Filling in drilled out lights & making the “bulbs”

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hey gang,

I’m working on Revellogram’s F-105 family and I hollowed out the landing lights on the nose and main LG struts. I’ve painted the hollowed out portion with chrome silver, now I’d like to go back and fill them making ‘em look more like the real thing.

Any suggestions on what to fill them with? Future? Super glue? White glue?

Thanks in advance,

-O

2

This stuff right here will give you the best results http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=80343

Dries crystal clear and rock solid. 2 tubes for $8 is hard to beat. But, like with any glue, if it’s going to be deep, it’s better to build it up in layers - otherwise, it’ll take forever to dry.

-Fred

3

Thanks Fred. I’ve heard other modelers talk about using the same stuff for their transparencies. I’ll pick some up, if not for just the bulbs, but also to try on my canopies.

Cheers!

-O

4

I have had good luck using a two-part epoxy for similar projects. I you go this route, be sure to fill it in slowly to keep air bubbles outta there.

5

Thanks Frank. Two viable options. I’ll try both and see which works better for me.

Cheers!

-O

6

Just a heads up on this method - It’s deceptive: The epoxy may severly yellow with age.

I made two very nice wingtip lights about 3/16" in size out of epoxy that looked really nice and fit beautifully, BUT, 2 years later they were very yellow and cloudy and generally ruined a pretty nice looking plane.

Since then for small lenses I have been using plastic glue from tubes( in layers ) , superglue (sometimes yellows on the spot, but at least you know immediatly) and for larger lenses, clear sprue sanded to shape and clearcoated or Futured to regain clarity.

Jake

Oh, and one more thing…metallic paints underneath epoxy tend to turn grey and dull by the epoxy. A bright underlayer such as aluminum foil or Baremetal Chrome make the lens reflect, just like the mirror backing of a real lamp.

7

Another suggestion would be MV lenses. They come in many sizes. I used them on the wing lights of my MC-130 and they looked great. I’ve even used them on other projects with a small “grain of wheat” bulb and lit them up.

Look under the wing and you’ll see the double landing lights.

8

What is a MV lens?

9

www.hubhobbyshop.com/hint32.htm

In short, its a concaved piece of polished metal, with a crystal clear lense on it.

10

Thanks.

Jake