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“In this issue you fit the windshield into the frame of your DeLorean. Handle it with care to avoid scratching the clear plastic.”

Contents

Parts

Materials: The Windshield and Mirror Frame are plastic and the Mirror is a shiny sticker.

Magazine

• Drive Time: Model Instructions
• Grave Matters: Filming the Last Scenes of Back to the Future Part II
• A Time Traveler’s Guide: Marty’s Father Murdered

Build

Windshield

Before I started this issue, I could tell that this clear plastic Windshield could easily get scratched. It also exhibits a static charge so things like to stick to it like dust, fuzz, hairs, etc. Therefore, I took a few layers of painter’s tape and created a shape just larger than the Windshield itself. This tape layer can easily be applied and removed to the outside of the Windshield to help protect it during assembly of the rest of the model:

Steps 1-2

From underneath, fit the Windshield into its opening at the front of the Upper Frame. Then, secure the rear edge of the Windshield to the Upper Frame with four (4) NM screws. Do not over-tighten these as you could crack the plastic of the mounting points.

For this step, I did need to temporarily remove this support bar. If you already have removed it, you can continue on:

Now, you can get to the screws and attach the Windshield. This is also your friendly reminder to try using 3-in-One Oil on all screws going into metal:

Step 3

Secure the front edge of the Windshield to the Upper Frame with four (4) NM screws. Again, do not over-tighten these as you could crack the plastic of the mounting points:

Mirror

Step 4

Remove the backing paper from the rear of the reflective Mirror sticker:

Step 5

Fit the Mirror sticker (reflective side out) into the Mirror Frame and press it into place. Take care not to damage either part:

Once installed, you can remove the clear protective film:

Step 6

Push the shaft of the Mirror Frame into this socket on the inside of the Windshield.

I am not going to install this rear view mirror for two reasons: First, the Mirror shaft is prone to breaking off and/or it tends to just fall out. And, if you glue it in place, the glue can damage the clear Windshield plastic. Second, on the real filming car, this mirror was removed by the production crew to allow an unobstructed view of the actors inside the car. This practice is very common in the film industry:

But, for those builders who do want to install it into their model, I temporarily popped it in just for a picture to show its placement:

While the issue is now complete, we can add one small detail included in Decal Set III from Mike Lane! Mike has created replicas of the ‘bug’ or ‘monogram’ graphic printed on all automotive glass. These are printed on clear vinyl and includes black printed ones for the Windshield and white printed ones for the side windows. He also includes spares in case we screw up the installation. We will focus on the black printed decal here:

The installation of this decal is a simple peel-and-stick process. It should be applied to the lower driver side corner (from the inside):

And that’s it! Another great product from Mike Lane to really bring this build alive! One final thing now that we are done with the Windshield: I just wanted to take a moment to show you how my tape mask fits over the Windshield to protect it as we continue the build:

Thoughts

This was not a long issue, and it was pretty easy. Everything in this issue is plastic. On a side note, and it may just be me, but this frame looks like it could also be the frame of a 1:8 scale Knight Rider (K.I.T.T) model. I know a part work build for K.I.T.T was tested in France in 2018 by Altaya, but it never made it to the USA. If it ever does, I might just build it!

Next Up

 Issue 63 – Body: Hood, Hood Hinges/Struts