'Jake' Brake light decal?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 7
From: Jacksonville FL
'Jake' Brake light decal?
Anyone ever tried a 'Jake' or any other decal on their brake lights. I was thinking the far right hand light with somewhat dark window tint. I know there's a ton of 3rd brake light decals (had one on the Mustang) but I couldn't find anything for the regular lights.
Florida is pretty relaxed with their laws regarding tint and other things like HID lights so that shouldn't be an issue. Any ideas on how dark the tint should be? I might try a vinyl plotter and if that doesn't work a good razor blade and steady hand maybe.
I thought about just the outline of the skull and the flags being the only actual tint. Everything else would be left open... or possibly the complete opposite... depends on how it looks I guess.
Florida is pretty relaxed with their laws regarding tint and other things like HID lights so that shouldn't be an issue. Any ideas on how dark the tint should be? I might try a vinyl plotter and if that doesn't work a good razor blade and steady hand maybe.
I thought about just the outline of the skull and the flags being the only actual tint. Everything else would be left open... or possibly the complete opposite... depends on how it looks I guess.
Supporting Lifetime
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From: Syracuse NY
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Wow, never seen a 'Vette with a Jake Brake . . . (sorry, a little trucker humor). 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 7
From: Jacksonville FL
I drew one up an it's not too bad. I might try one freehand but I think I'm going to get the appropriate sized vinyl cutout and put it on the brake light. Then I'll layer some VHT nightshades right over it and peel it off. That way the decal is the area not tinted and the rest of the light is... makes the skull large enough to see. I just need to get the layers even and maybe shine it up a little so it doesn't look bad during the day.
Here's my 'artistic rendition' of the tail lights.... we'll see how it works out.
Here's my 'artistic rendition' of the tail lights.... we'll see how it works out.
Last edited by Kadorja; Apr 10, 2012 at 12:36 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 265
From: Louisville Ky NCM Lifetime Member 429 (Member Since 1993)
St. Jude Donor '12-'13, '16
Idea.....why dont you put some brighter bulbs in your tailights, and then put one of the plastic blackout kits over the tailights.
That would eliminate the concern how the tail lights would look during the day.
I have been toying with doing this myself, but due to recent health issues, I had put off doing it. I would stress myself out if it didnt turn out just right.
I do think it would look awesome.
That would eliminate the concern how the tail lights would look during the day.
I have been toying with doing this myself, but due to recent health issues, I had put off doing it. I would stress myself out if it didnt turn out just right.
I do think it would look awesome.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 7
From: Jacksonville FL
Idea.....why dont you put some brighter bulbs in your tailights, and then put one of the plastic blackout kits over the tailights.
That would eliminate the concern how the tail lights would look during the day.
I have been toying with doing this myself, but due to recent health issues, I had put off doing it. I would stress myself out if it didnt turn out just right.
I do think it would look awesome.
That would eliminate the concern how the tail lights would look during the day.
I have been toying with doing this myself, but due to recent health issues, I had put off doing it. I would stress myself out if it didnt turn out just right.
I do think it would look awesome.
I think I am going to have my roommate print me off a vinyl tonight and this weekend I will layer on some VHT and wet sand/buff the whole thing and then remove the vinyl. It will have a nice solid dark layer that looks decent. I just don't really like the blacked out look. My car is black and having some accents to it look nice. I just want the skull to pop out at you without it being too permanent but also unique. The VHT scrapes off pretty easily with some goo gone and plastic scraper.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 265
From: Louisville Ky NCM Lifetime Member 429 (Member Since 1993)
St. Jude Donor '12-'13, '16
Well the only issue I have with the VHT is that without being sanded down it looks grainy. I had some on my Mustangs hidden fog lights and it looked ok because they where behind the grille. I would like it to be somewhat visible even with the tail light off.
I think I am going to have my roommate print me off a vinyl tonight and this weekend I will layer on some VHT and wet sand/buff the whole thing and then remove the vinyl. It will have a nice solid dark layer that looks decent. I just don't really like the blacked out look. My car is black and having some accents to it look nice. I just want the skull to pop out at you without it being too permanent but also unique. The VHT scrapes off pretty easily with some goo gone and plastic scraper.
I think I am going to have my roommate print me off a vinyl tonight and this weekend I will layer on some VHT and wet sand/buff the whole thing and then remove the vinyl. It will have a nice solid dark layer that looks decent. I just don't really like the blacked out look. My car is black and having some accents to it look nice. I just want the skull to pop out at you without it being too permanent but also unique. The VHT scrapes off pretty easily with some goo gone and plastic scraper.
I currently have the LED Corvette Flag Tailights on my car. They look strange on the back of the car during the day, and they are so damn bright that they can easily blind the driver behind me.
I ended up putting a set of the hard plastic black out kits from RPI designs. The lights were then visable during the day and eliminated the blinding light at night. They also cured my the problem where I thought they looked strange (almost cheap) during the day.
I am really curious to see how yours turns out. Keep posting updates.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 7
From: Jacksonville FL
Sorry guys I haven't been able to get anything worked on just yet. I have been trying to figure out my leaky supercharger and messed up tensioner issue. I got some parts on order for that and hopefully I can get a trial tail light decal cut out this weekend. I'm probably going to cut out the skull from some reflective material I have and put it on some clear plastic and spray it just to see if the vinyl will be easy to remove after I layer the VHT over it. If the demo piece looks good I'm getting a real one cut out or doing it myself if I can cut halfway decent.
Definitely should have some pictures up this weekend of what the general outcome should look like... unless I have to work or end up drinking myself like last night. I woke up laying in my bathroom at 5AM.
Definitely should have some pictures up this weekend of what the general outcome should look like... unless I have to work or end up drinking myself like last night. I woke up laying in my bathroom at 5AM.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
I don't think it's something I'd do but go for it! I suggest you make Jake very faint....almost ghost like. Have people wondering if they saw what they think they saw. Post pics when it's done. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 7
From: Jacksonville FL
Well I tried a test run today and the vinyl I grabbed was extremely easy to tear and stuck like crazy. I have the perfect size but I think I'm going to try blue painters tape and see if I can get a decent decal out of that and put a few coats down maybe tonight or tomorrow.
This is almost how I want it... just a little bigger but reverse of how this is... so the outside edge is the tinted part along with the eyes and the skull part is clear.
This is almost how I want it... just a little bigger but reverse of how this is... so the outside edge is the tinted part along with the eyes and the skull part is clear.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 7
From: Jacksonville FL
Alright well here's a test run I finished. It's pretty dark and I went with some heavier layers and no buffing of any kind but it looks alright. I think I have the perfect sized decal I can order as well.
Figured this would give some decent comparisons to how much light it lets through and how it would look with the brake light off and on... also its the exact size I want it right there. Not too bad and I think it would let the brake light through pretty well.
Figured this would give some decent comparisons to how much light it lets through and how it would look with the brake light off and on... also its the exact size I want it right there. Not too bad and I think it would let the brake light through pretty well.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 7
From: Jacksonville FL
Another update... figured I might as well try this out before I went any farther. Not the best since the plastic is reflective and it looks odd but I think it looks pretty nice. I don't know why I put it on the left light when I really wanted to put it on the right light but it looks nice either way. I'll have to decide soon I guess.
Also you will have to imagine it tinted all the way to the edges. The only place where it will be clear is the center of the skull besides where the eyes/flags are. The places where the tape is touching will be the same color tint. I think it will look pretty sick lit up and when the lights are out you will really see the skull pop. The placement is pretty nice too... I'll have to see if I can get it just right again I love the picture where it looks like it's just the Corvette crossed flags.
Also you will have to imagine it tinted all the way to the edges. The only place where it will be clear is the center of the skull besides where the eyes/flags are. The places where the tape is touching will be the same color tint. I think it will look pretty sick lit up and when the lights are out you will really see the skull pop. The placement is pretty nice too... I'll have to see if I can get it just right again I love the picture where it looks like it's just the Corvette crossed flags.