whitefox

I did a search and couldn't find the thread where someone tinted their tail lights black and someone else bought a certain paint from a hobby shop and painted them red, which is what I would like to do.

Can someone either link me to the thread or tell me what type of paint I should purchase?

Thanks

Gary Knox

Ross,

You want to use Testor's model paint, in a translucent color, in enamel, not lacquer. Some have used Hot Rod Red, and some have used Candy Apple Red to try to match the red on the S4+ brake lights for the yellow turn lights. I used a blend of these two (a light coat of one, followed by a light coat of the other for a total of about 7-8 coats. Matched up quite well.
I currently have their translucent black enamel on order to use on the side markers (I have black cars).


Gary Knox
West Chester, PA

Nicole

Have you decided on all red versus red with smoked top?

Tony has them in all red, while Tom M and blown beast have them in all black.

(I need to take a new picture with my new license plate frame that reads "I BRAKE FOR CROWN-VICS")

whitefox

For the smokey color did you use window tint film?

borland

I almost rear-ended someone with tinted brakelights.

AO

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...hlight=testors

chaadster

Last weekend, I decided to use the Testors Candy Apple Red translucent to paint the orange portion of my S4 taillights. The short of the story is that after painting one of them, I was disappointed by the way it dimmed the lighting compared to the unmolested assembly. It wasn't fully dried, so I was able to remove the paint with mineral spirit, polish with 3M plastic polish, and bring it back to its original luster. I guess I'm just not willing to sacrifice luminosity for style. Once I decide to tackle the full LED switchover, I will probably revist the tinting at that time. Just my $9.28.

Nicole

...which is why I used the lightest tinting film I could find.

1bgdog

how did u use window film on your tail lights

Nicole

I had to shave off all of the embossed numbers, and sand the amber/clear areas to make them as smooth as possible. then I cleaned everything nicely and applied the tinting film. Next I used masking tape to define the edge of where I needed to trim the film (where it would meet the red section of the lens). I made lots of cuts into the film where it would wrap around the edges, and carefullly wrapped it. It takes a lot of patience to do this right, but so far so good.

I did not want to make it permanent, in case I get pulled over and don't have a set of spare lenses in my garage that I can swap-in for the inspection...

Dean_Fuller

Is that what you did Nicole...you used tint film on your tail light uppers??? That does look good.

Any change of a close up...

Marine Blue

I've also used window tint on exterior car lights with good results. Another way to put the film on is to have several really sharp razor blades on hand and carefully cut around the lense where the tint meets the edge of the lense. The tint cuts easily and if you're good you will not be able to see the edge.

Plastic polish can be used to maintain the finish.

Rod Underwood

I actulaly purchased some motorcycle headlight mesh and installed it. Very simple and it's held up well, so...

Here's the link: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/379871-tailight-experiment.html

Good Luck
Rod

Dean_Fuller

Ho durable is it being on the outside as opposed to inside like its usually used???

Marine Blue

For regular use I would expect them to last at least a couple of years before you need to pull them off and replace them.