Particularly when you get into larger diameter fiber, it can be difficult to route. That is especially true if you have tight bends, as this does. In this case, the optics must go through the elongated hole in the pan, and then go right angle.
So, I had to add some bends to relieve some pressure to them. I was able to do this by holding the optic above a hot soldering pencil, while bending the piece as it heats up. Once the optic reaches that melt point the tension releases and you can form it. Fortunately, no casualties in this process. I attribute the latter to a stable heat source of the iron.
With that accomplished, I test fit, and then secured each optic from the bottom using UV resin.
And then this is where things went sideways. Guiding the optics through the hole while pressing the floor into place was not an easy task. I managed it, but the floor would not seat flat into the pan. So, I pulled it out, elongated the hole more, and tried it again. It was still a problem. It was here where I pressed on something I shouldn't have. I pushed through one side of my fabricated floor below the dash. Fortunately, I was able to repair it without too much cosmetic damage. And that is one of the pitfalls doing custom work like this. Space issues leading to fit issue.
So... pondering the problem, I noticed a nub in the pan that might be causing the issue. It was a piece of sprue leftover from my makeshift paint handle. You can see it in the image above just aft of the elongated hole.
I ground down the nub and what do you know... it fell into place swimmingly. So well in fact, I don't need to glue it.
You can see above how it looks from the bottom with the pan installed. There is remaining tension with the optics, but it should be manageable. I did not want to overdue the bends. There is a point where if you bend too much it will teduce light output.
The orange piece is the transmission box and that is where the light drivers and optics will reside. It provides much room to work with. Which is nice.
Below: Sideview with the pan installed. And for fun... notice how the optics light up with color from the bottom end. My workbench light is shining from above, through the painted ends, and down below. This made me decide to try lighting the optics from above using one of my fabricted led engines. I was pretty surprised at how well the light and color transmitted even from that side of things.
I have learned something with this build and how optics work with paint. Years back I tried this method and the color looked weak and inconsistent. This lead me to believe that paint was not the answer, and that I needed to either use colored LEDs, or a colored film between the light and the optic. This go around, it is a completely different story.
The only explanation I can think of is this: With this go, I dabbed paint on in a drop. I sort of domed the paint. So, I think this go, there was more paint. I think in the previous case I brushed it on in a thin layer. Anyway, a learning moment, and a learned thing that will simplify things for me in the future.
So, from here, it is time to start arranging the optics and of course, cut and polish the ends.