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Window Glazing for Brass Pass Cars

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • 4 posts
Window Glazing for Brass Pass Cars
Posted by Sparkster on Saturday, May 4, 2019 4:23 PM

Hello!  I have acquired a beautifully painted/decaled HO set of Katsumi brass passenger cars (North Coast Limited) without window glazing and would sure like to put this finishing touch on them. About 15-20 years ago a company used to make preformed glazing for brass passenger cars, even a single molded piece for domes, but my memory and computer research has turned up nothing. Does anyone have any info about that company or if I could obtain something currently to glaze my cars? Thanks

Tags: Brass , glazing , Passenger
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,229 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, May 4, 2019 5:07 PM

Hi and Welcome

Some years ago I believe it was Railway Classics (formerly Shoreham Shops) and also Overland Models sold dome glazing as a separate part. About the only chance you'll find any is possibly eBay or a train show/flea market or perhaps, a hobby shop stocked with old-stock parts.

http://www.qconnection.biz/Railway%20Classics/parts.htm

 

I haven't bothered with lighting or interiors in most of my brass passenger cars so I opted for the Woodland Scenics tinted window material.

https://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/item/JP5715

One thing I found handy with the Woodland Scenics product is that they supply a sheet of "Sticky Dots" to adhere the acetate to the inside of the car (or building). I found these sticky dots to be a great choice for applying the glazing inside brass cars. 

 

 Erie_ten-hundred by Edmund, on Flickr

 IMG_0158_fix_W by Edmund, on Flickr

It has a nice degree of reflectivity on the outer surface and hides the fact that there isn't any interior. This business car, on the other hand, I placed a few pieces of furniture and partitions to give the impression of an interior so I used clear glazing (acetate):

 Big4_business-car4 by Edmund, on Flickr

I also went all-out and put a fancy "annex" window in:

 Big4_business-carcrop by Edmund, on Flickr

Hope that helps, Ed

  • Member since
    November 2018
  • From: Just another small town in Ohio
  • 268 posts
Posted by Erie1951 on Saturday, May 4, 2019 5:21 PM

Love that Erie two-tone coach, Ed. Thumbs Up

Russ

Modeling the early '50s Erie in Paterson, NJ.  Here's the link to my railroad postcard collection: https://railroadpostcards.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,229 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, May 4, 2019 5:53 PM

Thank you, Erie! It gets better Big Smile

 EL_DinerLounge by Edmund, on Flickr

based on this one...(minus the dent!)

 EL standard diner #741 on Train 5, The Lake Cities stopped at Marion, OH on December 21, 1969 by Marty Bernard, on Flickr

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, May 4, 2019 6:27 PM

Welcome to the forum

Brasstrains.com produces videos and last year Boyd Reyes discussed inserting windows in brass trains.  He uses a custom decal to produce prism glass like is in Ed's photo above of the "Pleasant" car.

The title description of their videos is not helpful so you are going to have to watch some of them to find it.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    January 2009
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Posted by Sparkster on Saturday, May 4, 2019 7:00 PM

Thanks for the lead, Henry!

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Posted by Sparkster on Saturday, May 4, 2019 7:08 PM

Ordering some as we speak. Very helpful, Ed. Thanks!

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,427 posts
Posted by dknelson on Sunday, May 5, 2019 12:04 PM

Sparkster
About 15-20 years ago a company used to make preformed glazing for brass passenger cars, even a single molded piece for domes, but my memory and computer research has turned up nothing. Does anyone have any info about that company or if I could obtain something currently to glaze my cars?

You MIGHT also be thinking of the green tinted "glass" insert for dome cars that Rix Products/Pikestuff sold, made to fit an Oriental Limited import dome car many years ago.  They seem to have discontinued the product - Walthers is out and Rix's website says they have a few left.  Rix/Pikestuff also sold that same green tinted plastic in small sheets.  It was not sized to fit in a passenger car window, but behind it.  It too seemed to be phased out at Rix.  They do still have coach seats.

Dave Nelson

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • 4 posts
Posted by Sparkster on Sunday, May 5, 2019 1:07 PM

Thanks for the heads up, Dave!

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