LED headlights?
jtrout13
11-02-2009, 11:16 AM
Hi all, I am getting ready to start on a new project. This time it will be the Tamiya FXX, built using the SMS superkit, and with an opened hood. I would really like to put in LED headlights and taillights, but can't seem to find any good tutorials on it.
Can anyone recommend any good tutorials on this matter, or any good shops online to buy the supplies at?
Thanks!
Can anyone recommend any good tutorials on this matter, or any good shops online to buy the supplies at?
Thanks!
TurboGuru
11-02-2009, 11:35 AM
I too would like to view a tutorial on this.
The great thing about LED's is that they come in many different sizes:
http://www.motherjones.com/files/legacy/blue_marble_blog/800px-Verschiedene_LEDs.jpg
Its possible to model most of the exterior lights - eg side indicators.
The great thing about LED's is that they come in many different sizes:
http://www.motherjones.com/files/legacy/blue_marble_blog/800px-Verschiedene_LEDs.jpg
Its possible to model most of the exterior lights - eg side indicators.
KevHw
11-02-2009, 01:57 PM
For a quick answer, I recommend 3mm LED's for the headlights and as far as I'm aware, the FXX doesn't have brake lights. In reality, the headlight lens (part L5) is about 2.5mm in diameter so if you really want to be pedantic, you can either file it down to size, or place the LED directly behind part L5, cutting into and mounting onto part B19 so that it shines through the lens. That will save you the trouble of filing down the LED and should give the most realistic finish.
You must note that if you intend to open the hood for show, you're going to have to be incredibly efficient at hiding the wiring and LED mount as there's very little space to do so. It is most likely, the route I'd take in order to have access to the switch and battery without any exterior modification, sacrificing hood detail for the space.
I'm sorry I don't have a tutorial for you as every model is shaped differently but the general approach in my opinion, is to just mount the LED either behind the headlight lenses or substitute them for the LED itself. Then just fabricate a battery mount and connect with a switch and then hide in whatever space you can find, whether it's under the hood, under the cabin area or the boot. Check out my WIP for how I approached it on the Carrera GT: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=951905. Another option is to run power wires through the bottom of the model into a base and have an external power source. That's one option if you find you've got no space for batteries.
Hope I've made it understandable and best of luck :bigthumb:. I'll be on the lookout for your build thread. I'm still too nervous to start mine :p
You must note that if you intend to open the hood for show, you're going to have to be incredibly efficient at hiding the wiring and LED mount as there's very little space to do so. It is most likely, the route I'd take in order to have access to the switch and battery without any exterior modification, sacrificing hood detail for the space.
I'm sorry I don't have a tutorial for you as every model is shaped differently but the general approach in my opinion, is to just mount the LED either behind the headlight lenses or substitute them for the LED itself. Then just fabricate a battery mount and connect with a switch and then hide in whatever space you can find, whether it's under the hood, under the cabin area or the boot. Check out my WIP for how I approached it on the Carrera GT: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=951905. Another option is to run power wires through the bottom of the model into a base and have an external power source. That's one option if you find you've got no space for batteries.
Hope I've made it understandable and best of luck :bigthumb:. I'll be on the lookout for your build thread. I'm still too nervous to start mine :p
TurboGuru
11-02-2009, 02:05 PM
For a quick answer, I recommend 3mm LED's for the headlights and as far as I'm aware, the FXX doesn't have brake lights. In reality, the headlight lens (part L5) is about 2.5mm in diameter so if you really want to be pedantic, you can either file it down to size, or place the LED directly behind part L5, cutting into and mounting onto part B19 so that it shines through the lens. That will save you the trouble of filing down the LED and should give the most realistic finish.
You must note that if you intend to open the hood for show, you're going to have to be incredibly efficient at hiding the wiring and LED mount as there's very little space to do so. It is most likely, the route I'd take in order to have access to the switch and battery without any exterior modification, sacrificing hood detail for the space.
I'm sorry I don't have a tutorial for you as every model is shaped differently but the general approach in my opinion, is to just mount the LED either behind the headlight lenses or substitute them for the LED itself. Then just fabricate a battery mount and connect with a switch and then hide in whatever space you can find, whether it's under the hood, under the cabin area or the boot. Check out my WIP for how I approached it on the Carrera GT: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=951905. Another option is to run power wires through the bottom of the model into a base and have an external power source. That's one option if you find you've got no space for batteries.
Hope I've made it understandable and best of luck :bigthumb:. I'll be on the lookout for your build thread. I'm still too nervous to start mine :p
Kev thanks for the input, love the carerra gt!!
Should all the LEDs be white? .... my thinking is that in real-life the bulbs on a car are white, its the tailight cover that is coated in the clear red/orange colour..... or should I just use red/orange LEDs for the rear tail-light instead of white?
You must note that if you intend to open the hood for show, you're going to have to be incredibly efficient at hiding the wiring and LED mount as there's very little space to do so. It is most likely, the route I'd take in order to have access to the switch and battery without any exterior modification, sacrificing hood detail for the space.
I'm sorry I don't have a tutorial for you as every model is shaped differently but the general approach in my opinion, is to just mount the LED either behind the headlight lenses or substitute them for the LED itself. Then just fabricate a battery mount and connect with a switch and then hide in whatever space you can find, whether it's under the hood, under the cabin area or the boot. Check out my WIP for how I approached it on the Carrera GT: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=951905. Another option is to run power wires through the bottom of the model into a base and have an external power source. That's one option if you find you've got no space for batteries.
Hope I've made it understandable and best of luck :bigthumb:. I'll be on the lookout for your build thread. I'm still too nervous to start mine :p
Kev thanks for the input, love the carerra gt!!
Should all the LEDs be white? .... my thinking is that in real-life the bulbs on a car are white, its the tailight cover that is coated in the clear red/orange colour..... or should I just use red/orange LEDs for the rear tail-light instead of white?
KevHw
11-02-2009, 02:16 PM
Kev thanks for the input, love the carerra gt!!
Should all the LEDs be white? .... my thinking is that in real-life the bulbs on a car are white, its the tailight cover that is coated in the clear red/orange colour..... or should I just use red/orange LEDs for the rear tail-light instead of white?
Thanks. For modern cars, white LED's I assume would be adequate enough. I'm sure for older classic cars, a yellowy tinge could be added but I'm not very familiar with classics :). As for the tailights, using a white LED behind coloured clear plastic would just give quite a bright coloured light (ignoring any resistors you might add to decrease brightness). Having the same coloured LED, as far as I remember, gives a nice strong colour and is more realistic. You really need to play around with them and see which one you prefer yourself. I'll see if I have any spare lying around I can post some photos of. Maybe wait for vrossi85 to give his advice as his recent Ferrari 599 is a beautiful example to learn from.
Should all the LEDs be white? .... my thinking is that in real-life the bulbs on a car are white, its the tailight cover that is coated in the clear red/orange colour..... or should I just use red/orange LEDs for the rear tail-light instead of white?
Thanks. For modern cars, white LED's I assume would be adequate enough. I'm sure for older classic cars, a yellowy tinge could be added but I'm not very familiar with classics :). As for the tailights, using a white LED behind coloured clear plastic would just give quite a bright coloured light (ignoring any resistors you might add to decrease brightness). Having the same coloured LED, as far as I remember, gives a nice strong colour and is more realistic. You really need to play around with them and see which one you prefer yourself. I'll see if I have any spare lying around I can post some photos of. Maybe wait for vrossi85 to give his advice as his recent Ferrari 599 is a beautiful example to learn from.
jtrout13
11-02-2009, 03:35 PM
kevhw, that's exactly the info I was looking for... could you post a pic of your battery setup? I checked out your build, and was also planning to power my junk using coin-cell batteries...
The FXX will most likely have some 3mm front LEDs and some thicker fiber optic run to the back, as it does indeed have small tail lights which are pieces L1 and L2, but they are too small for bulbs and there is very little room for wiring. I think I will run the fiberoptic through the tunnel in the chassis which is covered by piece C20. This is a build for next year though, as I'm slowly building up the money to buy everything, refereeing hockey games doesn't pay a ton :icon16:
Anyway, I'm most interested in your battery setup and if you ran any resistors to limit current or whatnot. A pic would be worth a thousand words!!
The FXX will most likely have some 3mm front LEDs and some thicker fiber optic run to the back, as it does indeed have small tail lights which are pieces L1 and L2, but they are too small for bulbs and there is very little room for wiring. I think I will run the fiberoptic through the tunnel in the chassis which is covered by piece C20. This is a build for next year though, as I'm slowly building up the money to buy everything, refereeing hockey games doesn't pay a ton :icon16:
Anyway, I'm most interested in your battery setup and if you ran any resistors to limit current or whatnot. A pic would be worth a thousand words!!
MidMazar
11-02-2009, 08:15 PM
Here ya go.....
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=234116
3rd page, this tutorial should help you out.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=234116
3rd page, this tutorial should help you out.
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