mk1 blue dial lights

is it possible to change all the lights to blue in/on the dash in a mk1?

any help/tips would be great.

cheers

 

Take out the dials, remove the green filter, paint the bulbs

 

Gonna do this on my Mk2 but wondered about the paint. Called Hobbycraft who do glass paint but thought bulbs get a tad hot - anyone done it successfully? - what did you use?
thanks

 

Take the green filter out and replace it with a blue one.
Use lighting gell as it's designed for ..well..lighing applications.

 

Logical for the dials but not so for the light on the heater controls, this is a painted bulb... Wanted to do the switches too but haven't had a look at them yet.

 

Nah m8 ---- The lighting gel is crap -- already tried this and the bulbs dont shine through well even though it was a light gel.

Paint on bulbs wears of normally so that a bit of a no no.

There are other options, you just nee d to use your imagination

 

Use LED's, I've used them in my MK3 and just soldered them to the power tracks on the instrument panel.

 

mysterious. Have you found a successful solution you wish to share?

 

Yes I have
And its the same for the switches on the dash --- they do come apart but go careful as you can break the plastic lugs that hold the whole thing together. Also there aint much room inside the casing

 

You have to remember that tungsten bulbs don't put out much blue light. So whether you use gel or paint, the brightness will be severly reduced.

So you are going to need higher wattages bulbs.

Lighting gel comes in over 1000 colours, many of them blue. Some let more light through than others, the Lee swatch book has the transmisivities.

Simon.

 

Would have thpought it a bit dodgy putting higher wattage bulbs in? Esp with all the lighting and circitry in the back

 

come on Madbloke, share your superior knowledge with us, how can it be done?

 

Use high intensity blue led's with a resistor to stop them melting,job's a good un..

Oplaii

 

Doh ok then ----- LEDS with appropriate resistor to get correct voltage --- most are around 3.8 - 5 volt.

If you use decent ones though it aint cheap!
I had some old dash bulbs so ripped the bulb out, fed led into the housing so they still fit in the same twist and lock style -----

Ive done dash, alarm Led the lot!

 

you are a gent...
thanks both

 

let me get this straight caz i aint looked behinde any of my pannels! the heater controls and all the lighting round that area are just green bulbs! that you can change for blue led's. and the speedo etc etc well where are the bulbs for that? also any one got any pictures of there dash with blue lights? would be a help.

 

managed to change lights now! to ice white the heater controls and the speedo.using prisim led side lights! looks the business. i will get some pics soon if any one wants a look! cheers