Started my custom rear lights

[ade]

Had a day off today and whilst waiting for 3 tons of soil and some stones to be delivered for my garden (which is still ongoing!) thought I'd make a start on making my rear custom lights for my nova project.

The rear lights will be totally custom made one offs using parts from a spare set of MK2 Fiat Punto front lights (the chrome bits), some landrover domed lenses, 2 old Nova rear light frames and some body filler. There will probably be lots of filler and other bits too. The basic idea is to make a master ready for casting so I can then make 2 duplicates. Both sides will be identical - making the process a lot easier (no need to make a mirrored version).

Still need to work out how to fit them into the Novas awkward rear light cluster - mainly because the is no area behind the rear reflector and the housing is all bonded together. I spent most of Sunday afternoon separating the outer frame from the back section. The plan is to then make a custom housing - remembering to leave an access panel for the bulbs - which need to be redesigned, as well as re-attaching the original mounting points. It's in my head - just need to work out the best way of doing it.

Here's some pics of WIP anyway...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/rearlense.jpg
A landrover red lense - you'll only see part of it as per pic below

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/rearlens2.jpg
This is an idea of how it will look. The lense will sit higher up as when cast, theinner ring on the chrome part will be bigger (see white blanking plates below)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/rearlens1.jpg
Heres another angle...The chromed bit will be modofied a little so the sticky out leg will be mirrored on the other side (see below)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/setup2.jpg
As the landy lenses are almost as tall as the chromed rings, I need to raise the rings up, so theyre mounted on balsa wood platforms. These will be skimmed with filler. When cast, they will make a perfect hollow outline. I've added an extra leg on the right (green bit)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/setup1.jpg
This pic shows the basic layout of the lights. The bottom ring is slightly larger than the other two. This will be the brake light. The fog lights will be build into the bumper. The casings will be linked by a small strip of balsa to mimik the legs but in the vertical fashion (not shown here).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/rearframe.jpg
Heres a pic of the housings with the Nova rear light frame. There is enough clearance all around to allow for a sheet of moulded clear perspex. Because the actual Landy lenses are e marked, I will be okay fitting a clear cover to the lights - making them (so I've been informed) road legal 8)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/rearbody2.jpg
Heres a pic of the housings after a "rough" skim of filler. A bugger to do as its curved.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/rearbody1.jpg
Another angle

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/rearclean2.jpg
Here's one that's been cleaned up - the filler I'm using is very easy to sand (called Upol catalloy). Very good stuff. The basic shape is there. Just need to skim with filler paste (cellulose putty) to seal and get the finer details around the legs (or fins for their proper names).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/rearclean1.jpg
Here's another angle of a 1st stage sanded one.

Overall, I'm really happy with the way theyre coming out. Once mounted, the chrome housings will remain chrome with the lower (or back) part of the housing in anthracite. Dont really want the whole think in chrome - too make "lexus" style lights out there. These will have a "Lexus" feel but be a wee bit different.

Hope you like them. I'll attach this post to the Ades Garage and post other pics in there from now on...

Ade

8)

[epo]

nice one mate keep us updated want to see how these come out

[flowlikewater]

the ideas pretty fresh!

what colour gunna be around the chrome?

[coxie]

lovin the effort going into them mate very nice details so far .. should look great 8)

[J4MES]

looks like a good fresh idea....keep it up...

ps get wip pics of the garden up....lol :lol: :lol:

[Riggy]

there gonna loopks ace mate :lol:

[Mike.]

they'll look great as said keep us posted ade

[ade]

lol ref garden - I'll post a pic tomorrow - been working on it all evening - digging up plants and moving them.

Alas though we cant get the jaccuzzi - cant get the bugger in the back!

:evil: :lol:

oh well - more money to spend on the car!

:wink: :D 8)

[burgo]

lol ref garden - I'll post a pic tomorrow - been working on it all evening - digging up plants and moving them.

Alas though we cant get the jaccuzzi - cant get the bugger in the back!

:evil: :lol:

oh well - more money to spend on the car!

:wink: :D 8)most place that sell jaccuzzi's can sort a crane to lift it over the house

[Jack]

you seriously don't want to miss out on the jacuzzi, they're great fun 8)

[epo]

buy the jacuzzi and fit it in the nova just like "pimp my ride" :lol: :lol:

[boredbloke]

Ah yeah we used to have a jacuzzi in our bathroom, it was soooo good although we had to clean out all the pumps like twice a week at least,

was alot of work!

was great fun too...wish we still had one...

[Matt2107]

excellent mate.

I'd pay good money to have a set of those. (nudge nudge wink wink)

Was it hard to seperate the lenses from the housing without breaking them or did you have to smash them to millions of little pieces?

[ade]

cant crane jaccuzzi in place - too far down the back and house is on a slope making positioning the lorry impossible - plus it would cost a bomb!

Ref lights - yeah had to smash the buggers to bits - the lenses are heat welded to the skin to make them water tight - real pains to remove. Still need to work out how to make the rear housing again...

[shy witness]

full marks 4 effort there m8



keep up the good work 8)

[Lee]

Im really looking forward to seeing the end result mate, top effort going on there!!

[novamadcars]

realy looking foward 2 seeing them on the car will defo look diffrent