Painting/finishing tail lights

[lawdog]

I am finishing up a Team BlueGroove Audi Quattro Coupe body for my M-04, and I'm down to just the tail lights... I have colored in the amber and red parts with a Sharpie marker on the inside of the lexan shell, but they're awfully dark. Should I back the Sharpie with white backing spray or maybe silver paint to lighten or will that just make a mess? TIA for any guidance on this or another, better technique.

[markbt73]

If you can get hold of some, you can use reflective sign sheeting/tape. It comes in white and red and amber, and makes very convincing (and reflective) taillights. See if a local sign shop can hook you up with some scraps.

[lawdog]

Thanks for the reply. I have some amber reflective tape/sheet that I have used for side markers, etc., before, and even on this car. But, these tail lights are small, very curved, and have a tricky pattern to them. I don't think decals will work, so that's why I was hoping the Sharpie would.

If you can get hold of some, you can use reflective sign sheeting/tape. It comes in white and red and amber, and makes very convincing (and reflective) taillights. See if a local sign shop can hook you up with some scraps.

[ian_foster]

Have you tried Tamiya clear colours? I've not tried it on lexan but on clear plastic (or white painted ABS parts) it looks good. I find you have to blob it on to get a good coverage, but as long as you mask properly, shouldn't be a prob.

[lawdog]

No, but I have some Testors brake light/turn signal paint for static models I've done before that was going to be "Plan B". The size, shape, and layout of these lights makes painting difficult, which was why i was hoping the Sharpie method would work. Here's a picture of what I'm trying to replicate:

Have you tried Tamiya clear colours? I've not tried it on lexan but on clear plastic (or white painted ABS parts) it looks good. I find you have to blob it on to get a good coverage, but as long as you mask properly, shouldn't be a prob.

[TA-Mark]

If the decals don't have a convincing tail light decal I usually paint the outside of the lexan body with Tamiya clear colour (red/amber) and paint the inside of the body where the lights are only with chrome silver. The chrome silver will get overcoated with semi-gloss black when I put the final coat on the inside of the body.

The reflective tape on the inside is a good idea I'd not thought of. I'll give it a try next time.

[lawdog]

Thanks, Mark. That seems a more refined version of my Plan B.

If the decals don't have a convincing tail light decal I usually paint the outside of the lexan body with Tamiya clear colour (red/amber) and paint the inside of the body where the lights are only with chrome silver. The chrome silver will get overcoated with semi-gloss black when I put the final coat on the inside of the body.

The reflective tape on the inside is a good idea I'd not thought of. I'll give it a try next time.