MTH Subway Set Windows

[newt]

Recently purchased a new in box 4 car white subway set. Nearly half
the windows have lost their adhesion and fallen to the floor of the passenger cars. Is this common? What is the best adhesive to re-glue these back in place?

[chuck]

Testors makes a glue for model airplane canopies and auto windshields.  Dries clear, doesn't "frost" the plastic.  Anothe possible substitution is watch repair crystal cement.

http://www.testors.com/catalog_item.asp?itemNbr=1211


http://www.gssupplies.com/cement.html<br>

[otftch]

DON'T use super glue !!!!!!

                 Ed

[trigtrax]

Why not call MTH Service Dept. before you glue the windows back in. Plastic adhesive works by melting the surface and fusing the joints together. If you get any on the clear part it'll fog. Beside your own loss MTH should know if there's a problem with it's assembly.

[darianj]

Don't think this is common.  I've never heard of this happening.  I have 4 different subway sets and all is OK.  Pehaps they've been stored in a place that got a little too hot. 

I know the set is getting rare, but can you possibley exchange it?

[chuck]

Neither of the cements I recommend are solvent based and will not fog the plastic.  The windows will pop out if stressed because they are not solvent adhered to the shell.  I popped out a set when I tried to pick a car up off the track and didn't realize that I was grabbing a flush mounted window.  It took longer to get the shell removed/re-instaled than it did to actually glue the window back in place.  I used the Testors product as I had that on hand.  Window has not popped out since.  Some Micheal's craft stores carry the watch crystal cement.

[newt]

Thanks for the comments regarding the subway windows. I sent MTH
a message about the windows prior to my posting, but apparently they're backed up and have not been able to respond yet. I knew I'd
get quicker responses from the forum.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions on adhesive.  I'm replacing the black window silhouettes on my Williams passenger cars for the painted ones.  I wish I could find a set of Madison cars with actual plastic windows, overhead lighting, interiors, and figures.  Does anyone manufacture Madison style coaches like K-Line did that can be used on O-31?

[Dave45681]

It may not be common across the board, but I saw this on my Dad's R26 set, which came out a little after the R12's, if I recall.

Not only did a few fall out right out of the box, but at least one other one fell out when I lightly touched it during disassembly.

I was able to put them all back in.  I don't know for sure, but I think they are all still in.

I carefully applied regular plastic cement around the edges with a toothpick and I don't think I fogged any of the windows.  I would recommend using the other products mentioned to be safer though.  I think I will have to look for some of that "window friendly" cement next time I'm at the hobby shop.

[dave_hartmann]

I have a set of the 3200 series Chicago "l" cars and one of the windows has fallen to the floor in the powered car.  I haven't tried to glue it back in place yet but may try one of the suggerstions here.

Dave