xrated89 said:
Hiya,
Well for me it would be useful to see pic of either part you have as the unit I have ceratinly doesn't appear as if it would pry apart, so I'm going to try cut it with surgical precision:naughty:
CLEAR REAR INDICATOR CONVERSION.......
- Thread starter wolfie308
- Start date
Hiya,
Well for me it would be useful to see pic of either part you have as the unit I have ceratinly doesn't appear as if it would pry apart, so I'm going to try cut it with surgical precision:naughty:
On the taillights, the amber inserts are easy to remove and replace with just a pair of pliers and some coaxing
wolfie308 said:
I've dissected 3 side markers from an '87 and an '88 Supra. Those, as far as I recall, were cemented. I ended up using a fine toothed saw to cut them apart.
CRE said:
Looked at it closely under a magnifier and you could well be right - looks like the amber part has a lip sitting over the edge of the backing part. I'll be using a fine toothed disc on the Dremel.
Did you have any luck with the next stage after separating the 2 parts?
I have front turn signals clear and ordered side markers for the front, I like the rear lighting, I may use LED bulbs next time I change them but otherwise nothing, If anything I'd JDM smoke them, stock looks good though.
I'd be in for a set of clear front side bubble indicators Wolfie.
Keep us updated on those for sure.
Keep us updated on those for sure.
Do people want the bubble markers just because it's JDM? I vote for the clean stock look of the flat side markers, for the simple reason that they look better, IMHO.
tekdeus said:
This is always the the way if you give people choices:icon_bigg but for now, because I've got a bubble type unit on my workbench, that's the one I'm going to trial on. Fully understand some people would prefer the flat type, but also for me, the bubble will produce a more impressive result as a piece of work.........I hope :biglaugh:
wolfie308 said:
Yes, there is a lip on the amber lens.
I have made a few accurate molds of both parts. I made them using both latex and silicone mediums. My issue has been the presence of bubbles on the inside of the retroreflector everytime I attempted to produce a lens. I suspect I may need a more rigid mold.
When it comes to the back half (the ABS portion) I'd been thinking that perhaps using screws for mounting instead of the ABS tabs may be more practical... at least as far as an anti-theft measure.
If you don't mind my asking, what type of resin do you use? The resin I've been trying is an acrylic/polyesther blend with a UV stabilizing additive. Though I've put off buying more of the additive until I learn how to create these without the bubble issue. PM me if you'd rather not advertise.
tekdeus said:
I concur. Actually, I thought it'd be sweet (at least for those of us with pre89 moulding) to make a lens which follows the moulding's profile completely... nice and smooth, no extrusion.
Morning CRE,
Hmmmm.........so another caster eh? I knew there must be a few others of us out there:evil2:
As this is what I do for a living not just a hobby, you'll understand me being a bit coy about some aspects of the procedure and materials I use. A number of people have tried doing this before, but as far as I'm aware, nobody else is currently producing these to my standard using this technique.
I'll P.M you a bit later with a few comments.
p.s Retroflective type lenses with deep cut multi facetted surfaces are the most difficult to achieve, however the slight ribbed pattern on the inside of the bobble type side indicator should be quite easy.:biglaugh:
Hmmmm.........so another caster eh? I knew there must be a few others of us out there:evil2:
As this is what I do for a living not just a hobby, you'll understand me being a bit coy about some aspects of the procedure and materials I use. A number of people have tried doing this before, but as far as I'm aware, nobody else is currently producing these to my standard using this technique.
I'll P.M you a bit later with a few comments.
p.s Retroflective type lenses with deep cut multi facetted surfaces are the most difficult to achieve, however the slight ribbed pattern on the inside of the bobble type side indicator should be quite easy.:biglaugh:
i have a set of pre-89 flat usdm side markers, your more then willing to have, so long as atleast one set is made :evil2: i have a parts car that will be going to scrap in about 1-2 months and i would like to get all the use out of the parts as possible.
i am down for either bubble or flat markers, i think bubble would be cool and different. but so would the clear flat ones..
either way, if your willing to consider, pm me your address and i'll get them out asap.
i am down for either bubble or flat markers, i think bubble would be cool and different. but so would the clear flat ones..
either way, if your willing to consider, pm me your address and i'll get them out asap.
pimptrizkit said:
Cheers for the offer,
Please hang onto them,as although I'm going to start with the JDM, there seems to be interest in the USDM flat ones in the U.K too.
First I need to cut the JDM's and try casting the rear case as to date I have only done lenses and not the backings. Shouldn't be a problem though as the material is a lot easier to work with than clear.
CRE mentioned some kind of screw fitting, due to security 'issues' as these are likely to be rare and desirable items:evil2: , but first I'll be looking to copy the current clip arrangement. Will try cutting the first case over the weekend, if I'm allowed to sneak off to the workshop for an hour or so.
wolfie308 said:
Hey Wolfie!
I'm not really even a hobbyist when it comes to casting. I've worked with it a few times back when I was employed with a local plastics fabrication company, but most of my experience is in working with acrylic casts, extrusions, etc.
Your products look great! I love that unlike most companies you keep the OEM look (ie: the retroreflector). Keep it up!
Wolf do you have any pictures of the actual lense installled but unlit? Im curious to see how clean the marker would look , judingng by that espirit they must look awsome. I have taken the diffusers out of the tails and painted the back/brake lights surrounding black, the turn marker reflective silver, and removed that amber piece. Imho it takes, years off, the look of the supra. Where the newer kind makes the car look wider, the pre 89 makes the car look smaller more compact. Keep up the good work and with the quality of the parts there is alot of market for the clearable lenses on stock applications.
A-model_ said:
Hi there A-Model,
You rubbed the lens , and the genie appears:naughty: ....your wish is my command....just took these in the Sunday morning sun. This what my little mock up housing looks like - sprayed inside with chrome to give you an idea
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f11/wolfie308/Supraclearrearunlit.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f11/wolfie308/Supraclearunlitrear.jpg
Reckon there looking pretty sweet and can't wait to get one fiitted in the cluster I'm expecting soon. If you look carefully there's been an accidental effect which actually enhances the look of the lens. Each facet has trapped an almost identical bubble in each cell of the lens. I think this will actually aid the light dispersal/scattering and have the effect of further brightening the look of the lens due to the additional facets. I hope I can regularly repeat the effect.
xrated89 - thanks for the pics of the late lenses. These look pretty straightforard from what I can tell. Due to them being more of a shield than a lens as such, I wonder if the look would be as effective as you'd still be able to see the back of the housing through them, which is not a look that I particularly like.
However, if these weren't fitted to U.K cars, I will be focusing(pardon the pun) on the early ones first, and then sidemarkers which everybody seems to want. Off to try my new angle cutter on the Dremel :evil2:
Good morning across the pond,
Just to keep you up to date, I cast the other side this aftenoon and below is the first pair in existence.......now that's unique :evil2: I knocked up another little box housing, sprayed it chrome, wired them up and yep, I reckon it's looking good. I have a rear cluster on it's way to me an hope to be able to report favourably on the dissection and post pics of the final result. All being well, I should be abe to get another to make a pair to be fitted to the first lucky owners car :naughty: The third pic you might like is my Corolla/Esprit clear rear conversion, which if you use a bit of imagination, you might be able to get an idea of the finished result.
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Just to keep you up to date, I cast the other side this aftenoon and below is the first pair in existence.......now that's unique :evil2: I knocked up another little box housing, sprayed it chrome, wired them up and yep, I reckon it's looking good. I have a rear cluster on it's way to me an hope to be able to report favourably on the dissection and post pics of the final result. All being well, I should be abe to get another to make a pair to be fitted to the first lucky owners car :naughty: The third pic you might like is my Corolla/Esprit clear rear conversion, which if you use a bit of imagination, you might be able to get an idea of the finished result.
tekdeus said:
I prefer the "bubble" markers because they add a bit of new functionality if you do the side blinker rewire. This is beneficial when you have someone that isn't far enough back to see your rear turn signal giving them a warning that you intend to come over because they can see this bubble blinking on the front of the car.
I actually think they "look" cooler as well.