Anyone have any tips for painting the housing on the C5R lights?
I cant seem to find a tech tip or a write up.
Or if someone can post a pic of what its supposed to look like.
Thanx

 

I used a paint from ACE Hardware for plastics called Fusion and it worked great! I chose black and it came out like a satin black finish which is supposed to be very durrible!

JR

 

Do you have a pic of the lights? I want to see the pattern

 

I don't have a good pic of the pattern, however it is like the number 8 cut in half with a rounded center if that helps any?

JR

 

I used masking tape and a xacto knife to cut out the lines provided on the housing. Painted with Krylon Fushion glossy black paint (took maybe 6 coats total.) I've had these for 6 months and it looks to be holding great. Only tip I have is use a bright light to make sure you have enough coats before taking off all the tape.

I guess my writeup would be:

1) Cut small pieces of masking tape and cover each screw hole on the outer side of the cover. Then take plastic food wrap and cover the outside side of the headlamp cover. Use masking tape on the edges to cover the rubber edge seals and food wrap cover (preventing any paint to reach the outside portion.

2) place masking tape over the lines that outline the headlamps. MAKE SURE THE TAPE IS TIGHTLY SEALED/STUCK TO THE PLASTIC. Overwise the paint will bleed under the tape. I learned that the hard way and had to use paint thinner and restart.

3) Using a xacto/modeling knife, carefully cut the tape and following the line. Try and use long cutting strokes to prevent "pointy" looking curves. I placed a halogen lamp directly "behind" to clearly see the lines through the tape.

4) Paint. Krylon allows you to handle the pieces after 15 minutes. I used the same halogen light to see where I need to coat more paint. Expect around 6 coats.

5) Remove tape and inspect. I had a few "pointy" edges that needed to be rounded off a little. I took a q-tip and broke it in half and dipped the broken side in paint thinner to round off the edges.

This is the way I did it and it turned out great. There may be better ways to do this but here is what to expect.

ADD: My C5R kit was from Spectre Werkes and they already had the lines "drawn" in the housings. If I get time I'll try and post a close up pic. If you dont already have lines I have no idea how to make them symetrical.

 

GREAT! thanx

 

Mine came allready painted (bought used).... on the underside along the "factory" line. A paint shop should charge more than an hour or two of labor at $36_$40 per hr + materials.

 

I am lookin' at my covers right now... no lines!!!
What the @#$%&!!!! Must of had to pay Xtra for the lines.....

 

where did you buy them???

 

Spectre Werkes

 

Mine doesn't have any lines either! How the heck are we supposed to know where to paint?

 

Hold them up with some backlighting. I thought mine had no lines too, but there is a faint molded line. FWIW, I didn't even use the line. I painted it in a fashion that I thought matched....came very close to matching anyway.