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Mazda Projects \  Custom tails

Custom tails

Mazda Projects
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dvsdev   +1y
I hear ya, initially I had double that number of LED's planned but because of the reflector in the way I kept reducing it down until I got the shape I have now, I was going to do a Maltese cross but since everyone overdoes that I opted for the lesser known German tank corps cross.
It doesn't seem very bright in the pictures but they're pretty painful to be behind at night, I had to have a little look this morning before work and I was standing about 35ft away before It didn't feel like they were burning into my retina's
paparoach1983   +1y
Then you could do a less tinted smoked look on the lens. and that would look good and still keep the cross crisp .
tunameltman   +1y
[quote="DvsDev"]Well I got mine done, they're not as sexy looking as your round ones are going to be but I like them.
I went for a pattern instead of a grid layout, this worked against me in the end as I couldn't fit as many of them into the allotted area as I would've liked, but there's no reason why I can't make another set in the future.
They're mounted to a metal panel that's painted silver so behind the lens they are almost completely invisible when they're not on... it also hides my horrible cutting and bending of the metal to follow the shape of the housing.
Anyway, here's some pics to encourage you with your build I hope.

Defiantly encouraged me. Gave me some really cool ideas to build me some tails
crazymikey   +1y
Those are freakin sweet! Nice work
dvsdev   +1y
They look pretty rough in the pictures but with the lens on they look pretty factory, apart from there's no color showing behind the lens now.
I didn't want anything too elaborate for the design just in case it looked too much, but I do think I could've done a lot better with smaller bulbs, (more definition to the lines and you can fit a lot more of them in the same space).
Currently I'm trying to find a set of clear front bumper indicators to make some spot lights using the same kind of technology.
killerb   +1y
Sorry its been a while, been busy with ither things. Definately dig the lights there Dvs. I had taken some pics with my cell, and recently with my new kodak. Here's the goodness
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^park lights factory on left new led on right^
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^brake lights factory on left new led on right(with taillight converter)^
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^and the back up lights factory on left an halogen on right^
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^both tails on park^
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^left tail with cell phone^
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^same with my new camera from about 3' away at 2am^
I will take better ones with my camera.
1hotdawg   +1y
Good thread! Gives ya ton of ideas lol. I would think even behind painted tails the LED's would show well.
mazdawg(mikey)   +1y
hey dvsdev you could always remove the reflector and replace it. that way itll give you some more work space.
crazymikey   +1y
This is easily the best tail light mod I've seen on a Mazda. It looks badass and it's functional.
dvsdev   +1y
I was tempted to remove the reflector for more room but once I got it out I realized the housing is crystal clear in front of it so it looked even worse, at night time you don't even notice that it's in front of some of the bulbs, so it's only a day thing when it really matters.

Those lights you made look pretty awesome "KILLERB" they came out real nice and make the factory ones look pretty rubbish eh, did you leave the reflector in also?
It's a bit of a shame that they have the reflector there eh?, I had to grind my peaks off so it doesn't actually "reflect" on my truck now, it's just a clear(ish) filter.
Maybe one day I might get a set of those euro tails and hack them up too, mounting circular panel LED's behind them would look pretty cool I reckon.