The Modeler's Forum

Forum Boards => Modeling: Wall Techniques => Topic started by: Keep It Rusty on December 30, 2020, 12:52:14 PM

Title: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: Keep It Rusty on December 30, 2020, 12:52:14 PM
I classify windows as part of my wall construction, so I figure to post this here!

It's no secret that doing windows can be more than a little repetitive — especially if you have a large building with many, many of them.

I always like to add curtains and shades to my windows to give depth and realism, but it can be a very time consuming part of any given build. I set out to re-balance the scales yesterday and the results are definitely worth sharing! So here we go...

First, I cut out strips of paper/card stock of the color shades I wanted. I then weathered them with pastel chalks.

For the curtains, I use the ultra thin, tissue-like paper you get in packs of acetate (window glass) that separate the sheets to keep them blemish free. I age this paper with light alcohol stain (Driftwood) and then cut it into strips that I concertina fold and roll between my fingers. This is the result:

(http://keepitrusty.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/img_4371.jpg)

Then, I scanned them all together on my flatbed scanner.

I use an Apple MacBook, so I also use "Pages" – Apple's included, Microsoft Word alternative. It's powerful and very intuitive, so I recommend it fully if you also own a Mac. In the following video, I demonstrate how I handle these scans once I import them. I have already imported the images and cropped them for convenience sake before the video starts:

https://youtu.be/KIK1MC8tsqg (https://youtu.be/KIK1MC8tsqg)

Here are a bunch I printed at slight different scales for my larger and smaller windows:

(http://keepitrusty.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_4373.jpg)

And finally, here is the finished effect on my Swee'Peas build (which I will be posting in full soon):

(http://keepitrusty.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_4374.jpg)

A good idea, as I have done on the front of the building, is to add windows that have curtains blowing through an open window. This helps sell the illusion that all the windows are fully rendered!

I post lots of stuff at my blog here, if you want to check it out: www.keepitrusty.com (http://keepitrusty.com)
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: Mark Dalrymple on December 30, 2020, 01:09:20 PM
Really cool idea, Craig.

Cheers, Mark.
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: ReadingBob on December 30, 2020, 01:18:07 PM
Pretty slick idea.   ;)
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: Keep It Rusty on December 30, 2020, 04:37:34 PM
Glad you think so. Three birds with one stone any day. Hope it helps!
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: Larry.h on December 30, 2020, 04:55:30 PM
Craig. Thanks for the how to on your great window treatment. I've done drapes and I've  done shades, but never both together. Makes a great looking window, especially the way you made the shades and then scanned them.
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: Keep It Rusty on December 30, 2020, 05:43:10 PM
Quote from: Larry.h on December 30, 2020, 04:55:30 PM
Craig. Thanks for the how to on your great window treatment. I've done drapes and I've  done shades, but never both together. Makes a great looking window, especially the way you made the shades and then scanned them.

Me neither! In fact, that's what gave me the idea. Making them practically and then scanning them maintained the life-like quality from scratch-building. Have a single print that could 1) be a shade 2) be a curtain 3) be a window blackout made for a quick install process.

One thing else I did was use pastel chalks on the prints themselves. Sometimes to add more shade in the curtain folds or to dirty them up.

And that acetate backing is perfect for the job because you can fold it many times and it appear natural at a HO scale (but of course, scanning and printing means you can resize even a real curtain to HO!
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: postalkarl on December 30, 2020, 05:46:08 PM
Hey Rusty:

The windows and shades look great.

Karl
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: Keep It Rusty on December 30, 2020, 05:47:56 PM
Thanks Karl! I'm glad you like them :)
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: GPdemayo on December 31, 2020, 09:24:32 AM
Great job dressing up those windows Craig..... 8)
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: Keep It Rusty on December 31, 2020, 09:53:52 AM
Thanks Greg! If you happen to use this method I'd love to see your results!
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: fbernard65 on December 31, 2020, 10:01:42 AM
Craig,

Excellent tip for the curtains.

Frank
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: NEMMRRC on December 31, 2020, 10:08:39 AM
Groovy.


One thing I learned online from another modeler from the UK (ukkarl I believe) is to add some depth to the window treatments. Instead of gluing the window treatment right up against the glazing it helps to add distance to separate the "glass" from the "curtains". Just add a spacer when gluing the window treatments. This way you even get a shadow of the mullions cast onto the "curtains".


Thanks for sharing your video.


Jaime
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: Keep It Rusty on December 31, 2020, 10:11:09 AM
Quote from: fbernard65 on December 31, 2020, 10:01:42 AM
Craig,

Excellent tip for the curtains.

Frank

Thanks Frank! That's so cool.
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: Keep It Rusty on December 31, 2020, 10:50:04 AM
Quote from: NEMMRRC on December 31, 2020, 10:08:39 AM
Groovy.


One thing I learned online from another modeler from the UK (ukkarl I believe) is to add some depth to the window treatments. Instead of gluing the window treatment right up against the glazing it helps to add distance to separate the "glass" from the "curtains". Just add a spacer when gluing the window treatments. This way you even get a shadow of the mullions cast onto the "curtains".


Thanks for sharing your video.


Jaime

Thanks for this Jaime. I have been curious about adding distance between the acetate and shades. This might be my next experiment!
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: tom.boyd.125 on December 31, 2020, 02:12:17 PM
Craig,
Glad you understand using software that help your modeling skills.
The window treatments look great.
Tommy
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: Keep It Rusty on December 31, 2020, 03:25:28 PM
Thanks Tom. I've since discovered that Microsoft Word can handle all of this too!
Glad you like them :)
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: vinceg on December 31, 2020, 03:51:36 PM
Great idea, Craig. A real keeper. Thanks for sharing.

By the way, the other aspects of your wall pic look fantastic too....the sign, vines, and general smudgery on the wall. Good stuff.
Title: Re: Windows and Shades - The Easy Way!
Post by: Keep It Rusty on December 31, 2020, 04:48:10 PM
Thanks Vince! I'm glad you think so. My first application of this method was very successful. I had over 30 windows dressed and ready to go in less than 30 minutes!

As for the wall — thanks for your compliments! You can see more of this building on my "Rocky Point Harbor" thread. I just uploaded the completed build :)