On-line since 2002
> 600
pages
> 1150 manufacturers
> 11000
pictures
> 1.000.000 unique visitors
87thScale.info does not
spam. If you received a
spam message with an 87thScale return mail
address it is forged.
Headlights
On most models the headlights leave a lot to be desired. In a photo of a real vehicle it is obvious that the headlight is clear glass - it shines. You can find several methods to replicate that shine here, all gathered from the 87thScale.info messageboard.
Round headlights
(on fender or attached to grille / radiator) / tip from Lee
The only way of copying this shine that I know of is drilling out the headlight and putting in a clear jewel or an 'N'-scale clear resin headlight lens.
Scratchbuilding
round headlights (on fender or attached to
grille / radiator) / tip from Lee
Most of the lights that I need are mounted on the top of the fenders. How about drilling cone shaped holes in a piece of hard
rubber, mixing a clear resin and forcing it into the holes with a putty knife. When the resin is cured, the pieces can be popped out by flexing the rubber. Drill a very small hole a little ways into the rear to represent the bulb. Then paint it silver leaving the front clear. The only problem that I forsee at the moment is finding the right shaped drill. Maybe a small dremel bit would work.
Hollow lights (old Wiking or Roco models for
instance) / tip from Skunk:
If your model already has a hollow where the light is supposed to be then dabbing Kristal
Klear works well.
I am making little teardrop taillights for a Mini in a similar way right now. I begin with painting a small silver circle, then dab krystal klear to make the light shape (sometimes several layers). Then you paint the light clear red or orange, leaving a little bit of silver around the edge.
The only problem is that Krystal Klear (and others) don't dry perfectly clear, if you use too much it turns yellowish.
Painting headlights / tip from various contributors:
- Paint the lights silver and give them a coat of
gloss varnish.
- Paint the lights with a mix of silver and white to get the shine.
- Paint the rear of the inserts silver and give the front a coat of gloss varnish.
Round headlights
(on fender or attached to grille / radiator) / tip from Eric
I am using crystals made by Tron which will be glued in the middle of the drilled out headlight (and then painted clear yellow). After that I will add a drop of Kristal-Klear or gloss varnish on top to get the rounded shape of the glass.
Examples:
|
|
|
Headlights
that are part of the glass insert / tip from Skunk
Cut the headlights from the
glass insert, round off the backside of the headlights, and then cover this in
chrome Bare-Metal foil.
Lenses
(crystals) / available from:
- M.V. Products
(available through Walthers.com)
- Tron Models
The round lights on the back this Johnny Lightning
stepvan were also made with Tron crystals