When we build structures, be it from a craftsman kit, a scratch-built building or a plastic model kit eventually we get around to putting window blinds or drapes or sometimes both. Cutting different color paper ones is fine, printing something on your home printer is ok, and some of the ones that come with the kit manufacturers are more or less the same thing. But behind the window, pressed up against it, let’s face it, it looks like a printed sheet of paper from your printer glued to a window. That’s fine but sometimes the non-detailed plain old pull down blind gives a window a more realistic appearance. It doesn’t overwhelm the model and it doesn’t shout out “Hey! If you look at me and block out the fact that there is a one dimensional lampshade and a vase of flowers pressed smack dab up against the window, you will get that someone does something in this room behind it.” EH…..Ok. Personally we feel that unless you can make it three dimensional? You take away from all the great detail work you put into the rest of the model on the outside that is 3D. Sure we add the occasional curtains or drapes to buildings but we do that by making them 3D as well, and in a later article this week we will show you how.
But we are going to focus instead on the blinds and how easy we make it, keeping it simple and non-descript but a natural feel that although one dimensional, in reality blinds are in fact, one dimensional. 
How do we do this simply? Masking Tape. Yep, ordinary plain old 3M masking tape or whatever brand you choose. Why masking tape you ask? Quite simply, it is already yellowed like blinds get rather easily, gives an antiquey kind of look, and if you need color and of course we do, we can’t have the whole town with the same blinds, it comes in an array of colors too. You can even use the blue painters masking tape if you want that shade! And last reason? NO Mess! Yep, you just cut it to the size you need with your hobby knife, or even a pair of scissors, and stick it on. Trust us, it doesn’t come off on its own, and if you choose to remove it? No mess, no sticky residue remains on the window, and it peels off without damaging your window or paint of the frame. No glue is needed so you never have to worry about glue smears. You honestly can’t screw this up! Cut and stick! You can make them whatever length you want and it doesn’t have to look pretty stuck to the inside of the walls if you make them too big or you have some overhang on the length.
How do they look? They look like window blinds. Pressed up against the window you do not see any of the sticky residue and they go on evenly and if you cut it wide enough you cover every corner that a blind would cover without gaps. If you use lighting in your structure, they give off a really cool shade to them, and the color ones will pop in a night setting! Flat out, they are just that. Flat out. Not fancy, but very very believable! Minimal work and again, nondescript so that the rest of your model can be appreciated.
We wouldn’t do it with all our structures, but we do it with enough of them. Of course you have to mix it up so later this week we will show you how to make drapes that have shape and even blow out of an open window in 3D.
