Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Beginners start here...! => Topic started by: Trucker on April 13, 2020, 07:22:18 am

Title: Side light lens
Post by: Trucker on April 13, 2020, 07:22:18 am

what material do you guys use for scratch built side light lend, I used coloured accitate but it's far to dark for the 3mm LED bulbs, also tried the paint for lights ,and sharpie pens,


Trucker

Title: Re: Side light lens
Post by: canabus on April 13, 2020, 10:56:58 am

Hi trucker

Try nail polish, you can thin it down.
Ask the wife for some old stuff to try.

Canabus

Title: Re: Side light lens
Post by: Colin Bishop on April 13, 2020, 11:27:16 am

Is there any reason not to use red and green LEDs and clear plastic?

Colin

Title: Re: Side light lens
Post by: Taranis on April 13, 2020, 12:08:36 pm

Quote from: Trucker on April 13, 2020, 07:22:18 am

what material do you guys use for scratch built side light lend, I used coloured accitate but it's far to dark for the 3mm LED bulbs, also tried the paint for lights ,and sharpie pens,


Trucker

Tamiya translucent lacquer red and green
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Shannon/n-MfgVDR/MBD-Shannon-mast/i-RksfKhQ/2/ed719455/XL/6539D3D1-1DF8-4368-B280-71512DD95EB7-XL.jpg)


(https://photos.smugmug.com/Shannon/n-MfgVDR/MBD-Shannon-mast/i-DfWxwgF/0/90f23ec4/X2/4743C764-F874-4B6C-BE19-FC7675FEC32D-X2.jpg)

Title: Re: Side light lens
Post by: Trucker on April 13, 2020, 12:26:30 pm

Thanks for your replies, the lenses in your reply seem too large, my lights are 9my high and sit in a light box only 7mm wide,

Title: Re: Side light lens
Post by: Capt Podge on April 13, 2020, 02:15:11 pm

Hi Trucker, I usually use clear acetate, cut from the packaging you get from various purchases, for the lens.
There's an example of how I make my nav lights up here on page 12, reply no. 289

https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,52330.275.html


Regards,
Ray.

Title: Re: Side light lens
Post by: Trucker on April 13, 2020, 05:37:26 pm

Ray, i have made mine with the same thought process as you have, only with various plastic bits, the issue im having is the colouring for the plastic packaging,  ie green / red side lights, i think i might throw caution to the wind and simply have the green / red LED bulb and a clear lens, it doesnt seem right but it will work Trucker

Title: Re: Side light lens
Post by: Howard on April 13, 2020, 06:54:47 pm

Hello Gents,
I make mine from water clear casting resin either with a tiny bit of resin colour mixed in you can get just about any colour you want but RED/ GREEN/ YELLOW, and BLUE  seam most useful for us boat modellers using a clear led   or I leave it clear and just push a coloured led in of your chores before it sets. so you end up with a lens and colour of the shape and size you want.
              Regards Howard.
 

Title: Re: Side light lens
Post by: Trucker on April 15, 2020, 08:33:18 pm

hi all.
i have resolved my side light issues, i went back to a clear bit of plastic packaging and coloured a few pieces until i was happy, ive also replaced the red / green LED bulb with a clear white bulb, now looks nice happy days.


Trucker

Title: Re: Side light lens
Post by: Capt Podge on April 15, 2020, 09:24:41 pm

Another problem has been resolved - that's the magic of mayhem at it's best  :-))


Regards,
Ray.