Clear parts, and why they need to be clear!

[Magpie2]

This post is mainly concerned with clear parts on aircraft, but I suppose it covers vehicles that contain clear parts also.
We all seem to strive for crystal clear parts on our models, to the extent of dipping them in floor polish or buffing them up with polishing compounds!
Saying that!
I can understand the annoyance when a clear part is slightly opaque or the thickness of the part is so over scale it magnifies,but in reality the glass on an aircraft cockpit is going to get very grimy.
Especially on a war plane.
Why do we go to these lengths to make sure our clear parts are pristine?
When in the real world they are anything but!

[Cymru]

In the real world they are kept spotless, I should know, I've cleaned enough of them! During the Falklands War canopies were cleaned after every sortie and the a/c hosed down at night.

[schweinhund227]

In the real world they are kept spotless, I should know, I've cleaned enough of them! During the Falklands, War canopies were cleaned after every sortie and the a/c hosed down at night.

Yeah, I am with you on this.... Cymru!

@Magpie2
The ground crew keeps those windows spotless in between missions that's for sure!
it would be another thing.... if you modeled an abandoned or crashed or a severely damaged bird? ... Then you could get some weathering effects on the glazing! but normally... A/C cockpits are pristine! but as always... (it's your model )

[das84]

Also how else are you going to see all that lovely detail you have spend days painting up and is now hidden away inside the fuselage without a nice clear canopy, and a torch and a microscope

[GMahaffey]

The clear parts not being so clear could be the just after the mission weathering.

[Magpie2]

Thanks for the replies, Guys
I’m now very clear on that subject.

[GMahaffey]

You must be a canopy now! Because you're clear on that.