1:35 Printed Accessories: Factory glass windows No.5

Factory window fillings No.5 in 1:35 scale from RT-Diorama

This is a printed diorama accessory, that is an element of the equipment of a scene, not a kit of a vehicle and not a model of a building. The RT-Diorama range covers architectural details in 1:35 scale and this set belongs to its group of window subjects for factory architecture. The 1:35 proportion given in the name is at the same time the commonest scale for military figures and equipment, so the accessory can be set into most scenes with no changes.

What the accessory is for

Windows are treacherous on a model of a building in two ways: an empty opening lets light through and gives away the hollow structure, and on large facades regularity is at the same time difficult to keep. A window subject settles both - it closes the openings and gives the facade a rhythm that runs along the whole wall. For dioramas this detail is inconspicuous but decisive: the viewer need not be aware of it, yet it is precisely by it that he judges whether the structure looks believable or like a mere set piece.

Tips for placing it in the scene

First lay out the facade on paper - the spacing, the size of the openings and the height of the sill. Only then deal with the individual walls. An industrial structure takes large glazed areas, but the grid has to be consistent and carry on around the corners as well. Compare the height of the windows with the figures you are planning for the scene. And finally weigh up the view and the lighting: a window on the far wall will be left without effect for the viewer, so it makes sense to concentrate on the side that is seen.

Who the set is for

• modelers building structures for dioramas in 1:35
• anyone interested in industrial architecture in a display case
• builders of scenes of fighting in a city
• those who want to close window openings that let light through