A question of curiosity (gluing windows)

[Bainford]

That GT-40 window is a toughie. I once had a similar scenario, and I mixed up a 50/50 mix of Elmers glue and Tamiya black acrylic paint to make a black windscreen sealant. I applied it sparingly all around, set the glass in place firmly, and carefully wiped away the displaced 'sealant' with a damp cloth or tissue. It worked well. 

However, as seen in your reference photo, the GT-40 has no sealant or gasket at all. My first thought was as Peteski suggested. Carefully drill holes through the glass and frame and use a fine wire (I like guitar string) to hold the glass in place while representing the screws of the 1:1. This will require a small bit, maybe 1/64 or #78 or so. As mentioned above, small drill bits is no place to scrimp on money, and good ones are expensive. I buy them in packs of ten from industrial suppliers. Cheap ones are not worth having, and that's not just being pedantic. They will ruin a delicate drilling job, and this one would be a delicate drilling job. Get a good comfortable pin vise, too.

Don't try melting holes through with a hot wire, etc. The hole size will be difficult to control, as will it's exact location. It will also create a bead of displaced material around the hole that will need to be removed. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to do it neatly this way.

[Venom]

3 hours ago, Bainford said:

That GT-40 window is a toughie. I once had a similar scenario, and I mixed up a 50/50 mix of Elmers glue and Tamiya black acrylic paint to make a black windscreen sealant. I applied it sparingly all around, set the glass in place firmly, and carefully wiped away the displaced 'sealant' with a damp cloth or tissue. It worked well. 

However, as seen in your reference photo, the GT-40 has no sealant or gasket at all. My first thought was as Peteski suggested. Carefully drill holes through the glass and frame and use a fine wire (I like guitar string) to hold the glass in place while representing the screws of the 1:1. This will require a small bit, maybe 1/64 or #78 or so. As mentioned above, small drill bits is no place to scrimp on money, and good ones are expensive. I buy them in packs of ten from industrial suppliers. Cheap ones are not worth having, and that's not just being pedantic. They will ruin a delicate drilling job, and this one would be a delicate drilling job. Get a good comfortable pin vise, too.

Don't try melting holes through with a hot wire, etc. The hole size will be difficult to control, as will it's exact location. It will also create a bead of displaced material around the hole that will need to be removed. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to do it neatly this way.

Thanks Trevor. As for the windows being a “toughie”, I am also scratch building my own side windows which heightens the challenge a bit more. I’ve decided against the drilling and pin job as I feel it’s too risky for this application, but maybe in the future.

Thanks everyone else for your input as well!

[Michael jones]

Just an idea, you could airbrush the window (surround only) in the body colour and then PVA glue the window in place. At least then, there would be a layer of paint between the body and the window. This is how beemax do their kits.

The other idea (a bit more crazy)would be to thin some PVA down and apply it a bit like a panel line accent. As it would be very thin, you probably wouldn't notice it.

Edited December 10, 2020 by Michael jones

[Venom]

48 minutes ago, Michael jones said:

Just an idea, you could airbrush the window (surround only) in the body colour and then PVA glue the window in place. At least then, there would be a layer of paint between the body and the window. This is how beemax do their kits.

The other idea (a bit more crazy)would be to thin some PVA down and apply it a bit like a panel line accent. As it would be very thin, you probably wouldn't notice it.

 

49 minutes ago, Michael jones said:

Just an idea, you could airbrush the window (surround only) in the body colour and then PVA glue the window in place. At least then, there would be a layer of paint between the body and the window. This is how beemax do their kits.

The other idea (a bit more crazy)would be to thin some PVA down and apply it a bit like a panel line accent. As it would be very thin, you probably wouldn't notice it.

Thanks Michael, your former suggestion is the way I’ve been planning to do it

[Oldcarfan27]

What I tend to do while I'm building is make sure the glass fits the opening as tight a securely as possible - without glue!

Then when it's time, hold it exactly in place and put a few small drops of Krazy glue (I find it sets quick and doesn't fog) in places where it contacts the body best. Hold it in place for a few seconds and add more glue when it dries.

I don't like the white glue method because invariably, sometime in the future, it's going to fall off and then you have to take it all apart to fix it. More than likely, without a positive outcome. 

JM 2 pennies.