Paint a solid reservoir to look like it has fluid in it
How to paint a reservoir that contains fluid for your scale models
When you look at a real car, the brake, windshield, and radiator fluid reservoirs aren’t usually empty. They don’t have to appear that way on your scale model replicas, either. Here’s how to fill them up!
This windshield washer reservoir was molded in white. If it isn’t, basecoat it white. I prefer lacquers for this type of painting, like Tamiya Flat White (No. LP-4), because they can be applied thin and dry fast, but acrylics and enamels also work.
I cut off the mounting bracket to make masking and painting easier. (I’ll glue it back on later.) Mask above the fluid line with thin masking tape; the thinner, the better to minimize paint buildup. How will the reservoir be oriented in the vehicle? The fluid needs to be level with the ground.
To make the “washer fluid,” I diluted Tamiya Clear Blue (No. LP-68) 1:1 with lacquer thinner. Build up light coats until you get the color you want — there’s no exact formula because reservoir translucency varies. Substitute other colors for other fluids and err on the side of too dark at this stage.
Unmask the part and mix 1 part flat white with 9 parts Tamiya Flat Clear (No. LP-23). Airbrush a light, translucent coat on the reservoir. The goal is to build up the transition to eliminate the paint line and get the correct shade for the liquid. The more white that goes on, the softer the fluid line. Let references be your guide.
At this point, I’ve reattached the mounting bracket and painted the reservoir cap black. Now it’s ready to be mounted on the car’s inner fender.
The windshield washer fluid reservoir will not be the focal point under the car’s hood. However, this attention to detail will not go unnoticed. What’s more, in some vehicles, reservoirs can be prominent, and taking the time to “fill” them will make your model better.