DIY - All Red Taillights

[idobref]

redout looks lighter in real life ;P

[RobertB]

Mine with Model Masters transparent black:

How many coats of MM transparent black?

Thanks

[Holland]

Clear coat the entire lens, it will look funny if you don't.

[SimplyDope]

Bump :)

[caliGreen]

do i clear coat the reverse light too.. or keep that masked(tapped) and clear the whole light exept the reverse light?

[DonkeySlide]

That candy apple red looks on the spot. No ugly blotches. Very Nice
__________________________________________________ ______________________

FT:FS 2001.5 S4

[dnova89]

Thanks guys I really appreciate it! Gonna start it as soon as my spraymax gets in, I'll post pics when I'm done.

[ck_taft325is]

Adheres, I don't know. The metal cast has a gloss in it and I prefer to get the color I want, knock the clear in the metal cast off and then use the final (urethane) clear as my finish/top coat. On two sets of lights, I polished on the final step and didn't bother with nearly any sanding except where I had a sag.

The finer grit the better. I used 800 on my first set and 1500 on the second. Couldn't see a difference in the final product.

[dvck]

did you find that the clear adheres that much better when you sand after the red
is cured?
also i think i'd be tempted to use a finer grit count on the red, 1500-2000?

[ck_taft325is]

1) Mask off light around Amber turn and on the clear reverse light (disregard if you're deleting the reverse light)
2) Duplicolor Metalcast Red 2-3 coats on the Amber turn with 10 minutes inbetween
3) Unmask light no longer than 10 minutes after last coat applied (except reverse light if applicable)
4) Within 10-15 minutes spray entire light to desired "red" shade

5) Remove masking tape and let light cure for 5-7 days (heavily dependant on temperature - I place mine in front of a gas fireplace, about 2' away for 2-4 days before step 6)
6) Light wet-sand after "cured" with 800-1500 grit
7) Wash with mild soap/water mixture and let dry
8) Spray entire light with clear of your choice (SprayMax 2-part Urethane Clear is a good product) in 1 light coat followed within 10 minutes by 1 medium and 1 'wet' coat (use your judgement on this so as to not get any sags in the paint)
9) Let cure for 3-7 days (again, temperature dependant)
10) Wet-sand with 2000-2500 grit
11) Polish and buff out

As for products, I'm not sure what these pro's use (ZM Blue Devil and td325ic).

[dvck]

deer dnova89...

Follow the work process of td325ic youre bound to get good results if youre patient
and follow along. I edited his instructions to be as clear cut as possible.

All red tail lights based on method used by td325ic.

1. Mask all but amber portion of your lights.
2. First spray 3 light coats on the amber.
3. Unmask and mask off reverse light.
4. Sprayed the whole light with 2 medium coats.
5. Remove masking of reverse light.
6. Wait a few days for Metalcast paint to cure.
7. Spray with SprayMax 2-part Urethane Clear Coat Aerosol over entire light.
8. Wait a few days for the urethane clear to cure.
9. Wet-sand with 1500 - 2000.
10. Polish out sanding scratches with 3M Rubbing Compound and orange foam pad.
11. Finish off with Menzerna Micro Polish and Gray foam pad.



I'll be following these directions as soon as i can pic up a nice extra set of tails.

[dnova89]

Wait, you polish them before you clear them? I'm a bit confused again. Can someone take a look at my list of directions and fill in the blanks? I want to know EXACTLY what I'm supposed to do so that I can do it right the first time. I only have 1 set of tails, the ones on my car! D:

1) Mask off light instead except amber part
2) Duplicolor Metalcast Red 3x light coats on the amber
3) ______________ How long should I wait in between steps 2 and 4?
4) ______________ Any wetsanding required here?
5) Unmask light except for reverse light and 2x medium coats of Metalcast Red on entire light.
-Then unmask reverse light after 2x medium coats
6) ______________ Any wetsanding required here?
7) Let the light cure for ___ days.
Spray entire light with SprayMax 2-part Urethane Clear Coat Aerosol
-How many coats?
9) Let cure for a couple days and wetsand with 1500-2000 grit
10) I don't have any machines so can someone describe to me in detail the buffing/polishing process by hand and which products to use?

Thanks, if any of the step orders are incorrect, please let me know! I want to get this down the first time, and I'll take pictures and share my experience when I'm done for the benefit of those who are in my boat and want to do their own all-red tails.

[noE30]

Yeah i used the metalcast enamel with lacquer clear, they dont mix well. It really sucks because mine looked just like td325ic's when I had just sprayed them red and polished them, then a few days later I cleared it and wrecked them.

[ck_taft325is]

You'll be fine.

noE30, not sure what happend with your tails or painting. Perhaps a crappy clear? td325ic (who makes AMAZING finished product) uses Duplicolor Metalcast and a 2-stage urethane clear coat with no problems. Take a look at his handy work a few pages back. He's who inspired me to really work on my process. I'm still not at the same caliber of him or Levent and Turk, but valiantly trying ;)

[dnova89]

When you guys clear your lights make sure you use the right kind of clear, like enamel paint with enamel clear or lacquer paint with lacquer clear. When I painted mine I wasn't paying attention when I grabbed the clear coat and used the wrong kind and fucked up the paint. I redid them but they still look weird, Im thinking about wetsanding all the paint off and going back to stock.

What about Spraymax 2-part urethane clear coat? Would that work with the enamel Duplicolor Metalcast red? Everyone who used that combo seemed to come out with a very nice product.