How can I make a bottle look like it's filled with liquid?

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys. I'm learning lots from this thread! I will order some supplies and do some testing.
modelcitizen, I hear what you are saying about real liquid but I am a bit worried about it due to the bottle being displayed with other props. I might give the capper suggestion a go though.

Thanks again everyone.
 
Thank you for the link. They are nice but unfortunately not the same design as the one I have that matches the screen used bottle. It took a little while to find the right design. ...

To find the correct bottle, it's necessary to know that the prop department got the year wrong. Marty's Pepsi bottle was produced between 1945 until 1950. You can clearly see the double-dot logo and the blue background around the logo. The bottles from 1955 looked different. Marty is drinking a Pepsi of which the best-before date has already expired. :D

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Yeah I never thought of that! Out of date Pepsi, yuk. That is the bottle that I have. There are always loads of the newer ones available with the clear logo surround but these don't come up often. The 1985 can is going to be even harder to find as it's the one with the big red 'no saccharin' label on it.

t60a.jpg
 
Thanks Roland. At least I'm not the only one :)
At least the 2015 Pepsi bottle will be easier to find. Shame there isn't one for 1885 and I don't like my chances of finding a bottle of Brads Drink, lol.
 
If you do decide to go with the resin method, stand the filled bottle in a bucket of water as this will help to dissipate the exotherm(heat) generated by the chemical reaction.
Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully as too much hardener / catalyst can generate even more heat.
From experience I'd definitely recommend practising on a similar size bottle before committing to the real one.
Good look!
 
How about liquid silicone? Transparent and brown colored. It's cheap and you can buy it in every construction market.
 
Roland, I've only seen clear or black. Can you post an image of this stuff?

I meant clear/transparent silicone. He could colored it himself with brown paint (maybe acrylic paint?) before he fills it into the Pepsi bottle and it dries. I don't know if it works. But that's what I would try.
 
So are you talking about bathroom silicone?

If he squirts it into the bottle, it would be hard to mix in the colour and it runs the risk of it messing up higher in the neck of the bottle. If he mixed in a tub, he might be able to syringe it into the bottle. It may never set unless he leaves the lid off.

To do it right, it would actually need to place the bottle in a Vac Chamber to suck out all the air. However under vacuum, it could foam up and stick to parts it is not supposed to. I still think resin is ideally the best for this as it is a liquid (thicker) and will settle properly and set. The thermal reaction is still an issue, but as mentioned, sitting the bottle in a bucket of water may actually help to reduce the risk of cracking of the glass. I'd be running a test in another bottle first.
 
Here's an off the wall idea...
What about a clear wax, or a brown wax?
You could take a clear wax or slightly transparent color wax and add in pigment , or find a brown candle that has a translucent appearance. Just melt it in a pot or can over a stove and pour it in.

They also have gel candles that could work too..
Coca Cola Gel Candle
 
I can tell you that if you go the wax method, use a funnel and go slow. If it splashes and gets somewhere you don't want it (like in the neck of the bottle or something) then you can just set the bottle in boiling water. My wife makes candles so we've had to do that a few times to get it right. Dried wax is a ***** to remove without heat.
 
The candle gel does look perfect! I'll have a search for that. Thanks Roland.

The honor is due to Moviefreak. The candle gel idea is great. My girlfriend agrees too. She used to work often with that material.
 
The honor is due to Moviefreak. The candle gel idea is great. My girlfriend agrees too. She used to work often with that material.

Sorry, I forgot that Moviefreak suggested it. Thank you Moviefreak :)
I've decide to go for the gel wax after seeing the great realistic job the guy done with the Coke candles. I think I'll probably find it easier than the resin. I've ordered the gel and the colour chips. Thanks for the link Roland :thumbsup
 
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