Building my own flush tail lights

[Justinswidebody]

The Jeep silhouette actually reminds me of an "Easter egg". guessing thats what you were going for, and its well done. Id purchase the blank ones but the silhouette will sell IMHO

That's exactly what I was thinking of

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[amoyer_01]

That's exactly what I was thinking of

I still kinda like the blank the most as well. I knew something still felt off with the fogs, they need to be outset from the headlights and not under the grill slots.

My thought when you had previously mentioned the silhouette was more of this. Link below. I think this would actually get really busy unless small (the windshield Easter egg), let alone it being a PITA to CAD up for a print.

https://www.keywaydesigns.com/collections/iphone-13-cases/products/off-road-wood-iphone-13-case

How are you making the lens cover transparent for the light to come through? I am so limited on the knowledge of LEDs and wiring them, is the sequential a function of the led strip or a controller hooked up to them? Since you are using a single strip a sequential function would be interesting for it to start at the bottom of the tailgate and rope around till it hits the same spot. Or one strip starting at the bottom of the tailgate up and then only along the top (running light) then a full ring for the stop lights & reverse.

Sorry just a few ideas running in my head with this. Not trying to add a lot to your design/concept. You are doing stellar without my 2 cents.

 

[Joe Gladiator]

Here's the jeep printed....

how about making it even simpler for you and match the windshield "easter egg" on the same curve going up the light

 

[Justinswidebody]

I still kinda like the blank the most as well. I knew something still felt off with the fogs, they need to be outset from the headlights and not under the grill slots.

My thought when you had previously mentioned the silhouette was more of this. Link below. I think this would actually get really busy unless small (the windshield Easter egg), let alone it being a PITA to CAD up for a print.

https://www.keywaydesigns.com/collections/iphone-13-cases/products/off-road-wood-iphone-13-case

How are you making the lens cover transparent for the light to come through? I am so limited on the knowledge of LEDs and wiring them, is the sequential a function of the led strip or a controller hooked up to them? Since you are using a single strip a sequential function would be interesting for it to start at the bottom of the tailgate and rope around till it hits the same spot. Or one strip starting at the bottom of the tailgate up and then only along the top (running light) then a full ring for the stop lights & reverse.

Sorry just a few ideas running in my head with this. Not trying to add a lot to your design/concept. You are doing stellar without my 2 cents.

I could easily make that silhouette I believe... I'll make you one this weekend.

I will be using clear 3d print filament to make the lens. It will be the perfect amount of clear and haze to spread the light.

I really want sequential also, but it would take a lot of work for me.

Here's how it works.... Each led uses around 3 volts..... That allows you to put 4 LEDs in series for 12v.

So each light would use around 165 LEDs per red and white light so a total of 330 LEDs per tail light... Divide that by 4 would be a minimum of 82 single wires to route to a led controller....

With a led controller you would light each 4 led section at a different time sequencing them how you would like.... So for each erray of 4 LEDs would require its own separate power wire....

Unless I found a good enough led strip that has sequential from the factory... However most of these are not very high quality and not very bright .....

 

[Justinswidebody]

how about making it even simpler for you and match the windshield "easter egg" on the same curve going up the light

I can do that. Only reason I did the big one was because there's a lot of wasted space.... I'm fine with the wasted space lol

 

[Joe Gladiator]

I can do that. Only reason I did the big one was because there's a lot of wasted space.... I'm fine with the wasted space lol

i figured you would be lol

 

[amoyer_01]

I could easily make that silhouette I believe... I'll make you one this weekend.

I will be using clear 3d print filament to make the lens. It will be the perfect amount of clear and haze to spread the light.

I really want sequential also, but it would take a lot of work for me.

Here's how it works.... Each led uses around 3 volts..... That allows you to put 4 LEDs in series for 12v.

So each light would use around 165 LEDs per red and white light so a total of 330 LEDs per tail light... Divide that by 4 would be a minimum of 82 single wires to route to a led controller....

With a led controller you would light each 4 led section at a different time sequencing them how you would like.... So for each erray of 4 LEDs would require its own separate power wire....

Unless I found a good enough led strip that has sequential from the factory... However most of these are not very high quality and not very bright .....

That is a whole lot of work. I am guessing the OEMs can do it with a printed "backing" on the strip. Thanks for explaining it.

A side view of a Gladiator (not the FJ from the phone case) going either up that tail light curve or some rugged slope is all I was thinking. Some thing in the 2" square range so it is just a hint of something. I could probably photoshop something here during lunch just to see what it would be.

 

[Justinswidebody]

That is a whole lot of work. I am guessing the OEMs can do it with a printed "backing" on the strip. Thanks for explaining it.

A side view of a Gladiator (not the FJ from the phone case) going either up that tail light curve or some rugged slope is all I was thinking. Some thing in the 2" square range so it is just a hint of something. I could probably photoshop something here during lunch just to see what it would be.

I can easily do that no problem

Might even have it done tonight.

 

[amoyer_01]

I can easily do that no problem

Might even have it done tonight.

My quick photoshop. Didn't turn out that bad of course not all the detail lines needed in the silhouette. I used the metal wall art of cars you can find all over the interwebs for the silhouette. Maybe gives people an extra level of customizing after the fact.

 

[Justinswidebody]

My quick photoshop. Didn't turn out that bad of course not all the detail lines needed in the silhouette. I used the metal wall art of cars you can find all over the interwebs for the silhouette. Maybe gives people an extra level of customizing after the fact.

Ha you did a great job!

I can do that no problem

 

[Minty JL]

Justin have you received any shipping updates?

No rush, just curious

 

[Justinswidebody]

Justin have you received any shipping updates?

No rush, just curious

No I asked him yesterday and he said he would get back to me today..... I'm which I haven't heard from him.....

Now I'm starting to wonder if I should even bother with that version anymore. Seems like everyone likes the raptor version

 

[USMC_1Wire6337]

No I asked him yesterday and he said he would get back to me today..... I'm which I haven't heard from him.....

Now I'm starting to wonder if I should even bother with that version anymore. Seems like everyone likes the raptor version

Do you have a version yet that has the inner part flush with the rest of the housing so it isn't inset? I think that would make body color matching even cleaner. Maybe it was mentioned and I missed it, but regardless, outstanding work.

 

[Justinswidebody]

Do you have a version yet that has the inner part flush with the rest of the housing so it isn't inset? I think that would make body color matching even cleaner. Maybe it was mentioned and I missed it, but regardless, outstanding work.

Good idea! I'll cad one of those up soon too to see how it looks !

Thank you for your idea!

 

[Justinswidebody]

Here's the lens being printed.... Keep in mind, a lot of what you're looking at is supports to support the top when it gets to it...

But you get a good idea of not perfectly clear but clear enough and enough hase to help scatter the light ...

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