Simple Windows?

[spookshow]

Those look nice, Roger. I was thinking brass windows would wind up looking a bit flat and featureless, but maybe I need to rethink that.

As for Railhead, I believe they folded up shop a while ago.

-Mark

[rogergperkins]

Mark, I did locate a few Railhead pieces via one of these forums and purchased them. 
But as far as I can determine Railhead has not been in business for several years. 
[My originals probably came from Scale Model Supply, Lexington Ave. St.Paul, MN.]
It is unfortunate that Loren does not add some of these windows and doors to his Gold Medal line.
I do not see anything like that listed at his website.

[Ian MacMillan]

Sorry Ian, I'm just too lazy for all that. Remember who you're talking to here 

-Mark

Can do, you lazy sh!t 

[spookshow]

You know when a rookie gets pancaked in the first quarter of his first NFL game and the announcers invariably respond with the "Welcome to the NFL, rook!" cliche? I think I just had my "Welcome to Railwire" moment 

Cheers,
-Mark

[Ian MacMillan]

...I think I just had my "Welcome to Railwire" moment 

Cheers,
-Mark

Theres a patch for that somewhere 

[spookshow]

Oh boo, you toned it down! 

-Mark

[Ian MacMillan]

Oh boo, you toned it down! 

-Mark

Fixed 

[randgust]

I'll give you the zeN-answer to your riddle on patience....

With windows, the ultimate goal isn't to make the windows the same size, it's to make the openings the same size... and then just piece the windows around it.

So I'll make a hole template for drilling, marking, filing.   May even make a clearance plug if I feel like it.  But the windows?  Just start chopping and gluing, I don't even measure with a ruler.  I'll cut stock to length actually laying it around the window, do a light scribe with the #2 blade where it looks right, snapping it, gluing it, and moving on.   The only piece that actually takes WORK is the center muntin, it has to be just right to wedge in there, not fall, and not bend.  Sometimes I'll cut 2-3 before I get one right, doesn't bother me, it's only strip stock and I'll use it elsewhere.

Oh, and also to be just plain contrary, I use Testors Orange rather than MEK or the liquid.  TO softens the strip ends just a bit so that when you wedge them in, they compress slightly to fit.  After it dries you can trim out any excess blob factor.

Like I said, with me, it's the lack of patience.  Patience on trying to find the right windows, or drive somewhere, or wait for the Walthers order to arrive, or find out that its out of stock...or you just can't find it.  I don't have the patience for that. When I did the Commercial Hotel I lost about six weeks just waiting for windows.  Those were multi-pane Tichy parts I had to order direct.

I've still got Railhead windows in original packaging.  When our local hobby shop closed many years ago I bought out nearly his entire inventory of N parts by the hundreds.    And I still can't find a stock window for what I want about 50% of the time. 

Probably the most forehead-slapping scratchbuilt event of all time happened to me at the Pithole (PA) Historic Site museum:  http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3DGT_Pithole_City_Visitors_Center_and_Museum_Cornplanter_Township_PA
They have an N-scale model of the now-ghost town at its peak with EVERY BUILDING in it scratchbuilt to scale, takes up about 20x10 feet, as of 1869 or so.  HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS of multi-pane windows.  Jaw-dropping.  And you know what?  They are all just printed inserts; white muntins on black paper, to scale.  And you have to stare to figure it out.  Un-freakin'-believable.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/images/pa/PAPIThole_6301.jpg

[spookshow]

With windows, the ultimate goal isn't to make the windows the same size, it's to make the openings the same size... and then just piece the windows around it.

Aye, and that's one of my biggest problems - given my "skills", making two openings that are exactly the same size is practically the impossible dream. What usually happens is that I'll screw up and make the second opening bigger than the first one, and then when fixing the first one, wind up making it bigger than the second (and on and on, back and forth). Case in point, this garage door. The original plan was for it to have four small frameless windows (ala the prototype). But by the time I'd finished, what I wound up with was three really big windows -



Fortunately, with prefab framed windows all I need to do is get the opening big enough to accept the recessed portion of the window. And if the opening winds up being a little too big, the frame will cover it up and no one is the wiser.

-Mark

[Dave Schneider]

Mark,

This is why I bought a Silhouette cutter. Take a look at all these windows! They aren't perfect, but they are pretty darn close. Score the plastic and snap them out. There is no way I would consider building these structures without a way to accurately lay out and cut out the windows.




Best wishes, Dave

[MichaelWinicki]

I think those look great Dave, but I see a small challenge in that you of course have to purchase the cutter, but the bigger challenge (for me, and probably others) is figuring out how to make the darn thing work! 

I mean interfacing it with the computer is no biggie, but having to learn how to layout buildings/windows with some kind of drawing or cad program sounds intimidating.

[Dave Schneider]

Micheal,

Although one can drive the Silhouette with Adobe Illustrator, I have done all my work with their free design software.
http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software.aspx

This tool is made for scrapbookers, so it isn't very technical at all (not to pick on scrapbookers). I think you can download it and play around with it for free.

Several of us have posted suggestions and lessons learned in this thread.
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=23354.0

Best wishes, Dave

[MichaelWinicki]

Like I said those windows look great Dave!

This has been a good thread, maybe it's worth keeping.

[rogergperkins]

Can one contract a person to do the Silhouette cutting?  I have a photo of a building I want to add to my layout, but am stumped about cutting the window openings. 

[spookshow]

I think those look great Dave, but I see a small challenge in that you of course have to purchase the cutter, but the bigger challenge (for me, and probably others) is figuring out how to make the darn thing work! 

That's pretty much where I'm at. But wow, if I wanted to scratchbuild something with that many windows, I'd definitely look into it.

-Mark