Finally got around to smoking the tailights on my I30 today

[Kompresshun]

I am pleased for the amount of time I had to work with it. I still would like to hit them with some more clear coat later but for now this will do. I've really gotten tired of seeing 2 other I30s that look just like mine rolling around town so I wanted to do something to hold me over until I can buy some rims and other things for it.

Before:

After:

[jltibbs]

Welcome to NICO!

Looks great. Did you use the VHT Night Shades, or some other paint? I would highly recommend doing a clear coat for the simple reasons of chipping and the flat finish instead of shiny.

Also, since you're not too far from TN, you should look into coming down to NICOFEST 09 in Nashville. The link is in my sig! There should be a caravan or two coming from your area.

[Kompresshun]

Thanks!

I actually used transparent black paint that I found at Hobby Lobby then sprayed a couple of coats of clear over it. I was looking at the VHT Night Shades but I saw the transparent black and had some time that day so I figured i'd give it a shot. I plan on putting some more clear on them soon as well, i'd rather not have them chip.

[jltibbs]

That's pretty much the same stuff, so you should be perfectly fine. Any thoughts on blacking out your sides as well?

[Kompresshun]

Yeah i'm thinking about doing that next. I was gonna get clears but I like the tinted look better. I'm planning on blacking out the headlights soon too.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Looks really good! I like the look with the signals left clear.

I just got a fix-it ticket for my tinted tails. Now I have to either find a way to remove the nasty residue the film leaves behind or buy a set of untinted tails.

[Kompresshun]

Thanks! It was more of a pain to tape them up nice and clean than taking them out of the car. It was worth it in the end though!

I hope they don't get me for that... You can still see my tail lights very clearly though so maybe they won't.

[cam0610]

not badd looks good

[infiniti_i30]

How hard is it to do this? i really dont want to mess anything up.

[Kompresshun]

It's not too hard. Just make sure you tape everything off good that you don't want paint on. Take your time while taping too so you get nice clean lines and when you're done let it dry really good before pulling it off.

I used green automotive masking tape, an exacto knife, and some 800 grit sand paper to lightly rough up the area I wanted to paint. I taped off the turn signal lens, laying a rough design down with the tape and cleaning it up with the exacto knife as I went so it followed the shape of the clear lens nicely. Then I put 4 coats of the transparent black down and 3 coats of clear(I would recommend 5-6 coats atleast though, I ran out before finishing).

Mainly be patient and take your time, it'll turn out great
Modified by A33 at 4:15 PM 6/17/2009

[Kompresshun]

Well tonight I had a mishap with the tail lights and after all I would not recommend the transparent black I picked up at Hobby Lobby. Apparently when you go back to apply extra coats of clear it reacts to it and cracks the coats below. Basically ruined all the work I had done, I suppose though if you get enough coats on it in the first place it would probably be fine but for me personally I wouldn't try it with that product a second time

Thankfully I was able to strip everything off and get them back to stock without any noticeable damage. I will be doing this same project again soon but will be using the VHT night shades instead this time so I will include a write up when I do that.

[Nrw]

I would have done it the other way if it was me, smoking the clear LIGHTLY and leaving the red.

[Kompresshun]

Yeah i'm not a fan of the red, the car looks like too much of an old persons car as is to me but different people like different things

[jltibbs]

Well tonight I had a mishap with the tail lights . . .

Thankfully I was able to strip everything off and get them back to stock without any noticeable damage. I will be doing this same project again soon but will be using the VHT night shades instead this time so I will include a write up when I do that.

Lamin-x FTW.

[Kompresshun]

Wow, I got kinda scared when I looked at the bulk rolls first . Not a bad alternative though when I found the universal covers, I may go that route this time instead. Not much more money and then I don't have to worry about chipping...

On a side note, your Q45 is one sweet ride. Those Murano rims really set it off.

[jltibbs]

Thank you sir. You going to come out to NICOFEST in Nashville? There are quite a few guys from KY coming out.

[Kompresshun]

No, unfortunately I can't. I just started a new job and they haven't told me what my schedule is going to be yet. Hopefully I can make it next time though