Bridgebuster Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 OK, I'm a bigger smart_$$ than just about anyone in the world, so don't go there. I've seen references to "frenching" tail lights" etc. What does that mean, and what does it entail to do this. My skill level is pretty low so I need to find out whether I can do this technique before I get in over my head. Thanks bunches! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyclaw Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 "Frenching" in is making the lamps or antenna "sunken" into the original location....usually the lamp bezel is welded into the body; the rear mounting is cut free and set deeper in the hole....this was very popular on Lead sleds....it can readily be achieved by simply cutting a piece of tube to size; opening a recess in the body....do a bit of finishing around the edges....and mount the sunken fixture from behind............Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 From Wikipedia: Frenching is the act of recessing or moulding a headlight, taillight, antenna or number plate into a car body to give a smoother look to the vehicle. The name originates from the end result looking like a French cuff of a shirt sleeve, which has a ridge at the end. Also known as tunnelling, it is a common modification used on leadsleds and customs since the 1930s. Frenching a headlight or taillight is done in one of two ways: either removing the bezel, mounting the light deeper in the car's head or taillight nacelle and using the headlight rings from another car (or an aftermarket kit) to mount it deeper into the body. Or it can be done by modifying the light's mountings so that they can be removed from behind, welding the bezel to the body once the chrome plating is removed and painting it body colour. This gives the effect of visually lengthening the car, as well as smoothing out the body. Many customs have lights from another car transplanted in place of the original factory items, but even these are frenched as well. This modification is seldom carried out on late models, as newer cars have flush-fitting headlights. This is a styling cue both influenced by customising and a means of improving the aerodynamics of the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 First of all, how old are you, and do your parents know what your asking about on a public forum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperStockAndy Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 First of all, how old are you, and do your parents know what your asking about on a public forum? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 LOL! Good question, and I wonder if anyone has a good how-to or tutorial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemodeler Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 LOL! Good question, and I wonder if anyone has a good how-to or tutorial. On the body work part Dr or the obvious "Frenching" some of us deranged are thinking of????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMc Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Buy the revell Merc...... Frenching is really just sinking your part in and then molding it in... Harry showed headlights....heres a few more ideas. When we frenched antennas in , you start with a piece of exhaust pipe , with a flat washer welded onto the end, drill a 1/2 "hole in it to mount the antenna, drill the body, sink the pipe in and weld. Adjust how much extends out and grind, mud, and grind...some guys mounted power antennas into the pipe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Cole Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 So, how can the headlights on the Hudson be Frenched? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I don't know, I got stuck on Spanishing..... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Johnny Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 First of all, how old are you, and do your parents know what your asking about on a public forum? That was good George! I was thinking the same thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMc Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 So, how can the headlights on the Hudson be Frenched? Mount them from inside the fenders.....filing , grinding or a different set of lights a bit smaller....see how these "sit back"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I have Frenched the head lights and tail lights on some models by just glueing them in the stock location. Then use a little body putty to mold them into the fender. Sand and prime, then paint. Then the light bucket can be painted silver or foiled. Then install the lense. If you want to realy get the tunneled look, get the head lights and tail lights from the new Revell Merc custom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Johnston Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I'm not even touching this one LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 We are talking about the body mods. LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Duster Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Oh! That kind. I didn't think we would see anything else. LOL! I like frenching. HA HA! OK, you can call me a smart axx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrObsessive Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I don't know, I got stuck on Spanishing..... :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevetbird Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 If that is Frenching then what would you call these lights on my 50 Merc? Tunneled? Extended? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 I would think of them as both. In the '50's tradition the headlight moldings were usually in the stock position and welded to the body. In the 1:1 car this offered a problem when it came time for the mounting of the headlight its self. Remember these mostly chromed trim rings were one a styling element but also covered the mechanics of mounting the headlight its self. In that era when inner fender liners were not commonly used the access to the mounting points were easily reached from inside the fender. The headlight mountings and adjustments were just mounted to the back side of the fender. One of the more common used headlight rings for mounting was the '54 Ford and some Mercury cars from that time. The advantage was that the design used had a very slim chrome inner ring between the outer body painted ring and the headlight its self. This would give you easy access to the mounting points plus a touch of chrome. This is just the basics of Frenching a headlight. There is more variables of this technique than sand on the beach. This is an excellent example of the extended look that was also somewhat common of that era. If you look at any pictures of the early work by Barris Kustoms, and George Barris is only one of many who did this type of modifications, it may go a long way to seeing what all was done with headlights and tail lights that was called Frenching at that time. 7 hours ago, Stevetbird said: If that is Frenching then what would you call these lights on my 50 Merc? Tunneled? Extended? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete J. Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 Frenching, isn't that when you dip the body in beer batter and deep fry it? Or was that tempuraing if you use Panko. Either way the heat kind of distorts the body! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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