PDA

View Full Version : Custom tail light covers


vxfocus
01/30/2011, 05:59 PM
I decided to give this a shot.I did a gauge pod in my focus so this is only my second time working with fiberglass,some thing may be the hard way of doing it but it is just because of my lack of experience.
first remove the tail light and cover it with masking tape.this will protect the light from the resin
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/kenhalford/1296429357.jpg
then cover that with aluminum foil.
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/kenhalford/1296429359.jpg
dont worry about the wrinkles they wont matter.
next i waxed the foil with car wax(paste not liquid)to act like a mold release.
I cut out two fiberglass cloth patterns,you can use more but remember the more you use the stronger the cover will be but also thicker.
Now i mixed the resin and just kinda painted it on the fiberglass cloth
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/kenhalford/1296429360.jpg
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/kenhalford/1296429362.jpg
after letting it cure over night(longer if needed) you can pop the mold of the tail light.the foil comes off pretty easy.
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/kenhalford/1296429364.jpg
then i laid the mold over the light and shined a flash light thru the back so i could trace the outline of each section.
Then I measured and cut hole using different size hole saws.
you could really do what ever style opening you wanted,i just wanted to keep with the round style of the reflectors in the rear bumper and the round fogs in the front.
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/kenhalford/1296429368.jpg
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/kenhalford/1296429366.jpg
thats as far as i got.next will be trim the rough edges and mix resin and body filler and apply then sand,prim,and paint.Not sure if i will paint all silver go with the cladding body line and do bottom black top silver.
i'll post more as i get more done
surf-life
01/30/2011, 06:03 PM
looks like a great start! How are you planing to attach it to your tail light? post more pictures when your done please.
vxfocus
01/30/2011, 06:09 PM
3m double sided tape.they kinda snap on the lights just from the resin being cured around the edges
VX KAT
01/30/2011, 08:50 PM
Wow, that's amazing!! :thumbup: Can't imagine even working with the stuff. They look kind of like the ones some of our VXers in Japan have...did you model them after them?
http://homepage3.nifty.com/vehi/shopping2/shopping2.htm
vxfocus
01/31/2011, 10:14 AM
thats where i got the idea
vxfocus
02/02/2011, 01:08 PM
ok,finally got some time to move on with this project.
Next step,mix resin and hardner with body filler and hardner.This makes it thin enuff to brush it on and saves alot of time sanding
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/kenhalford/1296680905.jpg
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/kenhalford/1296680907.jpg
surf-life
02/02/2011, 03:47 PM
more more more pics!!!! cant wait to see them installed.
pbkid
02/02/2011, 06:32 PM
very well done! looking great...

im excited to see what it turns out like.
RICHARD PAYNE
02/02/2011, 07:07 PM
Where do I sign? Let me know when ready.
surf-life
05/29/2011, 01:23 PM
Did this ever get finished?
vxfocus
05/29/2011, 08:20 PM
put them on the back burner til better weather ,now i am into other bigger projects but hope to get back to them before to long
SilverBullet75
05/30/2011, 09:51 AM
I did the same thing a while back but used the GTO smoked tail light covers and painted the insides black. I actually used the exact same hole configuration as yours :winky:
I scrapped the idea though when I mis-aligned one of the holes too close to the one above it...
You can also use 3M Dual-Lock fasteners (Target...$5)... rock solid :)
I'm glad yours is working out!

Good luck and let us see pics at the end!