Making position lites on an A/C

[jknaus]

I promised Chris a SBS, but like many things lately I have fallen down on the promise. Sorry Chris. I did find something for you though when looking up some other info. So if anyone wants to know how to build them here is a nice sbs.
http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=36186&#entry342579
Hope LSP doesnt mind me linking.
James

 

[moon puppy]

can't see it yet, looking forward to it James. Thanks.

 

[Adam Baker]

Never tried that myself, but I've seen the results, and they are usually very nice!

 

[phantom II]

Hi James and thanks. Very nice although this might be tricky in 1/72 scale ( ) .
Some lights though such as the Beaufighter or Judy are fairly substantial . Might be useful there.

Thanks again . Christian B)

 

[moon puppy]

OK Just got to see this. Here's my nick pick. The lenses I've seen are all clear, the light bulb itself is what is colored. Someone check me if I'm wrong but this is what I recall seeing.

OK, just did a google search and i'm seeing some lenses colored some not. Guess it depends on the aircraft. Nevermind...carry on...

 

[jknaus]

OK Just got to see this. Here's my nick pick. The lenses I've seen are all clear, the light bulb itself is what is colored. Someone check me if I'm wrong but this is what I recall seeing.

OK, just did a google search and i'm seeing some lenses colored some not. Guess it depends on the aircraft. Nevermind...carry on...

All the a/c I have worked on had coloured lenses Bob. One thing that I always found interesting is the green light lenses are so thick, on most of the a/c I have seen that they look blue. That is until power is applied.

James

 

[jknaus]

Hi James and thanks. Very nice although this might be tricky in 1/72 scale ( ) .
Some lights though such as the Beaufighter or Judy are fairly substantial . Might be useful there.

Thanks again . Christian B)

I've seen it done Chris. Glad you liked, just wish I had of carried through my promise and done a sbs myself. Really sorry.
James

 

[Sharkmouth]

Very nice although this might be tricky in 1/72 scale

Christian, it isn't tricky at all. I used clear CD cases or clear sprue from the kit instead of toothbrushes. I drilled a hole and filled it with the color needed. Then sanded the mating surface to the kit (this removed the red/blue/white/amber paint - depending on the bulb). The mating surface was painted with silver enamel paint. For this, I used a toothpick to bring up the silver powder (more like mud) from the bottom of the paint bottle which I did not stir. To the blob of silver, I added the thinner, near the top of the bottle, a little at a time until I can get a smooth finish. The enamel was left to cure for a week.

Coming back later, I would use cyanoacrylate to cement in place and begin shaping after an hour. Then one last light coat of cyanoacrylate to ensure no gaps and polishing commenced. Really not difficult.

Regards,

 

[Paulw]

What would you use to cement these into place? I think with vigorous shaping and sanding they would fly off into the great beyond.

 

[jknaus]

Cyano glues Paul. I have also used 5 minute epoxy.
James

 

[phantom II]

Thanks James . No hurry on this end . Surely , that should be obvious .

Cheers, Christian B)