[Saleen9090]

Anyone care to guess what I am working on? What if I told you it is inspired by DevolvR? Surely the thread name and that are enough information to figure it out...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/saleen9090/8347893678/" title="IMG_4606 by Saleen9090, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8347893678_5242fbc325_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4606"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/saleen9090/8347893852/" title="IMG_4605 by Saleen9090, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8377/8347893852_408ed49f3e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4605"></a>

 

[dougy]

Taillights...did i win?

 

[Saleen9090]

[Looks over at judges] Oh, no I am sorry, not specific enough.

 

[SectorNine50]

Taillights on a 2006 Volvo S60R 6-speed automatic?

 

[ieatglue]

Mercedes look-a-like?

 

[Saleen9090]

Mercedes look-a-like?

I like to think XC60 look alike personally. Don't bring Benzes into it.

 

[Saleen9090]

I saw all of these other projects

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?133148
http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?146018-Back-with-another-tail-light-retro
http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?118356-LED-Tails-and-Front

But wasn't sure if anyone had achieved the "light bar" look to achieve more of the XC60 look. What I mean by that is getting rid of the individual LED look.

This method looks promising. I plan on using acrylic sheeting with a certain % of light diffusion to achieve the look. Tonight I played around with shaping the acrylic. So far it looks promising.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/saleen9090/8347786799/" title="Untitled by Saleen9090, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8347786799_ba0cf34495_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Untitled"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/saleen9090/8347782745/" title="Untitled by Saleen9090, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8347782745_ca274f4a7e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Untitled"></a>

 

[Tstats]

definitely interested in this good luck with the project

 

[DevolvR]

The only person that achieved the light bar look was someone in Taiwan. Someone posted pictures in juve021's Back wih another Retro thread. I'm also interested in redoing my taillights again with a more light bar look and brighter LEDs.

Using a thinner acrylic material might be easier to bend. I think the hardest part here is the cut out the housing reflector piece to fit the new light bar , then attaching the LED strips behind the housing and acrylic strip is the best way to create the contour lines.

 

[JJHL04]

I have something in the works for a tail light project.. I will end up showing something on here or just wait for a volvo meet... im trying to be creative like DevolvR and everyone else

 

[Saleen9090]

The only person that achieved the light bar look was someone in Taiwan. Someone posted pictures in juve021's Back wih another Retro thread. I'm also interested in redoing my taillights again with a more light bar look and brighter LEDs.

Using a thinner acrylic material might be easier to bend. I think the hardest part here is the cut out the housing reflector piece to fit the new light bar , then attaching the LED strips behind the housing and acrylic strip is the best way to create the contour lines.

The pictures show 1/4" thick sheet. I was actually contemplating going thicker so it is more visible from the back. I want a good solid contour line, not like something the thickness of a string.

On the contrary I've actually notice thicker is easier to work. I think it's because more mass hold heat longer and gives you a much longer "working" time. You have to be quick with the thin stuff because it hardens much quicker. I will either do 1/4" or 5/8" I think.

 

[Saleen9090]

I have something in the works for a tail light project.. I will end up showing something on here or just wait for a volvo meet... im trying to be creative like DevolvR and everyone else

Do you have any pictures of your progress? I would like to see before I started in case it helps brew up ideas.

 

[DevolvR]

Well, I did a bit of acrylic work before in my old art school days. You'll need to make a mold then heat the acrylic with an oven to a certain temp to soften it up then press the acrylic to the mold. Mold ideally would be wood as its easy to work with.

 

[JJHL04]

I'm ordering products soon, im garaging the SR in about two weeks so I'll be starting then

 

[Saleen9090]

Well, I did a bit of acrylic work before in my old art school days. You'll need to make a mold then heat the acrylic with an oven to a certain temp to soften it up then press the acrylic to the mold. Mold ideally would be wood as its easy to work with.

I just planned on using the tail light's housing as a mold lol. It would ensure a perfect fit and don't have to create a mold.

 

[Saleen9090]

I'm ordering products soon, im garaging the SR in about two weeks so I'll be starting then

Not even a sneak peek at what you are doing?

 

[DevolvR]

I just planned on using the tail light's housing as a mold lol. It would ensure a perfect fit and don't have to create a mold.

Yeah thought of that too, perhaps taping up/masking the housing to protect it. I know the chrome reflector surface is very delicate and can be damaged easily.

 

[Saleen9090]

Yeah thought of that too, perhaps taping up/masking the housing to protect it. I know the chrome reflector surface is very delicate and can be damaged easily.

Or you could just use the red lens as a negative mold. Wouldn't have to worry about damaging the reflector.

 

[DevolvR]

That could work too, but the red lens is slight larger than the reflector, so you'll have to bend it in a way to compensate the size difference.

 

[JJHL04]

Not even a sneak peek at what you are doing?

I have some good products that's I'm testing. all I need to find out is how to wire the lights. I don't want to make any dash lights popping on.. you guys will enjoy it tho. you will see fellow enthusiast