Fabbing Side Marker Lights

[NOBLNG]

I recently had to make some side marker lights for a mustang build. It turned out well enough that I thought I would share it here. I first made some tiny rectangles out of 24 ga. Artists wire. I soldered the butt seam together and filed it smooth. I then dragged it across a large metal file until I had a half-round profile instead of round wire.

[NOBLNG]

 It can then be glued to the model with your favorite glue. I used a tiny drop of Tamiya extra thin. After painting the Mustang, I scraped the paint off of the frame and interior area and added the transparent paint. On this test though, I just foiled over the whole thing and added the paint over top of the foil. Hope this helps someone!

[SfanGoch]

Great idea, Greg. I make D-rings in a similar manner. A suggestion regarding flattening them. Instead of using a file, get yourself a 4" diamond sharpener.

Place the bezels on the sharpener and, applying finger pressure, move them back and forth. In addition to getting a smooth, flat surface, the wire will be polished. Plus, you can use the sharpener to resharpen your used hobby blades.

[NOBLNG]

I figured I would add to this thread since these new markers turned out so well. I drilled a 0.098” hole in the body and glued a small backing patch inside. The lens I made from clear red sprue and a busted amber lens I found. They are slightly smaller so they will fit the hole after paint. They also sit slightly below the surface.

The bezels are 0.020” wire wrapped around a 0.058” drill bit and snipped into rings with my nippers. I sanded the rings to half thickness on a diamond hone (thanks Joe) and they fit nicely in the hole in the body. A touch of clear canopy cement holds everything in place.

I did not solder these ones Like I did the rectangular ones and although hardly noticeable with the naked eye, the camera picks it up. Perhaps a slight dab of epoxy and a touch of molotow would make the seam invisible?

 

Edited October 13, 2020 by NOBLNG

[Claude Thibodeau]

Hi Greg!

Thank you, very interesting idea. I'll try it on a coming build. 

CT

[chepp]

That's a neat way of doing it. Thanks for showing us.

[slusher]

Great work thanks for sharing...

[NOBLNG]

Actually this method could be used for any round bezel...headlights, tail lights, guages. You just need the appropriate size wire and drill bit.?