Hello & Help With Windows

[Guest]

Hi Everyone

I've jut stumbled on these forums and have found them a wealth of knowledge I haven't touched a model for something like 30 years but have started building again, looking to decorate my son's bedroom ceiling as mine once was.

Anyway, I am after a little guidance.

I am in the middle of building an Airfix 1/72 PBY-5A Catalina. I've come across a problem with the side windows in the fuselage. The windows have a lip on them which looks to be meant to sit against the inside of the fuselage with the window itself raised above that and intended to slot in to the window frame. However, the fit is very poor and the window does will sit flush with the fuselage if I were to install it that way. Instead it sits recessed from the outer fuselage skin and looks quite bad. almost like it i falling back in to the cabin.

I am after some advice on dealing with this.

Should I just trim all the lip on the window away and have the window sit inside the frame, glueing it in to position without the support the lip is meant to provide? Or is there another to make this look better.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

[Guest]

Hi David,
Welcome back to the hobby!
The Airfix Catalina is a venerable old kit, so I guess some fit issues might be expected. Is the 'recessing' effect the only problem? If so, trimming off the lip might be the answer, though if you need to mask the window for (airbrush) painting, the extra glue you can get on the lip might be helpful to avoid pushing the window into the fuselage when you apply masking tape. Alternatively, you could use the window as it is, and fill it out with a strong PVA glue that dries clear. I use Deluxe Materials 'Glue 'n' Glaze' but there are others. You can use this sort of glue to make complete small windows, too. The good thing about this is you can try it out first, and wash it off if it doesn't work. If you do trim off the lip make sure you use a very sharp knife to avoid splitting the plastic (hope I'm not teaching you to suck eggs here!).
I'm sure others have their own way...

[Guest]

Thanks Doug

Appreciate your input.

This isn't the only problem. There are a lot of fit issues which I am working through but typically I am getting by with a bit of cutting and sanding. I believe the kit is from the 60's so it doesn't surprise me that it is this way.

I would have gone right ahead with trimming the lip but I came to the same conclusion you did. When it comes time to mask I might push the windows back through the fuselage. I guess I could paint the fuselage first and then put the windows in.

I think I will have a look at that glue and glaze product. Looks interesting.

Thanks again. Nice to get another opinion.

Cheers

David

[zuludog]

I can't remember now if the windows on the Airfix Catalina are flat or curved. Even if they are supposed to be flat, at that scale and size good fitting flat windows will be better than poorly fitting curved windows

Get some clear polystyrene sheet like an old CD case and carefully cut new windows that are a good fit to the window apertures. Use a new scalpel blade and a new, clean sanding stick
Glue them into the apertures with PVA glue like Kristal Klear

[Guest]

I'm also a big fan of glazing small windows with PVA glue as I often think it looks better than the original. I use Kristal Klear, but only because it was the first glue I had when the method was shown to me.

Here's a quick Video of how it works.

Ta.

[Guest]

Thanks guys. I will have to look in to this stuff. Appreciate your guidance.

In terms of using PVA glue, is any PVA craft glue sufficient or must a specific model making glue be used?

[Guest]

I've used ordinary PVA in the past, but I find the specialist modellers' products tend to be a bit stronger, which could be helpful if you're bothered about the windows being pushed back in when you mask. You're right about the age of the kit - I made it in the 60s!