Spraying Taillights

[Rickz]

Instead of the orange on the standard tail lights, to spray it red, is this the correct method or have any of you zoners got any other ways of doing it?

http://forums.generationdub.com/showthread.php?t=20691

thanks

[Rickz]

bump bump

[iDreamBeemer]

masking up is better so you don't get paint everywhere else. Tape it up then give it light coats, letting it dry in between until you hit a good blend.

[Rickz]

Ah right, so would i have to use the paper or not?

[eko]

Get yourself down to your local model/RC car shop and buy a tin of Tamiya Transparent Red as in this pic.
Only costs about £3 for a tin as opposed to £10+ for the Halfords crap.
Finish is much better

[maxfield]

I paid £3.99 for some Tamiya paint great stuff

[eko]

I paid £3.99 for some Tamiya paint great stuff

What happened to the fishnets then Max

[chisel]

Spot on guys. Is it worth using the sand paper to ruff it up first????

[maxfield]

They went in with the scrapper.

Yes I'd use 240 grit wet and dry to get a good key.

[oakey]

^ The light will have visible sanding marks all over it

[Ziggy]

240 is way too rough - use something like 1200. & don't try and do it outside / in a (cold) garage unless we get a warm day!

[maxfield]

I used 240 and came out great. Also used laquer though.

[E30_Jatt]

Hi, this seems quite easy enough to do but I was wondering if anyone knows if it is ok to spray the reverse light as in its not an MOT fail and its not illegal.

[Sanchez]

only MOT fail that I know of is the reflector must reflect light and bulbs showing through the right colour.

ie white reverse light and amber indicators.

[E30_Jatt]

only MOT fail that I know of is the reflector must reflect light and bulbs showing through the right colour.

ie white reverse light and amber indicators.

so as far as tinting the lights go if i were to tint the indicator lenses red it would be a MOT fail? as it would give out red light instead of amber is this correct?

[oakey]

IMO the lights look best with the reverse light left white.

[Sanchez]

depends how red you do it.

do it on a spare pair of lenses and put the originals on for the MOT.

[E30_Jatt]

depends how red you do it.

do it on a spare pair of lenses and put the originals on for the MOT.

yea that seems like the best thing to do. Now I just have to get hold of some spare lenses

[konfuzion]

Spot on guys. Is it worth using the sand paper to ruff it up first????

I just used warm, soapy water, masked up everything but the indicator area then a few light coats of tint (which I got from Lloyds Motor Spares).. came out just fine IMO:



These have been done for ~6 months now.

Been in front of ol' bill a fair few times and none have battered an eyelid at the fact they're now more of a reddish orange than bright orange. MOT time may be different, I'll see what they say and have a spare pair in the back just incase.



Regards,

Ian

[Zizzle]

Id get a bodyshop to do them, there is a really good way of doing it! for the best non faded results!

I could recommend a place too!

[panesar_e30]

any pics of what they would look like from a b.shop? i normaly spray them with the folia tek stuff but have seen a few cars around where the rear lights shiney / laquer effect.

[Zizzle]

I can get you picures of range rovers/mer ml ones we doo??

[chisel]

Be carful to get the right colour, I got some the other day and it was more of a red orange and look pants lol. A bit of thinners took it straight off though. Get the colour right and you should get away with it.

[panesar_e30]

any pics?

[tari]

I think if you lacquer the lights after, they come out shiny?? I might give this a go.

[konfuzion]

I think if you lacquer the lights after, they come out shiny?? I might give this a go.

Spray them well enough and there's no need to lacquer, IMO.

The ones in my previous pic have never been lacquered. Lights were wiped over with meths, sprayed with 2 coats and refitted.. doesn't get much more simple



Regards,

Ian