DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

My 1972 front lens have the classic problem of the chrome edges faded/not present. I’ve tried silver paint, but it looks rubbish. Anyone found a better way?

I've tried Humbrol and Tamiya chrome paint, and nothing works to give the same effect.
New lenses are the real answer I think.
I've just restored the indicator orange with glass paint and it has worked a treat for £5 so you can get things back and keep the original lenses for longer.

I like mine faded....


Regards
Mike

gturner008 wrote:My 1972 front lens have the classic problem of the chrome edges faded/not present. I’ve tried silver paint, but it looks rubbish. Anyone found a better way?

I think there is a solution. Cast vinyl that is used for wrapping cars, it's quite technical but the special cast vinyl that is used in car wrapping when applied to a surface then heated (hair dryer)then will conform to concave and convex surfaces then when cools remembers and retains its new shape. All these wrap vinyls also come with an overlaminates (gloss matt etc.) to protect the surface. So we know that car bodywork wrapped then laminated will last well for years so I see no reason why small parts like indicator housings and even internal reflectors could not be covered in this fashion. So ive ordered this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mirror-Chrom ... qDEmc7ReUA from ebay just now less than £7 for 500mm x 750mm as have reflectors to do - will report back in a week once I've tried this. Fingers crossed.......

redrobin911 wrote:

gturner008 wrote:My 1972 front lens have the classic problem of the chrome edges faded/not present. I’ve tried silver paint, but it looks rubbish. Anyone found a better way?

I think there is a solution. Cast vinyl that is used for wrapping cars, it's quite technical but the special cast vinyl that is used in car wrapping when applied to a surface then heated (hair dryer)then will conform to concave and convex surfaces then when cools remembers and retains its new shape. All these wrap vinyls also come with an overlaminates (gloss matt etc.) to protect the surface. So we know that car bodywork wrapped then laminated will last well for years so I see no reason why small parts like indicator housings and even internal reflectors could not be covered in this fashion. So ive ordered this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mirror-Chrom ... qDEmc7ReUA from ebay just now less than £7 for 500mm x 750mm as have reflectors to do - will report back in a week once I've tried this. Fingers crossed.......

Interesting idea

Not a bad idea. But isn’t the shiny bit on the outside? Glue bit on inside. How do you fix it to the inside surface of the clear part of the plastic mouldingG

gturner008 wrote:Not a bad idea. But isn’t the shiny bit on the outside? Glue bit on inside. How do you fix it to the inside surface of the clear part of the plastic mouldingG

Fit to the outside. I'm going to try to fit to reflectors, housings (SWB) and also to a lens - hoping all will give a "result" but again nothing is going to replace new or NOS, but getting things looking presentable for driver cars for "little" money has to be worth a bash....

Update. The chrome foil idea worked a treat. I rubbed off the metallic chrome on the inside face of the lens. Polished it up with a polishing mop.

I then cut strips of the foil and stuck it on this inside face. When you then look through from the outside, you see the foil. Yes, it not quite as shiny as the chrome face, as it has a think film of adhesive. But it’s 80% ok. It actually looks like the original, with a bit too of fade.

Overall. Very happy. £10 for the film. An hour of labour per side.

Pictures?


Regards
Mike

my vinyl/foil arrived today and left it at my backside in work...... I'll have a bash over the next few days..... Just to add I'll be trying different parts, reflectors, housins and lens. We also have an optically clear adhesive tape (OCA's) so could use these to reverse mount to the rear of the lens?

The OCA might be good if you want to stick the high chrome film face to the inside of the lens. I found the sticky side of the film to be pretty good. As I said, the gloss level is not as good, but it actually looks like fade and quite acceptable

Pictures?


Regards
Mike