Just a simple “how I done it” for aircraft nav. lights.
In the past, I have used clear sprue and drilled out and painted the “bulb”, this time, I opted for something different. I started out with some cheap, colored toothbrushes from the dollar store(thanks for the idea Hans), but once they were sanded down, the color wasn’t anywhere near strong enough.
For the green light, I used an old lighter. Taped down the “trigger” to let out all the fluid first…OUTSIDE!!!
For the red, I found a piece of a trailer tail light…perfect!!!
I cut out the molded in light, then cut a small chunk of the red plastic and CA’ed in place.
Using a heavy grinding bit in the Dremel, I ground it down farely close.
Then, I switched to a finer bit, to get it really close.
Finishing it off with progressively finer grits of sandpaper. I will mask with liquid mask.
I’ve heard of using light bright pegs, and I think eduard has a pe fret with a tear drop shape. Heat up the LB peg, and push the PE piece onto the melty LB peg, then cut off. I just cant get the darn PE piece.
I tore my house apart looking for the old “Litebrite”, no luck!!!
I think I’m picturing correctly, the idea of pushing the part through the PE to form a teardrop style light. I think that would work more for lights that aren’t part of the shape of the wing, like it was added after the wing is built. You could probably just carve out the teardrop shape in a piece of thicker plastic and have the same result as the PE, and your money would still be in your wallet.
I used this technique on a recent Zero build, and sources the red acrylic from craft store beads. I only needed one, but now I have a lifetime supply of little red plastic hearts. They’re so cute! [clwn]
Thanks for sharing this idea, and the great photos too!
Fermis thank you for the tutorial buddy, I am filing your trick away in my how to file for the next build, I have never been able to make nav lights look right.
you can also use the plastic from some toothbrush handles. Simply look for the appropriate colors and there you go. And, for the small cost of the toothbrushes, you will be able to make quite a few models happy this way.
