My current project, and first true figure, is a Verlinden 120mm USN Diver circa 1942. With acknowledgements to Jacek Spychalski for his technique on 'weathering' a similar project, I need bit of help with the glass face and viewing plates for the helmet. I'm at the stage of I've applied the metal base coat (Brass) a wash. I now want to paint the glass before continuing with the final 'metal' coat.

Any suggestions/recommendations as to get a glass look?.

When painted with a rather sharp gradient and apprpriate catchlight you can give the impression of glass.

You could use Jason Green's paintwork on the gas mask as a reference:

http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36065

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Adrian

A suggestion - instead of painting glass, have you considered making some glass? I've used the acetate from exposed 35mm camera film. I'm not familiar with this figure. Did it have a head? With helmet on, you could be able to see the head thru the acetate.

All the best,
Dan

Cheers for the replies.

The figure has no head visible through the helmet, it depicts a diver underwater.

I do like the suggestion of acetate from exposed 35mm camera film. Now, only to find some, have to dig through all the boxes of photos I have.

Maybe you could give it a head or at least a face? Drill out the helmet bottom, etc.

All the best,
Dan

Adding 'glass' would be nice. If you hollow out the helmet and paint it really dark in there, you don't even need a head. Maybe a bit of a lazy option, but you can move on to the next figure quicker!

Cheers,
Adrian

I've used clear acetate sheet before for glass. Thats the stuff they use for overhead projectors. You can just paint the reverse side a dark colour and fix it in.

Grant - Another source for acetate! Never thought of that!

All the best,
Dan

The suggestion of hollowing out the helmet is an idea, then fix acetate sheet. It will go towards improving my eventual conversion of figurines.

Cheers guys for your great suggestions, all good stuff.

For clear plastic-don't know if it's acetate or not--I save the collar stiffeners in the packaging for my new dress shirts. Good for windows in small-scale buildings or models.

Prost!
Brad

Yeah, Brad - that's clear acetate - or at least some of them are! Good suggestion! I really like scrounging materials, especially those which generally get thrown out - don't you?

All the best,
Dan