Using Shawplan ‘Laserglaze'

One of the most difficult things to replicate convincingly in scale modelling is locomotive cab glazing of any type. ‘Laserglaze’ by Shawplan Models is a useful product that helps achieve the flat appearance associated with locomotive glazing. We show you how to use it by fitting it to three different ready-to-run ‘OO’ gauge diesel locomotives and how to avoid the more common pitfalls.

GLAZING is one of the areas that has seen significant advances in ready to run locomotives in recent years. Flush-fitting moulded glazing units are now a given in all ‘OO’ gauge (4mm scale) locomotive models and the improvement it makes in the overall appearance of the model is much welcomed by modellers, even though it can vary in quality from model to model, depending on when it was introduced.

Glazing is always going to be a challenge for modellers and manufacturers. On one hand, it is a vital feature of a model because it impacts on how the ‘face’ of a locomotive appears to the eye. On the other hand, injection moulded plastic body shells in both ‘OO’ and ‘N’ gauge have to be strong enough to withstand regular handling and allow intricate detail to be moulded into them, resulting in them being thicker than the metal sheet used in full-size locomotives would be when scaled down.

This ‘thickness’ has to be overcome by the moulded glazing pieces used for windscreens and cab side windows to make the model appear as if it is composed of sheet metal with windows fitted to a frame and the end result is not always as convincing as one might wish.

Why replace moulded glazing?

Moulded flush glazing goes a long way to achieving the right look to a locomotive cab, but has its limitations. Mouldings are sometimes thicker than scale glazing to match the body shell, giving them a slightly distorted appearance. Sometimes, the mouldings have a slight curve or bow to the surface, which is the case with the Hornby Class 56, which does not look convincing – it should be flat.