Headlights

[DoctorLarry]

Any tips on how to make headlights look realistic? They sort of have a bluish silver look but any ideas on how to duplicate it? I bought some decals but they don't look great in my opinion.

[Jon Haigwood]

I put clear rhinestone's behind the lens  

[StevenGuthmiller]

The absolute best way of course is to drill out the molded in lenses and replace them with clear lenses.

Any solution that you can come up with for the reflectors is acceptable.

Most times I'll use reflectors from a different grille and modify them to fit.

Then it's just a matter of replacing the lenses with some from the parts box.

 

The other option is to paint the lenses with some combination of clear mixed with very small amounts of white and silver.

It can look acceptable, but rarely looks "right".

 

This '64 Bonneville used buckets and lenses from the Moebius '61 Pontiac Ventura kit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[peteski]

Yes, headlights are one of those items which plays a major role in the overall realism of a model.  But even if a model has properly molded and "chromed" reflectors, and a nice thin molded lens, if the lens is not installed properly (affixed with the striations in the lens at an odd angle) that also ruins the realism.  That small details is sometimes missed by modelers.

[NOBLNG]

Here’s a recent thread on the topic with some links to other threads.

 

[DoctorLarry]

Great idea which I will try. Where did you get the punches?

[NOBLNG]

1 hour ago, DoctorLarry said:

Great idea which I will try. Where did you get the punches?

Michaels…in the leather crafts section.

[DoctorLarry]

I'll check it out. Thanks!

[Deathgoblin]

I've drilled out a few and taken some googly eyes the right diameter to make the reflectors.  Just cut the back off the goog and toss the pellet.  They come in all sizes.  Just chrome it and throw on a lens

. 

[Beans]

10 hours ago, Deathgoblin said:

I've drilled out a few and taken some googly eyes the right diameter to make the reflectors.  Just cut the back off the goog and toss the pellet.  They come in all sizes.  Just chrome it and throw on a lens

. 

I really want to build something with googly eyes for headlights now.  

[1st 700 Quad]

I only use the products of the German mfg, Scale Production. DE. The look the best I've ever seen.

 

https://www.scaleproduction.de/product_info.php?info=p1293_headlights-5-6-7mm.html

Check'em out. They come from Germany but are well worth the wait.

Steve

[espo]

Something to try if you're wanting to make the clear plastic lenses standout, most modern kits headlights have A small bump at the bottom of the lense housing. Staying with the silver or stock look just a tiny dot of silver paint on the top of that bump will give the lenses a different look when the clear plastic kit lenses are installed. You can try different clear color paints depending on the effect you're after. Fog lights are fairly easy with some clear yellow or orange on the inside of the lenses. For the Gasser Look use a clear red or whatever clear color works with your paint scheme.