Bat-Jet Glass Installation

Glass installation on Basic Bat-Jets is a little bit different than other resin bodies. First off, all Bat-Jets come with front and rear glass. I vacuform the glass in one piece and you need to trim it along the windshield and back glass. I keep the glass on the outside of the body, so that minimal glue is needed on most body types. This has the added benefit of not having the glass affect the lowering of the chassis. I use manicure scissors, but other small scissors will work.

Here's the Deluxe 64 Vette, with the stock glass, prior to install.

I trim around the windwhield and rear glass. I'm leaving the side windows open, as allowed by all racing rules.

Here I'm just checking the fit, outside the body.

The glass is fitted so that the bottom of the windshield rests on the hood and the rear of the back window rests on the body. Keep trimming until you get the best fit possible, but still having the window held in place with the pressure of resting on the body. Just a drop on Super Glue will hold the windows in place.

The Beatnik Bandit glass bubble top is installed with Alene's "Clear Gel Tacky Glue" from WalMart's craft section, or from a Hobby Shop look for "Canopy Glue" used by Model Airplane hobbyists or also Microscale's Micro Krystal Klear. Any of these glues work well for filling gaps between the body and window.

Trim around the base of the bubble top, and test fit to get good coverage of the cockpit area.

Put a dab of glue on a small postit note or other scrap paper.

Put a bead of glue around the base of the cockpit.

Fit the bubble top and let it dry. You can fill any gaps with more glue after it dries.

Here's the Bandit on a chassis.

This is the new 2005 Ford GT. I've taken the Basic body and did some lightening and lowering by Dremel for racing. You need to do all this racing prep, prior to glass installation.

I outlined the area to be trimmed away with a Sharpie, so you can better see where the cuts will be made.

This is the first test fit after trimming. You can see, I need to trim along the base of the winshield and at the rear of back window...which is an 1/8" too long.

After several test fits, I'm now happy with the glass fit.

Just a drop of Super Glue to hold the windows snug against the body.

Here the body is ready to race in MARS, VHORS or any other racing group that requires rear windows.

To convert the body to Fray rules, take a Dremel with a small cutting or sanding tool and remove the plastic window behind the windshield header area. I would recommend installing the full window first, even if the body is destined for Fray racing.

Fray rules only require the windshield, so you have that big brass driven gear dominating the rear of the car. Personally, I think the rear window looks better on most cars. In any case, keep the cut off portion of the window, for possible later reinstallation, as racing rules change!

Another example is this Initial-D Mazda RX-7, prior to window installation.

Window is fitted, ready for Mt. Akina's downhill. The clear glues shown above are handy for any little gaps that need to be filled. Remember also replacement windows are available for all Bat-Jet models, including some of the old ones, that only were made with resin glass. email tom@bat-jet.com for info or any comments on this article.

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