Digital Dashes

[FujimiLover]

When I decide to build my wide-bodied MR2, I'd like to make a fliped-up GPS system. Wonder if there's a way to light it up?

I've got no personal experience with electronics and/or soldering. Last few times I've tried to solder it either looked like silver glob's of poo, and/or it didn't work!

When I first read the title of this thread, I was thinking somebody actually put an LED light behind their "headunit". It would be very cool to fully light up a model kit with not only the tradtional headlight's/taillights like from the Aoshima kit, but would be cool to have the instrument panel and stereo glow as well.

[mountaindewd]

When I decide to build my wide-bodied MR2, I'd like to make a fliped-up GPS system. Wonder if there's a way to light it up?

I've got no personal experience with electronics and/or soldering. Last few times I've tried to solder it either looked like silver glob's of poo, and/or it didn't work!

When I first read the title of this thread, I was thinking somebody actually put an LED light behind their "headunit". It would be very cool to fully light up a model kit with not only the tradtional headlight's/taillights like from the Aoshima kit, but would be cool to have the instrument panel and stereo glow as well.

A thought. I have made lights(clear lenses w/o detail) for builds before using epoxy. You just have to make a box/frame/form shaped to fit in the space allowed on your particular build. Once that is done, mix up some epoxy and fill the box. Let the epoxy cure and then carefully tear apart the box and you'll have a clear frame that can be lit like toys you see with working lights. A light source against one end allowing the light to pass through the clear frame and exit at the point you want like headlights or dash gauges. Paint the whole frame except the areas where light is to exit, probably white since it reflects light best. You could do this for a lit dash, headlights, taillights, radio, etc. Just make sure when making the frame, you have enough room available for the light source like a grain of wheat bulb. You can also mix food coloring with the epoxy to change the color of light passing through the finished frame. I hope this is explained well enough to understand.

Les

Update: I forgot about this link I came across awhile back. Could have some possibilities here. Check out the Experimenter Kits.

http://www.microstru.com/index.html

Edited May 2, 2009 by mountaindewd

[Custom Hearse]

Update: I forgot about this link I came across awhile back. Could have some possibilities here. Check out the Experimenter Kits.

http://www.microstru.com/index.html

Thanks for the link Les! That is some cool stuff!

[diymirage]

and where would one find a "expirementer" kit ?

[roadhawg]

and where would one find a "expirementer" kit ?

I'm assuming http://www.microstru.com/Experimenter-Kits.html

Edited May 4, 2009 by roadhawg