Sources for clear 1/25 headlight lenses?

[SfanGoch]

All of the links are dead. The Scale Production lenses are currently out of stock.

[Ace-Garageguy]

9 minutes ago, SfanGoch said:

All of the links are dead. The Scale Production lenses are currently out of stock.

Spotmodel shows new stock arriving for some part numbers.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I used a 2 part, 5 minute epoxy to make lenses for this ‘62 around 8 years ago.

No real sign of any yellowing yet.

Not to say that it won’t happen, but it obviously doesn’t happen quickly by any stretch.

I use JB Weld “Clear Weld” as a rule, but there’s a possibility that these might have been done with “Laser Bond” UV setting glue.

I don’t remember which.

 

 

Steve

[stitchdup]

I've got these for my 3d prints

https://modellersresource.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=66

[Raoul Ross]

Colored or clear lenses, in different sizes here: https://www.modelmakershop.com/e/kat/94/truck-accessories-conversion-kits.htm

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

15 hours ago, Raoul Ross said:

Colored or clear lenses, in different sizes here: https://www.modelmakershop.com/e/kat/94/truck-accessories-conversion-kits.htm

 

This is the page one of all the lenses. I don't see anything that looks like the standard fluted US-style 5" and 7" headlights on either this page or the next one.

https://www.modelmakershop.com/index.php?s=e&k=61&a=kategorie&v=0

[stitchdup]

2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

This is the page one of all the lenses. I don't see anything that looks like the standard fluted US-style 5" and 7" headlights on either this page or the next one.

https://www.modelmakershop.com/index.php?s=e&k=61&a=kategorie&v=0

try the link i posted 3 posts up, they are fluted

[Ace-Garageguy]

3 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

try the link i posted 3 posts up, they are fluted

Ahh...very nice.  

The "hamburger" red/yellow lenses look a lot like the round Fiat lights a lot of race cars ran in the wayback too...

[carrucha]

On 5/10/2023 at 7:08 AM, peteski said:

That looks great now, but in few years epoxy will turn amber/yellow. making the headlights look like footlights.

I got burned by this more than once. I tried about half a dozen of 5-minute epoxy brands, and they all yellow in time.  I finally learned my lesson and no longer  use it when I was a clear part.  This yellowing is pretty much exclusive to the 5-minute epoxy. Longer cure epoxies do not yellow (or yellow less drastically, and it likely takes longer time).  I highly discourage anybody from using 5-minute epoxy for parts which are to remain colorless  clear.

BTW, I'm really surprised how realistic those parking lights look. I would never have guessed that it is just a thin coating of epoxy over an opaque chromed domed lens molding.  The way lights reflects in them looks like there is concave reflector behind the lens.

I had the same experience using epoxy on molded-in headlights.  After a few years the headlights turned yellow!

[SfanGoch]

Art imitates life. The plastic headlight assemblies on '80s-'2000s cars did too.

[Straightliner59]

10 minutes ago, SfanGoch said:

Art imitates life. The plastic headlight assemblies on '80s-'2000s cars did too.

True enough!

[Raoul Ross]

On 5/13/2023 at 11:28 AM, Ace-Garageguy said:

This is the page one of all the lenses. I don't see anything that looks like the standard fluted US-style 5" and 7" headlights on either this page or the next one.

https://www.modelmakershop.com/index.php?s=e&k=61&a=kategorie&v=0

I thought there were more. There are these, which at 6mm are just a tad big for 5"

https://www.modelmakershop.com/e/det/803/quisttani-lamp-glass-striped-clear-6mm-10-pieces-124.htm

[Muncie]

The standard sealed beam U.S. headlamps are 7" round and 5-3/4 round. Same for the European halogen lamps with replaceable bulbs. (so the 6mm lens may look OK) However, the model car headlamp sizes in kits seem to vary a lot.    A Brief History Of Sealed Beam Headlamps In The U.S. (carid.com)

Put me on the list for some good aftermarket lenses.

CTM aka, Czech Truck Model has some replacements that look pretty good and are available for reasonable money from the usual truck model vendors.  Your Local Hobby Shop may have some accessory pieces in the Gundam section to do the job.

 

Edited May 15, 2023 by Muncie

[SfanGoch]

1 hour ago, Muncie said:

Your Local Hobby Shop may have some accessory pieces in the Gundam section to do the job.

Honestly, how many LHS are there?

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, SfanGoch said:

Honestly, how many LHS are there?

The only one in my area within 300 miles just closed this past winter.

 

 

 

Steve

[mikemodeler]

Not sure what the future of Olson Bros is but I do have some of these from when they were still shipping orders;

 

https://www.resincastmodelparts.com/store/1-25-Classic-Headlight-Lenses-6mm-6-Lenses-p411763875

 

[MrMiles]

i have heard just putting in modpoge works good.