Help with aircraft lights

[danntheman]

Gentlemen I wonder could anybody helo I am building 1/144 Dc3 and have lost the wing lights and I am trying everything to make them, anybody got any tips for me.

[72modeler]

Are you talking about the clear covers that go over the leading edge of the wings, or the lights themselves?

Mike

[Black Knight]

I would guess that at 1/144 its the wing landing light cover.

Cut and fit a bit of clear sprue frame. I use superglue to hold it in place. If you cut it so its a tight fit that'll help as well

It'll stick out too far so shave it back to the wing leading edge profile, first with a metal file or knife, then use finer and finer grades of W&D paper. At the final profiling use really fine W&D or micro-mesh or toothpaste to give it a polished finish, then a coat or two of a gloss varnish - job done

[danntheman]

2 hours ago, Black Knight said:

I would guess that at 1/144 its the wing landing light cover.

Cut and fit a bit of clear sprue frame. I use superglue to hold it in place. If you cut it so its a tight fit that'll help as well

It'll stick out too far so shave it back to the wing leading edge profile, first with a metal file or knife, then use finer and finer grades of W&D paper. At the final profiling use really fine W&D or micro-mesh or toothpaste to give it a polished finish, then a coat or two of a gloss varnish - job done

Thanks for that, I thought of that but the damn wings are painted and decalled so was afraid of ruining them but suppose ill have to try that.

5 hours ago, 72modeler said:

Are you talking about the clear covers that go over the leading edge of the wings, or the lights themselves?

Mike

sorry clear covers

[72modeler]

In that scale, you might try using a piece of clear cellophane tape- lay a piece around the landing light opening and burnish it down with the back of a paintbrush handle. Once the tape is down, carefully trim around the landing light opening as close to the edges as you can, using a brand-new razor blade or hobby knife, peeling away the excess carefully. I have used this a few times on 1/72 kits and it actually turned out pretty well, especially before the model was painted, as masking the tape and then painting the model sealed the edge of the tape and made the edges almost invisible. You can practice on a scrap wing.

Another suggestion would be to brush clear craft glue into the opening in a few applications- you could then use a moistened strip of plastic bent around the leading edge or your finger to get the glue to conform to the curvature of the leading edge of the wing. Since your model is already painted, using a clear piece of suitable plastic probably won't work, as you would ruin the surrounding area during the sanding and polishing process after the clear plastic piece was cemented in place. Good luck!

Mike