Using Real Glass in Model Railroad Building Windows3 min read

Microscope Glass as Alternative to Acetate in Windows

 

This blog post deals with the use of hand tools and glass with sharp edges. Please use eye protection hand protection when handling these materials to help avoid injury.

This past weekend, while talking with a guest on our podcast prior to the show starting, (who will be the feature on the Bench Time Podcast this Friday) we discussed using microscope slides as an alternative to the typical acetate that we all get from kits and most of us modelers put in our windows to mimic glass.

But as most of us would say, there’s no substitute for the real thing… And what looks more like glass than GLASS!

Now that we were intrigued from hearing about this (yes, this was the first time we heard about this… don’t judge us) we had to get our hands on some glass to put into the windows of a kit on our bench right now!

We did a little reading and looking around and here’s what we found you’ll need:

• Glue (either white or wood glue)
  • We used wood glue, and it held the glass to the wood very well
• Microscope slides
• Glass cutter
• Bowl or dish
• Dowel Rod
• Water
• Eye protection
• Hand protection/gloves

CAUTION: Always wear eye protection and be VERY careful when handling the glass and splitting the glass underwater. This is, after all, cut glass, so please make sure to always wear proper eye and hand protection to avoid injury.

Here’s how we did it:

The process for this is VERY simple and we’re going to show you via video and some simple video instructions at the top of the post.

1. We measured the microscope slide, or other glass if you choose to use something else, to length to cover the window opening with a little bit of overhang so it’s easier to glue without smudging glue on the glass.
2. Once you know the width of the glass you need, use the glass cutter with a mild amount of pressure to scribe a line where you want the glass to break clean.
3. Next, put the glass in the water dish or bowl and place the scribed line on or around the dowel rod and keep the glass and dowel rod under the water.
4. Apply pressure to either side of the glass as it sits on the piece of wood.
5. Once the glass snaps where you want it and you’re satisfied, dry the cut glass piece off and adhere it to the backside of the window opening.
6. Let the glue dry by placing the wall face down on your work surface until the heavier glass is dried and stuck fast to the wall.
7. Repeat for each window and enjoy! I found it oddly enjoyable to snap the glass cleanly under the water.

You need to snap the glass at the etched line under water because something to do with surface tension on the glass, or science and stuff… Really just science. Hey look, it works better and the window snaps exactly where you put the cut line!

This is super simple, and I have to admit, the glass looks awesome and way better than acetate! The best part about this method is that it’s not going to break the bank anytime soon.

The glass microscope slides cost us about $7 for 100 slides (thicker glass) and 100 slide covers (thinner glass) and about $6 for a glass cutter. Both were on Amazon and here are the links:

AmScope BS-72P-100S-22 72 Pieces of Pre-Cleaned Blank Microscope Slides and 100 Pieces of 22x22mm Square Coverslips Cover Glass

Goldblatt G05823 Glass Cutter

Give this a try and let us know if you’ve tried this before in the comments below!

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