I was looking through the Walthers Catalog and didn’t find a very big selection of structure windows for scratch building factories/industry. I am in need of larger windows for older style brick industrial structures some arched (like the windows in the Cornerstone “Norhtern Power & Light”, and some a little more modern (like the windows in the Cornerstone “Red Wing Milling Company”).
Help with any other suppliers would be great.
Thanks
William,
You didn’t mention what scale you were looking for. Did you look at either Grandt Line or Tichy?
Tom
If you have all the time in the world and infinite patience, you could always scratch build them out of strip styrene…
Unfortunately, I don’t meet either requirement, so I made one and put the rest of the project on hiatus… you can see why…
Instead, I’m having a friend of mine etch them out of brass. I haven’t seen any results yet, but he tells me it’s going well.
Another solution for large industrial windows which may not work in larger scales (I’m in N) is to make up artwork and then photocopy it onto clear acetate. That’s how I’ll be doing the windows in my roundhouses.
The windows are large banks of multipane windows with steel muntins… I drew up the windows in my CAD program (you could use MS Paint if you like)
then took the drawing to a copy shop with a good laser printer. I have the acetates ready, but I haven’t worked on that project in a while. Here’s an example of what you kind of results you can get.
Not the best picture, but you get the idea.
Lee
I recently ordered some laser cut windows from Rusty Stumps in O scale, they are great, will use them for an enginehouse that I plan to build. They also have them in HO scale, here’s the page on their site: http://www.rustystumps.com/products.asp?id=2
They are cut from lightweight cardboard, making them nice and thin. They come with painting and installing instructions. Worth a look!
I’ll have to second Bob B’s recommendation. I’ve been using Rusty Stumps’ products for the past several years and I have yet to complain about any of them. His laser-cut cardstock windows and doors are easily painted, do not have the usual ‘grain running in the wrong direction’ problems common with the cut plywood windows/doors from other manufacturers, and the window mullions are far closer to actual scale than those of competing products. I’m a longtime satisfied customer who uses these products in scratch building projects.
I used clear styrene for clerestory windows on my engine shops. After cutting it to size, I masked it, in turn, for the vertical mullions, then the horizontal muntins (two, separate masking and painting operations). The paint was applied on the outside face of the “glass”.
You could do the masking and painting first, then cut out the individual windows, especially if you’re making multiples of the same size and style.
Wayne
Sorry about that, I model HO scale.
Thanks for the all the ideas. I will be using the software “Model Builder” by Evan’s Designs to make the structures. They have windows, but the selection is limited, and I am worried that they may not look right since they will be printed. That is why I wanted to try to get some pre made windows or something like that.
Is there a setting that allows you to modify the windows? My program can change the size, shape, style and grille pattern, but then, it’s an architectural program!
Lee
I can change the size of the windows or I can change the size of the windows without changing the size of the individual pains (it adds pains as it resizes). BUT, the windows when completed are printed and look blue/grey in color. I suppose I could cut the printed glass from the window frames with an X-sacto knife and then glue the remaining frame to a sheet of clear plastic then mount it on the back side of the walls to give it a recessed look. Hmmmm… I think I have a project to try out now.