Custom Lights

[Crazy8]

Ok so I have been seeing some of the customizing you all do, all the way down to making your own head lights and tail lights. I havent seen anything to in depth though and thus has left me with a few questions. As I have mentioned in other postings, I have a 32' Ford Sedan project that will be my next build and have a lot of little details I want to customize. One of those details are head lights and tail lights. So how does one go about creating his own lenses, even more so red tail light lenses?

Thanks for all the help

[Crazy8]

No not really. I have been thinking of shapes and stuff in my head. Part of me wants to do the Cadilac shape tail lights but that has been so over done in the last 15 years on every custom vehicle that Im really trying not to do something that has been over done. One shape I keep thinking and wondering about is a "bullet" type shape. Im still kind of kicking around ideas.

[Ramfins59]

You've got some options, depending on which way you want to go. You can scratchbuild your own lenses from the red sprue in some kits, depending on the size of the bullet lens you want to make. Some filing, sanding and polishing can get you a decent looking lens. You can rob lenses from other kits, or, you can post what you need in the "WANTED" section here on this Forum. You can also search EBAY for anyone selling the old taillight lens Parts Packs. Finally, you can search the vendors at shows in your area for parts or cheap, old builtups that may have the lenses you are looking for.

[Mike Kucaba]

Also look closely at stuff in blister packaging. I found some killer bubbles/domes,that when filled with red tinted epoxy made some great tailights.and some flashlight bulbs have neat looking shapes formed over them.

[Erik Smith]

You can also carve small parts out of leftover styrene sprues. I save all the Clear and clear red ones just for that purpose.