overall i think the major confusion with tinting percentages has to do with the way people talk about it, meaning literally verbally speaking... we tend to say " yeah i got my car windows tinted the other day, it's like 100%, it's impossible to see through from the outside! " But infact it's tinted 1%, as in 1% light penetration. it's all about the verbal speach! :rolleyes: :)
but i think that's enough said for tinting 101 :p , so finally ales how did your windows turn out?

Originally posted by MaxSE
...so finally ales how did your windows turn out?

I would want to find out as well - I'm still to tint them. Will do n the next couple of days hopefully.