Source for lighting gel? (for dash if you were wondering!)

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Sun Aug 19, 07 10:09 pm

I need to replace the coloured lighting filters in my dash lights as one of them has always been blackened by (presumably) an overheating bulb or something in the past.

Any ideas for somewhere I can walk in and buy a sheet locally (Herts or Essex). I did a surf and can buy online but I do really like the original Mopar blue/green colour and am guessing the only way to be sure I replicate it is to take a sample in and look in person.

I assume theatre or disco lighting supplier or photography suppliers are the best bet???
Any leads for somewhere I can walk in a buy a single sheet of something that will fit the bill? Would need a good selection I guess.

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Sun Aug 19, 07 10:19 pm

Rifle through yer missus nail varnish collection and paint the bulbs. Worked for that pinkish instrument glow with my AP50 27 yrs ago!

latil · Post by **latil** » Sun Aug 19, 07 10:26 pm

One of these? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cuda-Cha ... dZViewItem
Someone,maybe Cannonball would have an original.

TrevD · Post by **TrevD** » Mon Aug 20, 07 12:19 pm

are they the round domed ones?? if so i think i have some in an old dash out of my van.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Aug 20, 07 1:09 pm

i got gels from local disco shop when i was modding the colour of a digital clock and an mp3 player display

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Aug 20, 07 2:06 pm

I work with a gaffer doing the lights for films and tv and the stuff we get comes from these guys:

http://www.stage-electrics.co.uk/eweb/index.htm

Go to sales, lighting, colour, Lee sheets. You can get what ever colour you want and the sheets are about £4

Hope this helps

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Mon Aug 20, 07 7:00 pm

Thanks so far.....in Challengers these are literally flat pieces of coloured gel with a hole in, so not rounded or anything, they can easily be made from any shape of flat gel (there are three lights, each about 4" x 1").

Since they are easy to reproduce (if I can get the material!) there shouldn't be a need to buy a whole new part, and even if I painted the bulbs I'd still have to find the right colour, so may as well just try and find the right gel (plus it diffuses the light as well).

I did find places on the web too, but how will I know I've got the right colour?? That's why I was looking for somewhere local ideally.
Sounds like a disco shop is on the right tracks, but I need to find one.

Anyone know of any in Herts/Essex area???

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Aug 20, 07 7:20 pm

I don't think that stage electrics web like Dukerich gave like Amber, you see what they call it. can't repeat on here starts with B and ends in tard Amber, light or medium, whatever.

AllKiller · Post by **AllKiller** » Tue Aug 21, 07 10:00 am

Gavin, its Theatre lighting gel...i can get you any colour and shades of that colour

Stage electrics work with them constantly. The Bstd amber etc is how various lighting designers will refer to it, nearly all the Gel has numbers

Gav "I can get it" and i think i know what colour you need, you can also double up and mix gel to get the desired result....even Panther Pink

if really going for it

I was gonna post on this...but i'll just add to this if you dont mind Gav ?

My Cuda dash was dimmer than a dim thing even with everything working ok, virtually unable to see the gauges at night,
and the dimmer, well that just makes it ER..."dimmer"

So i pulled the panel ( non rallye ) and repainted it, removed all the old filament type bulbs and replaced them with 4 x 4 LED wide angle super bright bulbs and 1x 6 SBWA Blue bulb
cleaned and polished the bulb covers, and also painted the recesses in luminous white paint.
this is the results.....bright isnt it

last pic is just a reflection shot to show how much they illuminate
Cuda / Challenger Owners will know how dim the stock panel is.

Solved

Bulb...

gonna do the whole cars light with the exception of the headlights obviously...to reduce the current draw and load on the alternator/system

Here's a few of the Red for the rear side marker running off a 9v battery

Bulbs supplied by UltraLEDS......these guys ship fast...always double check your bulb colour as i have twice accidentally ordered the wrong colour...might just be me

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/default.php? ... cf829cb197

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Tue Aug 21, 07 12:04 pm

Paydirt! Thanks Steve that is a great reply, not only for the lighting gel but also the LED info.

I agree the old illumination was suspect at best even when working. My dimmer broke years ago and I did a semi-fix which lasted until I took it off the road. Now I have a replacement switch installed.
Does the dimmer switch still work with the LEDs? I'd like to be able to dim it still.
Looks like you used a different style bulb (the 'direct plug in' type without the metal bayonet). Any reason for that, I assume you changed the bulbholders too?
IF I can get the 'stock' type that will fit the bulb holder AND go through the metal tube (you know what I mean) that would be a direct swap, dead easy.

Hmmmm - Panther Pink dash lights. Tempting I admit.....but I do like that Mopar green/blue y'know. Well it would be fairly simple to change at a later data if I get bored - especially if I screw the 'reflectors' back instead of rivetting them. Good plan!

Also you've answered my next question which was the reflective paint, do you know where I can get that from?

Cheers mate, I will take you up on the gels if that is OK. I can get you a sample of the original or if you already know it from yours then great. Let me know the best way for you, thanks!

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Tue Aug 21, 07 12:55 pm

Hi Gav - long time !

I doubt if you'll dim the LED's effectively with the dash rheostat , as they won't pull enough current to generate a decent voltage drop across it . Probably.

Cheers

Matt

RobTwin · Post by **RobTwin** » Tue Aug 21, 07 1:14 pm

Looks like you're sorted now Gav, but I was going to say I think there is or used to be a lighting/disco hire/shop in North Watford, along the same road as Bob Harman's shop (A-Z), bit further towards the A41 end.

But as Steve's helped you out, dont think I'll bother

AllKiller · Post by **AllKiller** » Tue Aug 21, 07 3:04 pm

Gav, right these are the BA9 Bayonet caps i used ...

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/uba96ww-leds ... cf829cb197

This is the plug in 501 wedge bulb for one of them...maybe more on yours
in blue, you could use white and gel it.

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/u5016bw-blue ... cf829cb197

As i have not put the panel in yet i have not tried the dimmer
But as Matt said, they draw little current so it may not work ??
they do a load resistor that may help with that if critcal.....not that bothered tho...wanna see them gauges :shock
I might need one of these when i swap the stop n tail indicator bulbs, they do "indicator cans" to replace originals to stop the fast flashing that can sometimes happen.
:

I will try and sort the gel out for you asap in the Turquoise green original
but these bulbs are very bright and it may need to be doubled up to stop wash out.
The Gel is also very high temp resistant.... "VERY"

Now relective paint... had some in the house from one of my sons models...so cant really help with that.
sorry, but to be honest i dont think its made that much difference with these Hi power lamps

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Tue Aug 21, 07 7:34 pm

Thanks all, great info. I'm on my way to getting sorted for the gel, thanks Steve (let me know how much ££ you need and I'll get it right over)

Sounds like a model shop is a good place for the reflective paint then

I'll see what the condition of the original stuff looks like and paint if necessary (the one bit I took apart so far wasn't that bad to be honest).

I'll try and do some digging on the LED dimming - now you and Matt mention it (Hi Matt, nice to hear from you mate!) that does make sense. If nothing else I can elect to use either once I have the thing rebuilt.

Cheers

AllKiller · Post by **AllKiller** » Tue Aug 21, 07 8:49 pm

Gel in the post Gav.......its free at work so better not charge...that would be bad