Monty Posted December 20, 2024 Posted December 20, 2024 (edited) I'm one of those people who've gotten to the place where they really detest chromed molded-in headlights and want to replace them instead of trying to doctor them up with paint etc. The biggest issue I've run into is finding a rounded, concave item to attach the lens to. Example: I've heard of people using the "baby moon" hubcaps from AMT's '56 Ford for this, but I'm hoping to find something more readily available. Any ideas? If you have a source for appropriately sized lenses with correct-looking striations I'd appreciate a link for that as well. Edited December 20, 2024 by Monty
Russell C Posted December 20, 2024 Posted December 20, 2024 Our own "89AKurt" had this foil reflector tip back in 2018. I'm almost out of round kit headlight reflectors that I bought from some guy eons ago, so I'll need to try out this solution soon ...
rattle can man Posted December 20, 2024 Posted December 20, 2024 Somewhere I've seen that you can use the clear part of "googly eyes" as a bucket. I've never tried it. 1
Hi-Po Posted December 20, 2024 Posted December 20, 2024 I have used the clear part of "googly eyes" on several builds and they work just fine. I first drill out the molded in headlights and then insert the googly eye bucket into the hole. I then paint the bucket a silver or chrome color and then attach the headlight lens. You can usually find the googly eyes at your local dollar store. 1
Monty Posted December 20, 2024 Author Posted December 20, 2024 Thanks guys! Gotta love a cheap, easy solution!
NOBLNG Posted December 20, 2024 Posted December 20, 2024 Here is my contribution. https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/161380-making-headlights/ 1
Straightliner59 Posted December 20, 2024 Posted December 20, 2024 I use a set of punches, and a doming block I bought at Harbor Freight. They work, beautifully. Unfortunately, I am not near my computer, so I don't have any photos, right now.
Deathgoblin Posted December 22, 2024 Posted December 22, 2024 On 12/20/2024 at 12:12 AM, rattle can man said: Somewhere I've seen that you can use the clear part of "googly eyes" as a bucket. I've never tried it. I've done that on a few. Drill out the headlight to about the diameter of the googly eye (they come in any size). Cut the back of the eye off and toss the pellet, use the front of the eye as the new headlight reflector and chrome it, then pop in a lens over it.
bobss396 Posted December 23, 2024 Posted December 23, 2024 I save any leftover headlight parts I come across. I have made buckets from styrene and aluminum tubing. I do need a small lathe. At work I had access to a great lathe, I made all sorts of headlight parts quite easily.
peteski Posted December 23, 2024 Posted December 23, 2024 Over the years there have been multiple threads with techniques for making better headlights. It would l be nice is someone compiled them all into a single collection. Here is one of them:
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