1950 Liner "Weeble" - 1950 window frames are a PITA!

Four pieces of glass and only 2 frames completed but really happy with results.



So the first frame, I tried the grey seals that I bought at VTS. Had issues getting the seals as they kept stretching instead of seating. Next, I tried the recommendation of someone (this person has done many AS's but it went against my better sense). They said just to seat them in silicon. It actually worked well although messy. But the end result looked bad to me. Maybe if I had used a gray or black. I used clear and you could see into the seal and all the flaws.

I then polished another frame and tried the grey seal again. This time, I beveled the glass edges. When I installed, I also used a 1/4" piece of plywood as a push stick to seat the seal. This did the trick but I had to hammer a small area of the frame in half way, then push the seal in to seat it, then hammer it in deeper, rinse/repeat around the entire frame. This window turned out great.

Everything ready to build a frame:


The seal cut for the curved edges:


Push stick I made to coax the seal into the frame which worked well after some trial and error:


I then spent a half a day cleaning the siliconed frame, went through 2 pieces of glass using the grey seal and each broke after getting them done. I put this frame aside as I think the ghost of silicone past is haunting it.

I polished a third frame, rebuilt it and it held tight. Next was to put in these 2 finished windows, mechs and screen. The first thing I did was glue in the seals. I used a lot of painters tape to hold it in place as the seal glue set. Next, I took a piece of aluminum screen, cut it a little large and folded the edges to fit inside the aluminum frame as the original was. I didn't like the original way the mechs went through the screen. They just cut 2 slits. I had some small auto trim with adhesive inside and seated a piece on each side of the opening to keep the mechs from rubbing the screen and it turned out nice. I also dipped the mech handles and latching hooks in that rubber paint. Happy with that as well as it helps keep them held closed and doesn't scratch the paint.

One window set finished from the outside:


From the inside:


Close-up of the window mech:


With window open, you can see the trim seals on the screen:


All of the mechs (except the set installed) painted, clear coated and rubber handles:


I will probably wait to redo the other windows until the shell is on the new frame. I am worried that the shell moving will crack the glass in these or I will meet up the screens and mechs by being clumsy. I plan to just put the old windows back in for winter.