Windows!
One of the reasons for trying to move forward with the painting is that I really want to be able to figure out how to solve the "window problem", and the painting needs to be done first. Recap: 1. I want to simulate the sash windows that the prototype diner originally had. The upper sash is shorter and is a mixture of stained and plain glass. 2. I want the window "glass" to look finished on the inside of the model, which the model instructions don't take into account.
One challenge when it comes to proportions and possible solutions is that the model windows are too vertical. They should be more horizontal. This is especially visible in the end sections. Additionally, as I've noted previously, the windows are different sizes and the spaces between them also vary -- hindering the addition of any interior window framing.
However, I did decide that I will not add exterior framing. It's not necessary. I wanted to insert the finished windows directly into the openings -- until I noticed that the corners of the windows are rounded. That will make a tough job even tougher. So, I'm still thinking about this and want to do some tests with overlapping sheets of plastic, borders, and so on. The plastic for the windows that came with the kit is about the thickness of two sheets of 20 lbs weight paper. It's pretty thin. The gels that Don sent are closer to one sheet in thickness, and I have some purple plastic that is thicker than two sheets. So I have lots of things to experiment with when I next have some time.
Toward that end, today I confirmed measurements and decided how high to make the stained glass portion. That's an important first step. It's a bit over a third of the entire window; and it will need to have a silver border around it, too. So, it's going to be fairly small to work with. PLUS, only part of the upper sash has stained glass:
Here are two of the colored cells -- both in colors that a prototype would have (orange and purple). In fact, one of my Airport Diner photos (above) shows a purple stained glass end window, and the diner's side windows originally had orange stained glass, now lost. So, these old diner builders thought nothing of mixing and matching colors that didn't necessarily work together :-). Again, please ignore the sloppy paint. How embarrassing. This is just to show how much color would appear with my proposed proportions -- except that the color would conform to one of the two patterns in my sketch above:
Tomlinson Run Railroad
