Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Windows and doors for scratch building

8202 views
13 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Monday, April 21, 2014 5:10 AM

Wdcrvr,

Scroll down to page 8, once PDF loads, maybe one of those will work for you. Also many scratch building supplies, on that site. May be of interest to you:

http://www.northeasternscalelumber.com/uploads/pdfs/NESLCatalog_2013.pdf

Frank

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Columbia, IL
  • 394 posts
Posted by wdcrvr on Sunday, April 20, 2014 7:46 PM

OP here.  I have laid the rails, built the floor and started building the framework for my roundhouse.  I still am having trouble finding windows to use that will run horizonatally about 20' back from the front of the roundhouse.  There are many suitable options from Grandt and Tichy for the windows in the side and back walls but I am not happy with what they offer for use in the front.  An article from MR talks about a Model Massterpieces #300 window that looks good to me, but I cannot find it anywhere.  Can anyone tell me any other sources for ho windows and doors besides Grandt Line and Tichy?

Thanks

wdcrvr

 

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Fullerton, California
  • 1,364 posts
Posted by hornblower on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 11:08 AM

I also need to scratch build a number of structures for my layout.  However, my LHS doesn't stock all of the available windows and doors of each manufacturer so it is difficult to picture what would be suitable for different buildings.  Catalog or internet pictures are okay but it would be better to have different window and door castings in hand when designing a structure.  Thus, I just ordered a couple of Tichy Train Group window and door assortments from MB Klein.  One assortment includes 200 pieces for $31.99 while the other offers 130 different pieces for $22.39.  These two assortments should allow me to build several structures and I can always order more of a particular door or window should a structure require more than is offered in the assortments.

Hornblower

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Columbia, IL
  • 394 posts
Posted by wdcrvr on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 10:19 AM

Sorry.  I thought that I had responded earlier, but guess that was only in my mind and not on the keyboard.  I do appreciate the responses I have received on this and other threads.  I now know that I can get doors and windows at a much more reasonable price than I originally thought.  I decided on a five stall roundhouse (odd numbers are always better looking than even, I think).  I have laid the tracks and have the outline of the roundhouse, to include an office/tool storage area attached to one side.  I am now in the process of laying down flooring that will come up even with the tops of the rails.  Before I decide on what doors and windows to purchase I am going to build a mock up out of cardboard or foam board and then consider how the different windows and doors would look.

Thanks again

wdcrvr

 

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 7:37 AM

DAVE,

I could not agree with you more!!! There are words for that,,,but I'll leave it alone..

Cheers,

Frank

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 9:49 PM

Let's see here:

10 days and no response from the OP? He has certainly been active on other threads.

I think most people would agree that if you post a question then at least acknowledge the responses even if they don't help.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Monday, September 23, 2013 1:39 PM

RREBELL,

I have not purchased any Detail building parts,for quite some time,,I still have a few,,,but I will say,that the one's I did buy,,did not come on sprues, they were all individual in a package,that you did not have to remove any flash,,2,4,6 and 8 in a plastic package..

Cheers,

Frank

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Sunday, September 22, 2013 10:47 PM

I relize that, but when he gets around to ordering and needs 5X, 2Y and 6Z and  X is ordered in lots of 4, you get 3 left over. On one of my projects the min sprue was 8 so I would have had 7 extra I will probably never use!

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Sunday, September 22, 2013 2:00 AM

RREBELL,

I believe he stated that he's not short,,,,,he wants to build a engine house from scratch and he's looking for a source for windows,,,without breaking the ''Piggy Bank''....

Cheers,

Frank

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Saturday, September 21, 2013 4:31 PM

Grant line are plastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Boils down to kits are cheaper if you can get a bargin, otherwise because of the parts coming on spues with up to a dozen parts when you only need one of that size, parts are more expencive. On the craftsman forum I am a member of, there are always those willing to send of the one additional window you need if you come up short.

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 9:29 PM

wdcrvr:

You didn't mention what scale you are working in so I'm going to guess that it is HO. If you are in a different scale please let us know.

The Grandt Line 40 pane roundhouse windows work out to $0.55 each. I don't think you are going to get much cheaper than that. They are molded plastic.

Grandt Line offers two sizes of Roundhouse doors. Which one suits your needs will depend on the size of your locomotives. They range from approx. $2.00 to $4.25 per pair. Roundhouse doors can be scratch built quite easily using .040" thick scribed styrene sheet and some .010" x .100" strip. You can add windows to the doors if you want but you can save money by not using them, and you can make the hinge straps from the strip styrene.

Brent suggested scratch building the windows but personally I think that it would be next to impossible to get the muntins and mullions lined up properly on a 40 pane window.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Saturday, September 14, 2013 3:01 PM

The door that came with the office is the same as the plastic insert door you see in the grain bin. Blath! Ugly and boring. So out of scrap I made a door that is open and it also has a window in it. I also made the door frame and sill. All out of little bits of scrap.

 ">

I have since done some windows and other doors and they are easy to do. I have also used microscope slide covers for windows and I think they look way better than plastic windows.

If you are scratch building the structure, why not the windows and doors? So little material is used, you likely already have it in stock and already paid for is good.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, September 14, 2013 8:24 AM

Tichy Train Group has very nice plastic sets of windows and doors.

These are Tichy windows.  The door is, too, as I recall.  The attic door is scratched.

 

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Columbia, IL
  • 394 posts
Windows and doors for scratch building
Posted by wdcrvr on Saturday, September 14, 2013 8:06 AM

I want to scratch build my roundhouse so that I can have just the size and configuration that I want on my layout.  However I cannot find a source of windows and doors that is not expensive for my budget.  I am aware of the cast items from Grandt Line, but I am hoping there is a source for cheaper plastic versions.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

wdcrvr

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!