Looking forward to seeing them installed!! 
Stealth Light Cannons: Development process
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 5
From: Longmont Colorado
Yes.
I'm still awaiting the finished brackets (should be finished by thursday) Which means I should have a finished product by friday.
The good news is that I have the first thermoformed components. The trimming of these is a FAR cry from the ease of the original light cannons shroud. I'm glad to say that i'm getting plenty of use out of my new belt sander and band saw which DRASTICALLY speed up the proceess and cut down on the smell.
I only had a few hours at the shop this evening so i only got one side trimmed. Here are the pics:
With projectors: (they're just sitting there, not mounted)
The PETG lens material is very strong. While it's not as strong as lexan, it is extremely resistant to cracking. My thermoformer demonstrated by throwing a brick at a 1x1' sheet and i watched the brick bounce off without ANY cracking. The good news is that PETG is also less prone to scratching than polycarb. Any question i had about this as a lens material is completely gone. nevertheless, I will still be performing my favorite impact ballistics test on polycarb, PETG scrap and the original BPP lens material. This will be followed by a scratch resistance test.
The irony of it all.... my shop currently has 10 of the 12 flourecent lights out making evening work well...in need of enlightening (I know i'm horrible) :o
The next update will feature the first mounted and output pics with the new lenses.
I'm still awaiting the finished brackets (should be finished by thursday) Which means I should have a finished product by friday.
The good news is that I have the first thermoformed components. The trimming of these is a FAR cry from the ease of the original light cannons shroud. I'm glad to say that i'm getting plenty of use out of my new belt sander and band saw which DRASTICALLY speed up the proceess and cut down on the smell.
I only had a few hours at the shop this evening so i only got one side trimmed. Here are the pics:
With projectors: (they're just sitting there, not mounted)
The PETG lens material is very strong. While it's not as strong as lexan, it is extremely resistant to cracking. My thermoformer demonstrated by throwing a brick at a 1x1' sheet and i watched the brick bounce off without ANY cracking. The good news is that PETG is also less prone to scratching than polycarb. Any question i had about this as a lens material is completely gone. nevertheless, I will still be performing my favorite impact ballistics test on polycarb, PETG scrap and the original BPP lens material. This will be followed by a scratch resistance test.
The irony of it all.... my shop currently has 10 of the 12 flourecent lights out making evening work well...in need of enlightening (I know i'm horrible)
:oThe next update will feature the first mounted and output pics with the new lenses.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,479
Likes: 416
From: Devil's Island CA
Maybe used one's in a year or so
The pre-order guy's got them for $1150 (base kit) and full price base kit is $1275, correct me if im wrong George.Is the shroud smooth enough for paint or will it need to be sanded?
Last edited by Quik Z06; Nov 17, 2009 at 06:29 AM.
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
I would still advise primer/light sanding even on thee finished product to get good adhesion.
Last edited by TheRadioFlyer97; Nov 17, 2009 at 11:07 AM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Bristow VA
Man, this thread has been a roller coaster! I've been in love with the lights... or maybe the idea.. then didn't like some of the first prototypes. But after these pics the faith is back..
Those prototypes with the inner shell painted to match the body and assembled I think will look awesome.. just what I was hoping for!
Those prototypes with the inner shell painted to match the body and assembled I think will look awesome.. just what I was hoping for!
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Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
I'm having the shroud molds professionally smoothed out. When formed the new shrouds will have a smooth finish with clean lines suitable for painting or just leav it the satin-black finish for a more aggressive look.
Keep in mind the lens gives the impression of a glossy finish.
As much as I hate to do this, there will be part of the installation that requires getting UNDER the car i order to secure the shroud/lens to the body in the front. Ramps or a jack or lift is reccomended.
Note
I have (2) pairs of original mold shrouds that aren't quite as smooth as the final version will be. I will offer these shrouds in a kit for $50 off the price.
Expect the first GP thread to start this friday. I will run it for 1 week so i can get them to your door by christmas.
Keep in mind the lens gives the impression of a glossy finish.
As much as I hate to do this, there will be part of the installation that requires getting UNDER the car i order to secure the shroud/lens to the body in the front. Ramps or a jack or lift is reccomended.
Note
I have (2) pairs of original mold shrouds that aren't quite as smooth as the final version will be. I will offer these shrouds in a kit for $50 off the price.
Expect the first GP thread to start this friday. I will run it for 1 week so i can get them to your door by christmas.
Last edited by TheRadioFlyer97; Nov 17, 2009 at 05:29 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,776
Likes: 928
From: Indianapolis IN
j/k - just razzin ya cause I have nothing else better to do!
Cant wait to get my set so I can get started on painting the shrouds EB to match the Z!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,138
Likes: 11
From: Fremont CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
BTW: I will be using these shrouds, lenses and mounts with my projectors for my personal car. If anyone is interested in a bi-xenon/racing-lights setup let me know.
I couldn't stand the wait so i did a test-fit on my car. These show just the lens and shroud:
These show just the lens and shroud:
SLC on the drivers side, modified Specter werkes light on the passenger:
Note how close the lens matches body lines compared to the specter werkes lens. The Depo lens sticks out even further. Aerodynamically, the headlight bulge creates a low preessure area directly on top of the light causing lift on the nose at high speeds....something you REALLY don't want. The SLC lens maintains smooth airflow over the headlight area.
Just the SLC lens
Suggested painting line for "eyebrow"
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 882
Likes: 2
From: Miami Florida
wowww it looks amazing I been waiting for these for a while... I am glad I did not buy the SW. I saw paint the eyebrow to look kinda like the C6 lights to give it that same type of shape.
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Since some customers plan to leave the lens clear, I will let the customer decide the "lines" for painting should they decide to go that route.