Tired of Chrome Headlights? Enter the Clear Bumper Project

[robertburns]

Hello All,

I thought I'd share a possible project I'd like to start.

It's a clear resin copy of chrome bumpers that had headlights molded in.

This way, you can mask off the headlights and get the part chromed or paint them to match the body.

If anyone is interested, please post what car to do. I'd like to do groups of bumpers and would like to sell them in groups of at least 5. I'll start on the most popular if there's enough interest.

Resin manufacturers are welcome to chime in as I'd like to provide these for you in larger orders.

Below is a before and after for a 1974 Dodge D100 grille.

Thanks - Rob

IMG_0689 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

[Atmobil]

That's a great idea. Two right at the top of my head that I would like to see is the AMT (old MPC?) Jeep Commando and the AMT/Ertl International Scout II.

[Mr mopar]

What resin did you use?sure is clear no bubbles.

[Jantrix]

Impressive.

[Bob Ellis]

Would work with LEDs if lit up.

[Casey]

That's a great idea.

I'd say just the opposite. With the headlight lens' "texture" as a raised detail, how is anyone going to crisply mask both headlights? A liquid mask would be my guess, so if anyone has tried I'd like to see the results.

It seems like drilling out the molded-in headlights and providing two separate, clear headlights and a one-piece grille sans headlights would be the best thing to do, and would ensure the headlights will look as real as possible right from the start. Having the grille chrome plated is no longer and option with this method, either, unless the masking medium can survive the plating process.

[randx0]

This is a clever idea. At first I thought why wouldn't you just drill them out and replace but then I thought about more and if the price point is accurate this could be very useful for kits with hidden headlights (chargers , camaros, rivieras, ) . It also helps with parking lights and turn signals. take it a step further and do the rear bumpers . In short I think it's a brilliant idea. I see a lot of potential.

[dimaxion]

I tend to agree with the Separate Lamps in clear . I have 400 + built that I'm in no way financially able to replace all the Grilles / Headlamps . There is now way I would expect you to cast all of these long ago OOP replacement parts . How long do you plan to live ? Not even considering the WIPS , opened , stashed and Archived on the "To DO Pile Someday" . I could be tempted to add these features to the latter categories . Those not yet processed to fruition . 1:1 you have 7" & 9" . Question is then , how many different sizes will you have to cast ? My 2 cents . Thanx ..

[Can-Con]

Sorry, I just gotta go with most of the other guys. Just easier and more cost effective to just cast the lights and drill out the openings.

That way you could just have a couple headlight molds that coule be used with whatever grille you want instead of needing a seprate mold for every different model you want to build.

[GLMFAA1]

Funny, Revell used clear plastic on their chrome parts years ago

greg

[IceMan Collections]

SOUNDS like a good idea but is it really worth the time and frustration of masking the rigid headlight?

I would love to see a successful chroming of one of those clear copies. I think its less time consuming to drill it out like many have already said.

[rickcaps55]

Hi I see were your trying to go with this but if you send them out to be plated the parts are cleaned very good by the guy doing the chrome so any masking will be cleaned off. I strip my parts drill out the lights and some times the grill clean them up and have them chromed when I get them back it's just a matter of gluing in the lights and putting the clear plastic on them.

[Jon Cole]

I would like to try it before dissing it. I would use a putty like masking medium. If I mask a bit more than I want, the headlight trim could always be done with BMF. Otherwise, just putty mask, and shoot it with black, then Alclad.

[afxmustang]

Too much work and expense just to get clear headlights.

[1930fordpickup]

Why not just cast a sheet of headlights cast in clear? You could do different sizes , As clear as your grill is I think you could sell many of the head lights.

[dimaxion]

Are you saying it would be easier to cast ; FoMoCO ; '60-'69 MY , Edsel '59 & '60 MY , Chevy '59-'70 MY and all the General's items , MoPar '59 - '73 MY ? What will this cost ?? Thanx ..

[Greg Wann]

Nice, I too would like to know what resin you chose?

[Len Woodruff]

When I talked to Harold Bradford (Historic Racing Miniatures) about clear resin. He said all of the "clear" he has tried eventually gets a yellow "tint" to it. Maybe Robert (GM Future Liner) had different sources since he works in the industry now.

[robertburns]

Thank you for your posts.

I'm set up now, so anyone who wants a clear bumper, please email me at robert burns jr 101 at yahoo.com for pricing.

Turn around time is 1 month. Add to that you want it chrome plated.

Cheers - Rob

[robertburns]

Why not just cast a sheet of headlights cast in clear? You could do different sizes , As clear as your grill is I think you could sell many of the head lights.

That's a good idea. If anyone wants to donate some headlights of different sizes, I can start casting them.

When I talked to Harold Bradford (Historic Racing Miniatures) about clear resin. He said all of the "clear" he has tried eventually gets a yellow "tint" to it. Maybe Robert (GM Future Liner) had different sources since he works in the industry now.

Yes, I use a different resin that never yellows.

[robertburns]

Thank you for your posts.

I'm set up now, so anyone who wants a clear bumper, please email me at robert burns jr 101 at yahoo.com for pricing.

Turn around time is 1 month. Add to that you want it chrome plated.

Cheers - Rob

Oh, also if you are a resin manufacturer, you will get a discount for multiple orders. Turn around time will be faster with multiple masters provided at once. Thanks - Rob

[christian-w]

....and the question about the resine you take isn't answered at all.

[DrKerry]

Kool idea