Searchlight lenses-top tip from Rui Matos!!

[JIM BAUMANN]

Hi guys

I cannot claim this tip- Fellow MW'er Rui Matos taught me this!
Building the HMS Scylla curently- in 1/700- from the qualitatively indifferent WSW kit...

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=37036

For searchlights-having drilled out the 1/700 cast or plastic part- paint inside silver or light grey

For the lens... I have always used white glue-but it IS a bit cloudy...

Rui Matos suggested using .....

Ladies Nailpolish--Clear! so simple!

Dries fast-completely clear-- simply superb
Photo to follow shortly

Thank you Rui- a conundrum solved!

JIM B

[Rui Matos]

Glad I could help... the MASTER

Rui

[kevinb120]

Don't Forget Microscale Kristal Klear

[JIM BAUMANN]

Krystal Klear is essentially white gkue--albeit good qaulity!
nevertheless it does not have the crystal (pun!) clarity of the nailpolish--which really is like ...glass!!


JIM B

[mike mccabe]

Will it work on bridge windows etc?

Mike

[Rui Matos]

Hi Mike

No, it does not preform well on bridge windows. It could work for portholes, but perhaps for 350 scale. I have only used it on searchlights.
The thing about this nail polish varnish is that it is so thick and clear, that it makes a roundish kind of surface on the searchlight . Also, if it sinks a little (result of air getting loose from the drilled hole) you can apply it again. So far I have only needed a second coat once - all the others were solved on the first go

For bridge windows (suggestion) Humbrol Clear Fix used to fix cigarette pack thin acetate.
I never tried it before, since the only opened bridge window ship is now on the bench - but I will use this

Cheers
Rui

[mike mccabe]

Rui
Only asking as I used Krystal Kleer on my recently completed Exeter, thought it came out pretty well but obviously if there is something better it's worth a try in future, will have a go with my current project, though I may get some odd looks from the better half

Mike

[Rui Matos]

You can always use my own trick:
- Can I borrow your nail polish to use a bit in my ship?
- What for?
- See... ta-da!
- Ok keep it - I'll buy another anyway

I have searchlight lens material to the end of my days, or until it dries!
Rui

[Gerarddm]

Um, could you also use a drop of Future?

[1:426 Searchlight lenses]

I created searchlight lenses with silver paint and clear scrap plastic. Start by cutting a small sheet from a scrap foot container and sanding it enough to scratch it using a medium grit sandpaper. Now paint the inside of the searchlights silver.Then I punched the actual lens out of the 1/64 plastic sheet. I used my punch set and found one the exact diameter of inside of the rim. With a small dab of Testor's Cement, I glued the punched circles to the center of the searchlights while they were still mounted on the sprue tree.

This resulted in a searchlight with a coated lens much like you would see on a full-size searchlight.

Reg Hardy
http://www.scale-modelers-handbook.com

[Rui Matos]

Hi Gerard and Reg

Answering to your questions/comments:
Q - could I use future?
A - yes, I could. But I must say that the feeling created by the nail polish looks better

The scrap plastic, it could be used for bigger scale floodlights/searchlights. Considering that this technique, I use it for 1/700 scale small searchlights (1 mm or 1,5 mm in diameter) making the lens effect with several coats of plastic could turn out a tad out of scale. The end result with this satisfies me - which is one of our goals when modeling a ship

But, thanks for the tip, Reg!
I'll try it on a bigger scale subject


Cheers,
Rui