Head light lens replacements

[SCRWDRVR]

I'm working on a couple build ups right now and one is a 70 Chevelle SS. I have the head light buckets but no lens, I saw a post a while back about making them out of resin and honestly it's way beyond my knowledge and possibly my skill set so I was wondering how everyone goes about replacing lens they don't have?

[gtx6970]

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

3 hours ago, SCRWDRVR said:

I'm working on a couple build ups right now and one is a 70 Chevelle SS. I have the head light buckets but no lens, I saw a post a while back about making them out of resin and honestly it's way beyond my knowledge and possibly my skill set so I was wondering how everyone goes about replacing lens they don't have?

It takes almost no skill, special equipment or materials at all Brian.

This is one of those cases where one can say, "anybody can do it".

You can cast your own lenses using 3 simple items.

A head light lens to make a mold from, a package of Silly Putty from the checkout aisle at the local dollar store, and a UV setting glue like Laser Bond or Bondic, which are widely available on line if nowhere else.

All you need to do is press your existing lens into the Silly Putty to make the mold, squirt a little Laser Bond into that mold, hit it with the included UV light for 3 seconds, and viola! Instant lens.

You can do the same thing with a myriad of different resins, epoxies and mold materials, but this is the simplest version.

 

 

Steve

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

2 hours ago, gtx6970 said:

 

Sorry Bill.

I almost never read these threads when people post responses this way.

So, yeah..........What he said!

 

 

Steve

[Tom Geiger]

Many years ago when I built this one, both of the VW tail lights were formed badly, sunken in the centers. I fixed one with model putty and glued a tooth pick to the back of it.  I used regular modeling clay and stamped about ten of the impressions in it.  I took some clear 2 part epoxy kit (non-hobby kit) and sprayed Testors clear red into it.  I then poured it into this impromptu mold and forgot about it for a week.   When I returned I had about 4 copies good enough to use here!

[SCRWDRVR]

4 hours ago, gtx6970 said:

 

1 hour ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Sorry Bill.

I almost never read these threads when people post responses this way.

So, yeah..........What he said!

 

 

Steve

Thanks guys I think that's the tread I read before and for some reason it confused me, could of been just the lack of knowledge of what Bondic and Laser Bond was I don't know but for some reason it didn't sink in, I get it now

1 hour ago, Tom Geiger said:

Many years ago when I built this one, both of the VW tail lights were formed badly, sunken in the centers. I fixed one with model putty and glued a tooth pick to the back of it.  I used regular modeling clay and stamped about ten of the impressions in it.  I took some clear 2 part epoxy kit (non-hobby kit) and sprayed Testors clear red into it.  I then poured it into this impromptu mold and forgot about it for a week.   When I returned I had about 4 copies good enough to use here!

Thanks Tom, good to know, I didn't even think of using it for tail lights...

 

[Fat Brian]

For a modern clear lens look I used googly eyes from the craft store. The 6, 7, and 8mm sizes are perfect for models and a few bucks will buy a nearly lifetime supply. Just use a very sharp blade to slice the white backing off and attach with you favorite clear drying glue. On my 77 Mustang II I drilled out the stock bezels and used the backs from a 2010 Mustang but the newer kit didn't have round lenses so the googly eyes stepped in.

[SCRWDRVR]

21 minutes ago, Fat Brian said:

For a modern clear lens look I used googly eyes from the craft store. The 6, 7, and 8mm sizes are perfect for models and a few bucks will buy a nearly lifetime supply. Just use a very sharp blade to slice the white backing off and attach with you favorite clear drying glue. On my 77 Mustang II I drilled out the stock bezels and used the backs from a 2010 Mustang but the newer kit didn't have round lenses so the googly eyes stepped in.

Nice!! Good tip thanks

[carrucha]

Very useful tips.  Thanks guys.

[Deathgoblin]

Clear epoxy works well to cast lenses.  I've drilled out molded in units and used the googly eyes for backs, then put in cast lenses made from epoxy and they look great. 

[BigTallDad]

You can also make them with a vacu-form. This tutorial deals with rectangular headlights, but round ones can also be made.

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/102571-vacu-formed-headlights/

Edited June 3, 2019 by BigTallDad

[SCRWDRVR]

Nice, thanks for the tips guys...

[peteski]

11 hours ago, Deathgoblin said:

Clear epoxy works well to cast lenses.  I've drilled out molded in units and used the googly eyes for backs, then put in cast lenses made from epoxy and they look great. 

Warning about 5-minute epoxies:  Over the years I used several brands and they all yellow (some really badly) after few years.  Also, most epoxies (even if they don't yellow)seem to have slightly amber tint to them.

[Deathgoblin]

I've noticed that sometimes.  Bondic works pretty well too! 

[SCRWDRVR]

I ordered some clear epoxy, hopefully it won't yellow to much. I guess if it gets to bad I can paint then with my molotow pen that would look better then yellow or not there at all....