A method for getting windows lined up

[jglfan]

I had seen a post in a thread awhile back where someone asked how someone else had done such a good job in getting their windows lined up so nicely. At the time, there had not been an answer, and I can't find the thread now. I thought I'd post this as I am currently working on such a project. I have mentioned this in my thread "An engine facility for the JGL", in the HO forum. Here I will post some step by step photos of the process I use, which requires much less accuracy in measuring and removes the dangers of an unsteady hand! First step is to determine what windows you will use, and the spacing you want between them. I drew a rough plan on paper to see what looked best. Then I used the paper to work on, more to protect my cutting mat from the styrene cement than any other reason. I used a chopper to cut styrene strip to the lengths I needed per the paln. I used .020 styrene, as the brick overlay is also .020, giving me .040 once I laminate the brick to the subwall. The windows I chose are .495 wide, so 1/2" worked well. I also wanted 1/2" between the windows, so I used .020 x .250 strips. They are edge glued together as follows:

I had done a few rows before thinking to take some pics. Here is a wall in process.
   

The next piece required was a full height strip. The parts tend to lift off the paper, once I bruch some solvent on the joint, I hold down the pcs with the knife blade as shown. The new part butts right up against both the previous parts and the window.
   

Here I have added the second full height pc, to get my 1/2" spacing, and 1 of the short bottom pcs, its length determined by where I wanted the bottom of the window to be. Once teh first bottom pc is glued, I place the window against it.