Question about reverse light lenses?

[62SS]

Usually they are molded into the red plastic tail light lenses or the chrome bumpers. Ive always just painted them white but they just dont look right. Is there a better way to make them look more realistic? Thanks in advance, ED

[Jairus]

Short of removing the red material and replacing it was clear.... no!

I have used a light grey paint from time to time. The clear, unless it is lit from behind, generally is not white but light to med grey due to the dark unlighted bulb and reflector behind.

So if the lense is small or molded to a chrome surround then use a glossy light grey.

[MrObsessive]

Ed, I've used a certain paint called "Faskolor" to get rid of the chromey look for headlights and reverse lights. I picked it up at our LHS years ago and the bottle is still good. I don't know if the company that made it is still around.

It's made for Lexan bodies but it did dry on styrene with no problem.

Here's a pic of a '59 Buick I did a couple years ago with the headlights and turn lamps painted with it...............

I like it because it doesn't "jump out at you" like plain white does.

Not the most perfect solution short of making the reverse lens yourself as Jairus said-------but looks realistic enough for me!

Edited January 26, 2009 by MrObsessive

[62SS]

Thanks for the info guys, Ill try these. Im sure it will look better than my usual white blob of paint. Ill have to check out my LHS about the FASKOLOR.

ED

[Eshaver]

Bill, wouldn't or perhaps couldn't you use the Testors flat aluminum,the one that comes in the square bottles? Ed Shaver

[MrObsessive]

Yeah, I've have some of that Ed------but it still gives the lights kinda of a gray look.

The Faskolor is actually a pearlescent white which most reverse lights have a sort of frosty white look to them especially '50's-'70's cars.

The Buick I didn't have much choice as that was a resin kit with the molded in headlights into the chrome bumper/grille section. It's kinda hard to see by the pic I took but it beats leaving 'em chrome!

[Harry P.]

Ed, I've used a certain paint called "Faskolor" to get rid of the chromey look for headlights and reverse lights. I picked it up at our LHS years ago and the bottle is still good. I don't know if the company that made it is still around.

It's made for Lexan bodies but it did dry on styrene with no problem.

Here's a pic of a '59 Buick I did a couple years ago with the headlights and turn lamps painted with it...............

I like it because it doesn't "jump out at you" like plain white does.

Not the most perfect solution short of making the reverse lens yourself as Jairus said-------but looks realistic enough for me!

What's with the body color hood emblem/script???

[MrObsessive]

Hee Hee ..........this was a semi quickie build, and I just plain let it go. The BMF was giving me fits on this one back then too and I wanted no more foiling of anything.

I've got an original built up that I may restore and make a superdetailed convertible, so that won't get left behind-----------but heavens knows when I'll do that!

[novadose71]

I did these with a piece of BMF and then brushed a little Testors clear enamel mixed with a bit of flat white enamel to a milky translucent color. I use the same paint to do molded in chrome headlights............and clear turn signals like these below with a drop of clear orange added first,

kind of along the lines of the Fascolor. Bill, the pearls are a great idea, I have a bunch of pearl powders in my stash, it never dawned on me to mix them in my translucent white. I'll have to try adding some white, maybe a touch of blue to the headlights, to my mix next time I need it, see how it looks.

[Jairus]

Hey, those look really good Rob! Like the Galaxie best...

[torinobradley]

For chromed headlights, I have added little dabs of paint to represent reflections of horizon, sky and ground (remember, sky on bottom, ground on top) to the chrome lenses and then painted one or two layers of elmers white glue over it for a milky translucent look. Then a bit of gloss for that shine. If anyone needs, I can try to get a picture for you.

This would work for the signals and reverse lights too. I guess you could do the same with the foil trick on the integrated taillights. That, or just do a quick cast of the red taillights in clear resin and tint the red, leaving the clear, clear...

[dave riggs]

I would like to say Hello first, and add that I have used frosty white nail polish for headlight lenses in the past. I used it for an interior light, and I thought that it came out pretty good, though I don't seem to have a picture of it right now. Nail polish is cheap, and as close as your local store!

Dave

[59 Impala]

I have also used Testors clear window glue over the chrome lights and have had good results. Dan

[Bryce]

Some tamiya smoke applied over flat white can help bring out the detail.

[Modelmartin]

I like Novadose's idea but another trick for fast and easy "clear" lenses is to get some gloss white enamel and mix in a tiny bit of chrome silver to gray it up a bit. I think it looks pretty good for minimal effort!

[arby1949]

I have tried painting them flat white, and mixing a minute amount of acrylic aluminum with water and making a translucent wash. Apply in small amounts over the white until you get the look you want. It dries pretty fast.