Backup lights

[Kit Basher]

I have some tail light lenses molded in translucent red. Part of that lens is supposed to be clear for a back up light. Any suggestions how I can get that area to look like a back up light?

[highway]

About the only things I can think of is if the lens of the backup light is supposed to be white, paint it with some white paint. If it is a clear lens where you can see the silver reflector, use some BMF to make it look like the reflector. In both cases, to make it look more like a lens, use some clear epoxy over the paint or BMF to replicate the lens.

[Aaronw]

Sometimes the red sprues are actually factory painted so you can strip the red color off with non-acetome nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, superclean or similar paint stripper. I'd try it on the sprue first though. You can always add red again with clear red paint or tinted future.

If it is actually molded in red plastic though not much you can do except paint it silver or white. Silver with a wash of white paint works ok for lights with the older semi-opaque white plastic lights.

[Kit Basher]

Thanks, guys. The color definitely goes all the way through the plastic. The lens on the 1:1 is clear, but is really textured on the inside, so it looks kinda silvery white. I think you guys nailed it. I'll play around with your ideas and see where it goes. Thanks again.

[roadhawg]

If you're really ambitious, you could make a quick mold by pressing the lenses into some Milliput, then cast new ones in clear casting resin, but the way Aaron suggested looks better in scale than really having them clear.

[novadose71]

I did these by first covering the complete tail light with Bare Metal Foil. Then I brushed a mix of Tamiya jar paints, clear with a little bit of white added to make it "milky", over the backup light area. There is no need to stay inside the lines as you will be trimming this after it dries, soooo, after ample drying time I trimmed around the backup light area and removed the excess, leaving my backup lense. Then I pressed with an eraser to get the BMF edges down.

Speaking of milky paint, if you adjust the white to clear ratio it also works well for molded in headlights and clear front marker lights

[Kit Basher]

Wow, Rob! Those look great. I've never cared for "chrome headlights", you've obviously solved that problem. Nice tip!

[novadose71]

Wow, Rob! Those look great. I've never cared for "chrome headlights", you've obviously solved that problem. Nice tip!

Thanks Hugh....I should add that I can't remember if the Galaxie came with chrome or separate clear lenses.

[a/gass]

Wow, Rob! Those look great. I've never cared for "chrome headlights", you've obviously solved that problem. Nice tip!

dido im gonna try this.never could figure out how to make realistic looking back up lights over red and for chrom head lights i would mix lemon cool-aid with elmers glue?dont LOL it looks better than youed think just takes time to get the mix right ha ha!thanks mike