How do i get armor lights to look real?

There's a product for model railroad called MV lenses that are very popular with armour builders. Myself, I just paint them a metallic colour and dirty then up with the rest of the tank.

Easy way to do it is to hollow out a depression using a pin drill (little hand held drill with miniscule drill bits) or by twisting an X-Acto knife blade to hollow out the hole. Paint the interior "cup" silver and fill the hole up with 5 minute epoxy (found in the hardware section of stores like Wal-Mart). This stuff dries clear and the silver inside gives the shine.

You can also try this method with Elmer's glue for shallower depressions. MV lenses are nice, but expensive.

I second Major Rob's idea of 5-minute epoxy (clear).

I have only recently made the switch to armor from cars. I have used 5-minute epoxy to improve auto headlights, to improve the plastic/glass cover over the dash area of most cars (the clear cover in front of your speedometer). Just be careful to put it on in an even layer or layers.

Glenn

I use MV lenses or paint them as Robert described. The MV products are really very nice, but as the Major stated, they are a little pricy. About a buck and a half a lense depending on where you get them. So I tend to be a little choosey about which tanks I put them on.

Thank you for the assistance gentlemen, what can you recommend for the tail lights? On 35 scale the lens areas are tiny- do you still try and put epoxy in them or is there a painting method?
Thanks again.
Mick

Try Crystal-Clear by Microscale for the small lenes (sp)... Also if the vehicle has IR headlights try painting the "depression" you make with Testors Gloss ruby red before you add the Epoxy, Crystal-Clear, etc I have found that it gives a very accurate reproduction of the actual IR head light lens.

Tom

Tailights on most tanks until the M1 series were pretty small so I just paint them with a dark red or gloss black (for the clear lenses) and weather the heck out of them. MV products also makes IR lenses with the same pros/cons. I haven't done my M1's yet so I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Maybe the "car" builders would have a better idea?