SIMULATING SMOKE ON WINDOWS

I used clear plastic for windows in my first mill I ever built. I took AquaNet Hairspray (thanks Grandma!) and sprayed one side of the plastic strip I used. I think I had to give it two or three coats. It looked good and filthy once I put some lighting behind it.

That might give you an oily look on the windows though. That might not be what you're going for.

Thanks for your response Bill. I'm still stuck on "first mill", lol.

Dave

I don't have photos handy but I build a steel mill building on my first layout out of cardboard haha I used orange Christmas lights inside it to get the glow right. It made the glazed windows look cloudy and dirty.

The building was just shaped like the buildings you see for rolling mills and open hearths. It was probably impressive for a 10 year old but I've come a long way since then.

I'm thinking now that the hairspray was a step in the right direction. I bet you could crush up some dirt or gray/black chalk and blow it onto the hairsprayed clear plastic strip. Maybe that would get the job done?

Lightly sand one side of the clear window material w/very fine grit...320, 400, for example...to give the surface some 'tooth'.

Lightly rub some black chalk powder or such onto that surface...using a paper towel, cloth, etc.  You can control the degree of smokiness with how much you rub, adding more powder, or removing some with a clean paper towel/rag.

dkdkrd,

Thanks. I was thinking along those lines except I thought about spraying dullcote on as the "tooth".

Dave

Are you looking for a similar effect that I created on the bricks?

I bought the black power at our local hobby shop eons ago.....brushed a little on with a soft paint brush and fixed it with hair spray.....

Peter

Hi Peter,

I may be overthinking this. I want the same effect only on windows. It would be to create the smoke on windows of an engine house or locomotive shop, where smoke/exhaust would accumulate on the windows closer to the ceiling.

Dave