How do you attach windshields to roadster car bodies?

[Bill Anderson]

Hi,

Well, I'm at the very end stages of building the Revell/Mongram '67 Corvette 427 Roadster (85-2968).  I'm very pleased at how the motor/chassis, interior turned out, and am especially happy with the body paint job.  The next step is the installation of the windshield/window "glass". 

Now I've done a lot of car models over the years, with some pretty decent results, but this one part is a bit "scary" to me - for want of a better word.

There is no groove or pins or other features to attach the windshield to the body.  I would normally scratch off some paint/chrome and use AC or a liquid cement and that has always worked in the past.  But I find myself procrastinating on this one, and frankly don't want to screw up the paint - either by scratching too much off or getting adhesive in the wrong places.

So who better to ask for advice than you guys...... what have you done and what do you recommend?

Thank you!!!

[Shark]

I would tape it in place in a couple places, then use Testor's window/canopy glue. After it dries, remove the tape and glue the remaining areas. I wouldn't worry about scraping paint since this is a different type of glue. Excess can be wiped away with a damp Q-tip while still wet.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I would have created a means to pin the windshield to the body before painting, then attached it with the pins and a little white glue afterwards.

I've used that method several times.

It just takes very careful measuring and drilling.

EDIT: I pinned this windshield frame early in the mockup process, as it was integral to the look I was after, and it also had to be removable, but go back in exactly the same place every time.

I didn't show the process though, as this was the first one I did that way, and I wasn't 100% sure it would work as intended...so I didn't photograph the process.

The pins are literally that, short point sections of straight pins glued into the frame, fitting into corresponding holes in the body.

Windshield still fits dead-on after all the bodywork and paint on the main body was finished:

Edited Monday at 08:31 PM by Ace-Garageguy

[NOBLNG]

That is what I try to do also if there are no definite mounting points. These are 0.020” brass pins if I recall.

Edited Monday at 11:49 PM by NOBLNG

[Mark W]

4 hours ago, Shark said:

I would tape it in place in a couple places, then use Testor's window/canopy glue. After it dries, remove the tape and glue the remaining areas. I wouldn't worry about scraping paint since this is a different type of glue. Excess can be wiped away with a damp Q-tip while still wet.

This absolutely the way to go. If anything goes awry, it can be removed with H2O.

Also what Greg said about mounting pins, good idea, it works.

[Shark]

When I read the question, I was thinking you were asking about attaching the clear windshield to the frame, not the frame to the body.

[Dave G.]

I keep Testors cement for clear parts on hand for this sort of thing. But Ideally drilling and pinning would be the way to go.

Anyway, as with the canopy cement I suppose, this stuff sticks about anything to anything else, not just the clear parts to frame. But it's very stringy to apply. It goes on as kind of a milk or cream color and dries super clear. It comes in a white square plastic bottle with a metal wand ( or used to anyway, I haven't bought it in years, as I need very little). It doesnt bond by melting plastic to plastic, it's it's own bonder. 

Edited Tuesday at 01:13 PM by Dave G.

[Rich Chernosky]

Bill you are in luck. I just posted this model in Under Glass. Here is the link:  1967 Corvette 427 convertible - Model Cars - Model Cars Magazine Forum  To attach the windshield  ( I did this last to avoid knocking it off during assembly) I used three different waterbase glues. First you have to glue the glass to the frame. It fits quite nicely BTW. I used  Micro Liquitape in the corners on both the glass and frame. Its a contact cement and dries very clear but is tricky to use. When dry you can position the glass until it fits. The beauty of contact cement is that you can release it if you make a mistake. Once in position I filled the rest in with a mixture of canopy glue and craft glue. Let this dry  overnight. To attach it to the car I used the Liquitape on both the body and bottom of the windshield. Do the whole area. Takes about 1/2 hour to dry clear.  Then position it on the car. There are two slots that align it.  Easy peazy.  Liquitape can be removed with water when wet but you must use solvent when dry so make sure you get it only where you want it. On occassion you can get small amounts off by peeling but don;t count on it.  This should get you there. Look forward to seeing your take on this kit.