Any Ideas on a Fix?

First, I would remove what looks like a little nub left over from where the strut broke off with an Exacto or similar knife and make sure the top side is also free of any imperfections so the window frame is smooth and flat.

You should be able to buy a small piece of sheet styrene plastic of the approximate thickness of the other strut at your LHS or on-line. You can then cut out a piece that approximates the width and length of the strut and keep trial fitting it and gradually removing excess material until it fits perfectly in the window opening.

If you can remove the shell, put a piece of painter's tape across the inside of the window that will hold the new strut in place while the glue sets. If you can't remove it, then simply hold the strut in place until the glue sets.

I would use CA glue and an accelerator which will allow you to only have to hold the strut straight in place for a short time before it sets. If you use a spray accelerator, be sure to mask off the surrounding area with tape so there's no chance the accelerator will mar the paint and lightly dry off any excess spray immediately. 

With the color, that may be more difficult. The car looks like the plastic is pre colored, not painted. The only way I know to match it is the old fashioned way, mixing paint (me I would use acryllics, easier to work with) until you get the right pink-red tone (you can do a web search, maybe someone else has had this car/color and tells you what you need). Unfortunately there is no app I know of for model train paints where you can take a picture of the car and the app gives you the mix.

Your idea of painting the trim is one way, or you also, if the original baked in color is not critical, try to find a paint that is close to this color and paint the entire car (it might be easier than trying to exactly match the native color for something so small).

Another option, if you’re going to run the car and are not worried about it’s collectibility, would be to just file down the nubs and leave it that way. Do the same for the window on the other side, so they are both the same on that end of the car. Then it looks symmetrical and “correct.”

I think I have a surplus cab from either that car or a 520 locomotive. (Same sides, different widths) You can have it, and scavenge the strut and whatever other parts you need. I just have to find it first, in the pile-o-stuff. Send me a private message and we'll get together to figure this out.

I would recommend a hobby knife and a very fine file or sanding stick to smooth the nubs on the window frame. Then, as mentioned above, cut a piece of strip styrene plastic (with matching cross section) to the height of the opening. Cut a second thin strip - longer than the opening - and (styrene) cement it to the first strip. Paint with acrylics, then cement the two assembled strips to the model from the inside. Use cement only on the two ends of the longer strip where they contact the inner surface of the wall. That way, no cement will mar the visible surface of the model and the mounting will be solid. I don't think a slight difference in color will be important as long as the repair looks to have been done carefully.

MELGAR

@Richie C., and @bigkid,

Thanks for the suggestions, I may use them, but I think I'm going with what @Rich Melvin suggested.  By opening up the 2 windows I'll add some figures on the inside.  Since the unit has power going to the searchlight, I'll just tap into that and put in some LEDs.

@Arthur P. Bloom,

I truly appreciate your generous offer, but I think I'll got with the idea above.  Thank you very much.

@MELGAR,

Thanks.  You must have been posting as I did this one.