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Replace landing light

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  • Member since
    July 2020
Replace landing light
Posted by Ron Dog on Sunday, January 17, 2021 11:59 AM

I'm in the very final stages of a 1/48 Tamiya Mustang III build  (started 2007).  I put in the landing light too early in the build and it disappeared somewhere in the wing.  No rattle, no sign of it, and do not want to take the wing apart.

I've had a ton of ideas on how to replace it....make a backing with a) bare metal b) putty, then a) carve clear sprue, b) try to make a cast with future...that's four approaches right there, plus whatever I'm too dense to think of.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2020
Posted by Eaglecash867 on Sunday, January 17, 2021 12:28 PM

Clear epoxy makes great lenses, especially if its a round lens that you need.  You just have to make sure to keep the new lens level until the epoxy cures.  It will have a natural tendency to form a convex shape.

"You can have my illegal fireworks when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers...which are...over there somewhere."

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Monday, January 18, 2021 7:45 AM

Eaglecash867

Clear epoxy makes great lenses, especially if its a round lens that you need.  You just have to make sure to keep the new lens level until the epoxy cures.  It will have a natural tendency to form a convex shape.

 

Eagle, would you recommend standing it on its nose or on its tail to accomplish that? 
I'm looking at the same issue with the Hustler; no nose gear lens at all, just the housing with a flat face. 

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Monday, January 18, 2021 8:05 AM

Hi;

 Any lights on an aircraft I always do from Clear scrap Sprue. That way I can get the general shape Before installing the lens.

  • Member since
    April 2020
Posted by Eaglecash867 on Monday, January 18, 2021 8:09 AM

Straycat1911

Eagle, would you recommend standing it on its nose or on its tail to accomplish that? 

I'm looking at the same issue with the Hustler; no nose gear lens at all, just the housing with a flat face. 

 

In the case of the landing light, I would recommend standing it on its tail so that the light housing is level.  Gravity and time will do the rest of the work while the epoxy cures, just have to make sure the light housing is perfectly level so the epoxy settles around the center of the lens it is forming.  You can also get red, blue, and green dyes made specifically for epoxy to make colored lenses.

"You can have my illegal fireworks when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers...which are...over there somewhere."

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