I am at a loss for the windows for my AAVP7A1. The armored slits the driver and track commader look thru, I’m not sure what color to paint them or to drillthem out and leave them clear. What would you guys recommend?
For simple method, paint black and then overcoat with gloss. Newer vision blocks are coated with an anti-laser coating that looks irridescent red. This can be accomplished by painting the lense medium blue than overcationg with clear red paint and gloss. Some have gotten good results out of using red tinted confetti cut to shape and glued onto the vision blocks too.
IMHO I would drill them out and use something like Tamiya clear blue and give them a light dusting…[2c]
Tom
I thought I saw in FSM where there is a company that offers paints that look like the modern coatings for vehicle viewing blocks. Someone should know the specifics, but I think it was in the new product section…
Somebody else suggested adhesive backed mylar, some of which reflect in a similar manner to the laser coating. Best case might be drill, fill with clear (I use clear acrylic sheet cut and filed to shape) then covered with the mylar?? I’ve never used it myself, so don’t know how opaque it is.
Ron
On my Bradley M2, a couple of people suggested using film negatives. This is the method I’m going to use. I haven’t tried it yet. I have them all cut to size, but I won’t attach until I’ve finished painting. So we’ll see what happens. -Cheers
Marine modeller. Depends on how old you want the vehicle to be depicted. The original LVTP7 and 7A’s had vision blocks with a greenish tinge. Plenty of pics to show that the AAVP carried these over. Even with the hatch down, you could easily see through them so I would definately drill out and replace.
I have a LVTP7A waiting to be finished, and I have drilled out all vision ports. I intend to make replacement blocks from clear casting resin. I have made a little master that I have stuck into some silicone on an old cd case. The intention is to make several of these little moulds and then pour the resin into them. When dry, paint the outer edges black where they fit in the vehicle block frame, then colour both faces with a thinned mix of Tamiya clear green, with a dab of clear blue added.
Later models had a darker smokey brown colour, and apparently as Arty says, the latest have a red tinge.
Here’s a pic from the http://afvinteriors.hobbyvista.com/lvtp7/lvtp7b.html page. Notice the blocks on the left.
If you want others, drop me an email.
I heard, glue picture negatives cut to scale on there
Thanks for all the help, I’ve got some good ideas now. I’ve never heard of the negatives thing, that I will have to try.