Repairing windscreen

[scarlet dragon]

Hi Guys,

I have been on the forum for a while now but this is my first post.

I must say how impressed I've been by the quality of the models on here
and the ideas in the tutorials.

Anyhow on to my problem. I've just had a few kits I bought off eBay
delivered, the Tamiya 787B has a cracked windscreen! It's a very clean crack right down the middle.

Is there anyway to repair this to a satisfactory standard (given that the wiper will sit pretty much in the same place), can I get a replacement off Tamiya or I don't suppose anyone has one lurking around in their spare parts box?

Before anyone says, yes I've done a search.

[freakray]

Tamiya recently re-released this kit so you have an excellent chance of getting a replacement windscreen from them.

[SchuberT]

I've always had this idea that I thought might work, but never had the guts to crack a windshield in order to try it. Since you can probably get a replacement screen, would you mind trying it out?

Alright, so everyone knows liquid glue will fog up your windshield, but I heard somewhere that you can polish this out. So I figure you could use liquid glue to "melt the crack away", and this just polish the window out, in turn coming away with a shinier windshield.

It sounds stupid to me even, but... eh... worth a shot.

[Ferrari TR]

I've heard that you can install the windshield and then flow clear paint into the crack, though I haven't tried that.

I don't mean to hi-jack your thread, but I have a tamiya 360 with the rear window glued to the hatch that needs to be taken apart (another e-bay "deal"). I don't know what type of glue was used though there is plenty. Anyone have a tip for that?

[scarlet dragon]

Thanks for the replies;

I'll give them a try freakray.

I was thinking of trying epoxy glue then polishing actually
SchuberT, anyone else tried polishing out the fogging?

No problem Ferrari TR, try putting it in the freezer for a while.
Another car I had off eBay had the engine block badly assembled and
I saw someone on here (can't remember who sorry) recommend that.
Worked quite well! Don't know if it would be so good with a clear part though?

[RallyRaider]

You could try using clear acetate to replace the screen if it doesn't have any compund curves to it. If it is a complex shape then you could vac-form a new one. Don't know of any way to satisfactorily repair cracked clear styrene. And make sure you put a rocket up the eBay seller!

[Technoman]

Would Micro Scale Krystal Klear work? This dries perfectly clear. If it were a clean enough crack it might do it or make it at least useable.

Tamiya will replace the windscreen free if you are in the US and they have one in stock. Call 1-800-TAMIYAA

AJ

[freakray]

Originally Posted by Technoman

Tamiya will replace the windscreen free if you are in the US and they have one in stock. Call 1-800-TAMIYAA

AJ

My experience with Tamiya USA so far has varied, it actually can depend on who answers the phone on the day
Either way, whenever I've needed a parts tree from them, I've always had to pay (never more than a few dollars though), whenever it's been decals, they've always replaced them free

[mickbench]

Be interested to know if the application of glue to the crack to seal it up and then polish the fogging to show a clear windscreen works..!!

TBH it might be easier to attempt sourcing a new part if you live somewhere where Tamiya spares can be brought without problems.

[Technoman]

Originally Posted by mickbench

Be interested to know if the application of glue to the crack to seal it up and then polish the fogging to show a clear windscreen works..!

Unless the glue dries transparent you will never be able to polish it out entirely. The Microscale stuff is the only glue I know of that dries perfectly clear and doesn't fog up transparent parts. I would imagine you could get it looking like a hairline scratch if not invisible if you used that (assuming the crack is a perfectly clean break).

[scarlet dragon]

Originally Posted by Technoman

Tamiya will replace the windscreen free if you are in the US and they have one in stock. Call 1-800-TAMIYAAAJ

I'm in the UK, anyone have experience of the UK importers for this sort of thing? Already sent them an e-mail.

[cfcrules]

Best thing in the Uk is to ring up the hobby company, if lucky the person will not charge, but if unlucky they will. I had to get the metal decals for an f50, got them in 4 days.