Return of a Wiking Classic - Photo Added

[cfritschle]

Sorry for the cross posting, but this is big news to N scale vehicle buffs.  One of the most sought after Wiking N scale vehicle sets from the 1970s is returning.

http://www.wiking.de/en/wikingmodellpflege/two-car-w-boat-trailer-comb-959.html

I heard this set sometimes went rather high on eBay.

Carter

See second page for photo.

[peteski]

That is a good news Carter!
But I'm worried about the blacked-out windows in the cars (as shown on Wiking's website). I prefer clear windows as the models look more realistic that way.

[DKS]

Great news. I'd always felt Wiking had some of the best tooling. Good to see them at it once again.

But I'm worried about the blacked-out windows in the cars (as shown on Wiking's website). I prefer clear windows as the models look more realistic that way.

Agreed, that is strange.

OTOH, poke around a little--they've got some new models I've not seen before that are really sharp--especially like the wheel treatments.

[bbussey]

I wish they'd upgrade the Chevy Malibu model, or at least make it available without the trailers.

[sizemore]

We're in the double-oughts, tinting the windows is all the rage. Duh.


The S.

[BCR 570]

Well worth having back again - thanks for letting us know.

Tim

[Bob Bufkin]

We're in the double-oughts, tinting the windows is all the rage. Duh.


The S.

Maybe so, but they are illegal in my miniature state

[cfritschle]

That is a good news Carter!
But I'm worried about the blacked-out windows in the cars (as shown on Wiking's website). I prefer clear windows as the models look more realistic that way.

Peteski,


The photo is of pre-productions models, so I am hoping the windows on the production models will have less tinting.

Another option could be to replace the plastic insert with Krystal Klear.  Generally these models have a very sharp edge around the window frames, so thin windows can be obtained with a little practice.  Of course if you get them too thin, you may need to add an interior.   

Carter

[peteski]

Carter, I sure hope that the tinting does not make into production models.  I was thinking that they tinted the windows not to show that there no interiors in those vintage models (as many of their new models have interiors).

As far as Krystal Klear goes, I really dislike that stuff. It to me never looks right. It always dries concave (not flat like real windows) and because of that, it has a lens effect (even more unrealistic).  It is also never as shiny or transparent as glass should be.  If those models are released with tinted windows (and I wanted to buy them), I'd rather use the tinted parts as master patterns for molds and cast my own clear resin window parts.  But that is a lot of work for something that should be clear in the first place. I guess we have to wait and see.

[DKS]

Carter, I sure hope that the tinting does not make into production models.  I was thinking that they tinted the windows not to show that there no interiors in those vintage models (as many of their new models have interiors).

I agree; however, the solid blocks of clear styrene they use actually obfuscates the interior (or lack thereof) pretty well because of how the light reflects and refracts through the solid block. It's strange, because Kato makes a nice generic sedan for their auto transport carrier, and also sells them separately, and they too sue a solid block, and yet their car has a crude interior, with seats and a dashboard, and yet because of the optics of the block, you can't see the details.

As far as Krystal Klear goes, I really dislike that stuff. It to me never looks right. It always dries concave (not flat like real windows) and because of that, it has a lens effect (even more unrealistic).  It is also never as shiny or transparent as glass should be.  If those models are released with tinted windows (and I wanted to buy them), I'd rather use the tinted parts as master patterns for molds and cast my own clear resin window parts.  But that is a lot of work for something that should be clear in the first place. I guess we have to wait and see.

I agree about Krystal Klear as well. If I have a foreground auto that I want to upgrade with detailed interior and realistic windows, I've made decent windows from thin clear sheet stock. I'll use the solid block as a guide to cutting shapes from sheet material, which I'll make just slightly oversize (vertically, not horizontally) to give me something with which I can bond them to the bottom edges of the window openings to the shell. It is tedious work, but it pays off--especially when I've also opened a door and/or added a dome light to show off all that work.

Although it's hard to tell form this image, there is a working dome light in this car--one of the Kato Toyotas--which I also cut apart in order to open the door. A couple of the windows are actually cut down and mounded on the top edge of the doors to make partially-open windows:

[sizemore]

Carter, I sure hope that the tinting does not make into production models.  I was thinking that they tinted the windows not to show that there no interiors in those vintage models (as many of their new models have interiors).

As far as Krystal Klear goes, I really dislike that stuff. It to me never looks right. It always dries concave (not flat like real windows) and because of that, it has a lens effect (even more unrealistic).  It is also never as shiny or transparent as glass should be.

You need to thin it out with water to the consistency slightly greater than that of Blow-Bubble fluid. Again takes some practice to get the consistency and application right but it will work.

The S.

[peteski]

You need to thin it out with water to the consistency slightly greater than that of Blow-Bubble fluid. Again takes some practice to get the consistency and application right but it will work.

The S.

Hmmm, I'll give it a try next time but I still have Krystal Klear aversion. For example, due to the thickens of the plastic in the window opening, the liquid will still accumulate around the edges. And how durable that very thin membrane of hardened liquid will be?  Will it stand up to brushing the dust off with a brush or to washing (yes I do wash some of my models). 

[DKS]

I've just received an order of the new re-issued vehicles. The window glazing is clear, as it was before. The reason it looks black in the photo is because the chassis parts are now cast in black (instead of the silver-grey of the original version), and the glazing blocks sitting on top of them goes dark as a result. Depending on your angles of view, the windows will alternately look black or clear.

[peteski]

Thanks for the follow up David.  That makes me feel better.  Which car set did you get? I'm asking because the description of the car/boat set Carter linked to in his initial post has the following description in it: "... VW variant in a choice of violet blue or reseda green; topaz windows; boat trailer in dark grey ..."  What the heck are "topaz windows"?

[DKS]

Thanks for the follow up David.  That makes me feel better.  Which car set did you get? I'm asking because the description of the car/boat set Carter linked to in his initial post has the following description in it: "... VW variant in a choice of violet blue or reseda green; topaz windows; boat trailer in dark grey ..."  What the heck are "topaz windows"?

Upon checking I found I did not have the new boat set reissue, as I'd thought; what I have is the camper set: http://www.wiking.de/en/wikingmodelle/1/car-caravan-combinations-turquoise-blue-n-gauge-1-160-771.html

These have the same black-looking windows as the new boat set, which I suspect is largely due to the dark grey chassis/wheel castings, which the camper set has as well. "Topaz windows" might mean pale blue-green tinted glass, and if this is true, then the black-window effect will be heightened by the tinting. I'll probably order the new boat set as well to find out first-hand.