BC12D Door Windows

[dsherburn]

How did the (door) windows come from the factory in 1946? Mine had a fixed window on the passenger side and a two piece sliding affair on the pilot side. Others that I've seen had a version that swings out from hinges at the top. I'm assuming the pilot side opens so as to communicate to the person propping the plane, but a fixed version with a vent sounds simpler and leak free....I'm restoring the doors so I can pretty much do what ever is correct. Is there a source for these windows or is it just lexan?

Than you in advance!
Dan Sherburn
Spring Lake, MI

[jim cooper]

Re: BC12D Door Windows

The fellow who rebuilt my BC12D was a PRO. He installed lexan sliding windows on both sides. The were very helpful in summer time, let lots of air in when you needed it. They did not rattle, and worked very well. I have his phone number if you want it. JC

[Ryan]

Re: BC12D Door Windows

Bc12ds had sliding windows. Wag aero makes a kit for these windows but we had alot of trouble with them cracking. We fabricated our own from lexan and no issues so far. The original inside window frame has a piece to hold in the rear window and the front window has a metal trim piece for the handle and another piece on the back side of it. Ours are held in by felt and work really well. Like Jim said are very nice in the summer

[crispy critter]

Re: BC12D Door Windows

How do you keep the lexan from scratching? I put lexan in Crispy and after opening and closing a couple of times on the felt is scratched them so bad you couldn't see thru them. Even a bounty papertown with some pledge would scratch them when cleaning. I threw them away and went with plexiglass

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: BC12D Door Windows

YEOW! PAPER TOWELS!!!! Paper towels are pressed together wood chunks and should NEVER be used on transparencies. You want well washed, preferably worn out cotton cloths. A great source is worn out cotton diapers (CLEAN ONES! Baby poop will not scratch your windshield but who wants to clean it off?). I keep a bunch of them (clean ones) in a gallon plastic zip lock bag JUST for transparencies.
If the cloth touches the ground, it goes in the back of the plane to get washed. Any dirt or grit on the cloth will scratch your glass. ALWAYS wipe UP AND DOWN, NEVER across. Even microscopic scratches will "flash" when the sun hits them.
There are commercial solutions you can use to clean the "glass" and polishes that will take out really small scratches. I always flood the "glass" with water first to get all of the dust off, then use the cleaning solution. One more BIG thing is NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use Windex on plexi! Ammonia chemically reacts with the plastic and makes it "haze up" over time and craze. It goes DEEP and ruins the "glass".
Hank

Chemistry comes in handy sometimes.

[M Towsley]

Re: BC12D Door Windows

Even diapers can scratch as they really have no nap. Microfiber towels are the way to go, now. Sam's club sells a big bag of them and they seem to last forever. Hank is right, though, once they hit the ground they no longer are used on windshields or windows. I mark mine with a black laundry marker with an 'X' and they get washed with garage towels not the 'good' towels.