Matt Watts prelude rear end.

Post by **Donald** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 5:47 pm

I like the bootlid, not keen on the lights but people have to try stuff to push the scene init.

The "S" express · Post by **honda-hardy** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 6:52 pm

"matt...

Its basically an inlay in a set of JDM lights, with some of those LED strip lights that are readily available on ebay. I stripped the lights apart then spent a while cutting a basic card template. I used this to make an approximate model of the part from MDF - due to the curves on the lens and the complex shape of the housing, this took a while. Luckily, once I had made one model the second for the other side was easier, as I could just turn it upside down and draw round it, then angle the jigsaw the other way.
Next I made a mould from the MDF parts, and once this had all cured properly, set about making the fibreglass parts. These still needed quite a bit of fettling to get them fitting right, and so that they could be inserted into the lens section once assembled.
Marking out and drilling out the holes for the LED's was tedious, especially as I dont have a drill press - 96 LED's; 2mm pilot hole, 6mm hole for the light, slight taper on the back to aid assembly, then a bevel on the front, plus sanding at each stage!!

I sprayed the inlays in aluminium enamel paint which will hopefully withstand the heat of the headlight bulbs, then carefully masked off some areas and added some chrome detail. Chrome paint is fookin ard to get perfect, and it takes days to cure fully, as I found out when I wiped some dust off one of them and left an imprint all along one edge.
I also had to modify the sidelight section by removing the reflector and smoothing out the slots these fit into.
Once the mods to the housing where complete, I cleaned as much of the sealant as possible off the lens and backing units and applied some rubber butyl seal before clamping it all back together.
All in all, bit of a mission, and I still need to polish up the lenses a bit and get the drivers side beams working a bit better - I hate electrics!"

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 7:44 pm

he did a really good job there

kris_aka_edu · Post by **kris_aka_edu** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 10:44 pm

Those lights look awesome! Not too keen on the rear lights. Maybe if they were a different style but the way the spoiler is intergrated in looks really good.

FrontBackSide2Side · Post by **FrontBackSide2Side** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 11:17 pm

Matts a real nice guy and I love what he has done to his lude. I personally wouldn't do it to my car but the fact its all custom work, done at his house to the standard he's managed to achieve get my respect

Crazy_C · Post by **Crazy_C** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 11:18 pm

Strange I came across this, as I just sent Matt a message on FB!!

I've always loved his lude, as it was something different, but it just updated the old '90's look the original rear end had, and brought the whole thing into the '00's in my opinion.

K30DPC · Post by **K30DPC** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 11:27 pm

thanks guys. Shame I'm not so good with fibreglass

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 12:14 pm

Amazing work on those lights (front and rear).

The back looks excellent in that night picture, not so keen on them in the daylight, but can certainly appreciate all the work...

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:10 pm

I really appreciate the amount of work that has gone into this 'Lude, I'm not a fan of the lights, front or rear - I think daytime running lights should stay with new cars, retro fitted ones never look quite right (although I think he has done the best possible job of making them look OEM)

..that lip spoiler gives me some good food for thought though.

Who here makes carbon fibre parts? I could do with talking to them.

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:30 pm

Matt does

He was talking of re-creating his bootlid in CF

Lude Generation

Matt Watts prelude rear end.

Re: Matt Watts prelude rear end.