Hi friends,
I added some small but useful accessories to the range of my products and I would like to provide detailed info about each of them.
This time, it is all about windows. Märklin does not like windows in Z scale. They were always skipping adding windows from the beginning of time - first edition of BR 218 was without windows at all, almost all passenger cars don't feature windows at the ends at all - newly developed restaurant car (forst introduced in Touristik train set) became the only unexpected exception from this weird rule. Most steam locomotives don't have any windows too. Transformer car, many small 2-axle cars - everything comes with black holes where windows should be.
I already started fixing this some time ago by developing window inserts for transformer car. Now I decided to go further - the next model that received prototypical windows is recently announced upgraded version of BR 78 steam locomotive. Now this interesting and very welcome model got even more prototypical look:
These tiny windows were produced on precise CNC cutter from 1.5 mm acrylic glass:
Installation is very easy:
1. Carefully remove the locomotive body.
2. Apply a small drop of glue (for plastic either lasercut) to the base of the window inserts.
3. Carefully install them into the openings of the smallest side windows from inside using tweezers (the base should be pointed downwards).
4. Wait until the glue dries and reassemble the locomotive.
I recommend using lasercut (PVA) glue due to the number of reasons: it cannot destroy plastic and paint coating. Even if something goes wrong, it can be easily removed and any time. Once it dries, it will hold these small parts very reliably.
Window sets for BR 78 steam locomotive are available here:
https://www.1zu220-shop.de/Zmodell/Zube ... 46272.html
Windows for Doppelstockwagen
I also developed another kind of window inserts - for double-deck passenger cars and control car. These windows are also made on CNC cutter from 1 mm acrylic glass. When I tried to fit these windows into the wagon for the first time, it became clear to me that it is possible to make them even more realistic by adding rubber bands around the windows - just like in real life. I developed very tiny parts for this and made them from photo-etched 0.1 mm nickel silver. Then I also airbrushed them with black paint:
You can see how small they are indeed:
I put these tiny metal parts onto the IC 2 passenger car in order to make a comparison with original rubber bands on side doors and windows:
This is a window insert with attached window frame. I also made this picture for comparison:
Attaching window frames was a very difficult and precise task that required a lot of skills and patience. I had to use only CA glue - the best suitable glue for this purpose, but also very risky. After some tryouts, I found a way how to pick up a small enough drop of glue - with the help of 0.3 mm wire which I dipped into the small drop of CA glue dropped on the small plastic bag.