Tail Lights - Scratch Building

[Nekomata]

From what I understand, it's possible to create tail lights from the clear spruce they came attached to.

Can someone please explain this in depth, or give an example?

I want to make a pair for my '03 Camaro

[Foxer]

You may need a large sprue to cover those lights. The idea is to sand and file them to shape then polish them with progressively finer sandpaper, like a paint polishing kit. It you can find a chunk of clear that will cover the shape and contours of the lights it can be done.

 

I just made some contoured tailights for a 49 Merc that followed the contour of the rear fender where I cut out a hole for them. I used Bondic to easily cast them in a matter of minutes. This material is a light cured clear plasticThese also had to be sanded and polished but I an very happy with the taill light possibilities the Bondic opens up for a non-resin caster.  Here's a link to a thread I posted about how I did it and other things I've used Bondic to make.

Edited July 30, 2017 by Foxer

[Mike Chernecki]

You can also carve your taillight from a clear red toothbrush handle. 

[b-body fan]

You can also carve your taillight from a clear red toothbrush handle. 

Cool  idea!!! 

[Harry Joy]

It is best to use the techniques described before the model is painted. I've used similar methods in airplane modeling, but it takes a lot of sanding "in place" and subsequent sanding with progressively finer sanding sticks, then an application of Future.

[AzTom]

Those transparent red toothbrushes are hard to find these days.  I'm always on the look out for red and amber plastic.  I did get some from a broken taillight on my cargo trailer.   

 

For these Caramo lights I would say flat sheet would be the easiest. Cut a thin cardboard templet out and trace it on the red plastic. Heat under hot water to get the curve you need.  

You can buy red sheet plastic from Evergreen.  

[Nekomata]

You may need a large sprue to cover those lights. The idea is to sand and file them to shape then polish them with progressively finer sandpaper, like a paint polishing kit. It you can find a chunk of clear that will cover the shape and contours of the lights it can be done.

 

I just made some contoured tailights for a 49 Merc that followed the contour of the rear fender where I cut out a hole for them. I used Bondic to easily cast them in a matter of minutes. This material is a light cured clear plasticThese also had to be sanded and polished but I an very happy with the taill light possibilities the Bondic opens up for a non-resin caster.  Here's a link to a thread I posted about how I did it and other things I've used Bondic to make.

Bondic is awesome! I gotta try this sometime.

 

Those transparent red toothbrushes are hard to find these days.  I'm always on the look out for red and amber plastic.  I did get some from a broken taillight on my cargo trailer.   

 

For these Caramo lights I would say flat sheet would be the easiest. Cut a thin cardboard templet out and trace it on the red plastic. Heat under hot water to get the curve you need.  

You can buy red sheet plastic from Evergreen.  

Thanks, I may try this method, I have used cardboard to make a template for a pickup truck camper.

[Casey]

This might be an option for some applications, but not exactly cheap at $16.00

[Snake45]

28 minutes ago, Casey said:

This might be an option for some applications, but not exactly cheap at $16.00

Pretty cool! The price isn't bad considering it's a lifetime supply of raw material for custom (and missing) taillights. 

[peteski]

Wouldn't that film be too thin for scale tail light lenses?

 

BTW, commenting on the initial post of this thread, "spruce" is a type of a tree.  Probably another auto-correct error.   Those plastic frames parts are attached to are actually called "runners", but most modelers do call them "sprue".  

Edited May 25, 2020 by peteski

[NOBLNG]

I cast these from Bondic by pressing the original (Top) into some silly putty. I then painted them with Tamiya X-27 clear red. A nicer job wouldn’t be difficult.?

[slusher]

The clear tabs for file folders make good tail lights and you can cut them with scissors..

[Tom Geiger]

Even forget clear, clear red plastic. You can make your tail light from anything.. them wrap it in BMF and color the lenses with Sharpie pens. Works especially well when there are multiple color lenses. 

Chevette lights were molded in clear red but needed to be red / orange / chrome bezel. 

[Casey]

2 hours ago, peteski said:

Wouldn't that film be too thin for scale tail light lenses?

It would probably close to correct, if we are considering the real thickness of a lens-- maybe .140" or so? I didn't measure the thickness of these films, but they were heavy duty, and not the dollar store transparent wrapping paper type material. 

The lack of a prismatic texture would limit their usefulness, but at least they would provide some depth, which adding color to a solid surface doesn't do.