Gents,
I’m about to start my first scratch building effort and have a question. I’m building with styrene and plan to use Grandt Line or other manufacturer for my windows. My question is: How do I cut squaresin the styrene to hold the windows? I was just planning to use an exacto knive but I’m worried I’ll butcher the styrene. Does anyone have any tips for a technique to do this without wrecking my walls?
Thanks in advance.
EdW
Ed,
First lightly mark out your window and door openings on the sheet with a pencil. To get the measurements measure the backside of your Grandt Line castings to be sure that opening sizes are correct so the trim edge of the casting will hide any minor inaccuracies. Once your window openings are marked out use a pin vice and a small drill bit to drill a hole at each corner. Line up the holes using a metal straight edge and make your cuts. The holes you drilled will prevent over cuts and keep your corner cuts clean. If you have windows that are all in a row lay your castings in each opening (don’t glue yet) to make sure they all line up correctly. If they don’t use your straight edge as a guide when you glue them in to keep them all exactly level and straight with each other. Bruce
the round corners keep it from cracking also
very good tip
K
doesn’t micro mark make a nibler tool for square cuts in styrene also?
There’s a small business, Stevens Creek Models, that sells laser cut styrene that will fit into Grandt Line window and door castings. If you try the method mentioned in the posts above by bwftex, and you want to compare the cost versus convenience issue, visit their website, and click on the “Glazing” button. ( Usual disclaimer: I’m not affiliated with Stevens Creek Models, I just know about their product. )
Stevens Creek Models: http://www.hon3.com
-Ed
bwftex has good advice. I would add only to cut slightly inside your marks, then file/sand the opening to exact size for a perfect fit. Also, use your file to square our the rouded corners left by the drill hole.
Ron