LEDs for Kraton body

[L0stB1t]

I really want to add LEDs to my Kraton, preferably in the "natural" location and well protected against hard bashing.

For the front lights, this means they would need to be pretty high up on the body, on a difficult angled part and with little space on the inside of the body (the shocks are right behind it). No idea how to do that nicely. For the rear, they would have to be mounted on the shock tower instead of the body. I guess it's possible to mount them on a flat piece of plastic and bolt it on with the two screws that hold the body posts?

Has anyone mounted lights like that? I'm looking for inspiration and detailed pictures ☺

 

[Sledgehog]

You could literally just cut holes and shoe goo them inside the body on the front. looks like there's enough contact with the inside top. Also keep in mind if you don't mind waiting for them, you can get lights SUPER cheap on ebay from china You could buy a few sets to experiment with.
For example:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-white-2-red-LED-headlight-rear-light-kit-for-RC-car-truck-L4X7-HG/283343115843

I just got purple/green ones to make a ground effect on my talion when I race. Everyone knows bling takes at least a couple tenths of a second off your lap times.

 

[Raji]

Check this post
https://www.arrmaforum.com/threads/light-kit-recommendations.5876/

 

[LibertyMKiii]

Someone with a 3d printer needs to make light buckets that fit the oem headlight shape on the body. Line them with chrome vinyl and would need clear lenses.

Light setups like that look amazing!

 

[Sledgehog]

Actually, my buddy just got a new 3d printer.. hmmm...

 

[L0stB1t]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

Just so you know (I should have mentioned it all earlier) I already have these LEDs to work with:

• https://www.aliexpress.com/item/RC-...-Red-Color-LED-Light-Set-for/32693209175.html
• https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10-...-2-3-6V-Input-100-220LM-Mini/32881415165.html

For those high-power leds I also have the required heatsinks (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1W-...-Substrate-20mm-Star-Kit-DIY/32821807770.html), 15° focus lenses (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/13m...60-90-100-Degree-for-IR-CCTV/32904234215.html) and a power converter to go from 6 V to 3.6 V without wasting heat in big resistors (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Min...erter-Step-Down-Power-Supply/32949697563.html). I've already used this combination successfully in another custom body for my DHK Zombie, I'll post pictures later.

I have the impression not a lot of people have added lights to the Kraton where I want them. 3D printing would be awesome but I have no experience with that, I'm afraid it takes a lot of time drawing the difficult shape and printing and testing it. Doesn't seem like it has been done before: https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=kraton

By the way I believe that adding lights not only makes the car much cooler (even more so at dusk/night), it also helps with orienting which way the car is driving (or flying ) and this actually could make a difference during a race. Just need to make sure the LEDs don't suck away all the power needed for the steering servo.

 

[LibertyMKiii]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

Just so you know (I should have mentioned it all earlier) I already have these LEDs to work with:

• https://www.aliexpress.com/item/RC-...-Red-Color-LED-Light-Set-for/32693209175.html
• https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10-...-2-3-6V-Input-100-220LM-Mini/32881415165.html

For those high-power leds I also have the required heatsinks (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1W-...-Substrate-20mm-Star-Kit-DIY/32821807770.html), 15° focus lenses (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/13m...60-90-100-Degree-for-IR-CCTV/32904234215.html) and a power converter to go from 6 V to 3.6 V without wasting heat in big resistors (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Min...erter-Step-Down-Power-Supply/32949697563.html). I've already used this combination successfully in another custom body for my DHK Zombie, I'll post pictures later.

I have the impression not a lot of people have added lights to the Kraton where I want them. 3D printing would be awesome but I have no experience with that, I'm afraid it takes a lot of time drawing the difficult shape and printing and testing it. Doesn't seem like it has been done before: https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=kraton

By the way I believe that adding lights not only makes the car much cooler (even more so at dusk/night), it also helps with orienting which way the car is driving (or flying ) and this actually could make a difference during a race. Just need to make sure the LEDs don't suck away all the power needed for the steering servo.

My son's monster truck is a grave digger body with red and purple LEDs on it. We decided to run the lights off a small 1000 mAh LiPo that is Velcro attached so it can be removed easily. This might be a better option versus taking power from the main system.

-Liberty

 

[ARRMAed & Dangerous]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

Just so you know (I should have mentioned it all earlier) I already have these LEDs to work with:

• https://www.aliexpress.com/item/RC-...-Red-Color-LED-Light-Set-for/32693209175.html
• https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10-...-2-3-6V-Input-100-220LM-Mini/32881415165.html

For those high-power leds I also have the required heatsinks (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1W-...-Substrate-20mm-Star-Kit-DIY/32821807770.html), 15° focus lenses (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/13m...60-90-100-Degree-for-IR-CCTV/32904234215.html) and a power converter to go from 6 V to 3.6 V without wasting heat in big resistors (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Min...erter-Step-Down-Power-Supply/32949697563.html). I've already used this combination successfully in another custom body for my DHK Zombie, I'll post pictures later.

I have the impression not a lot of people have added lights to the Kraton where I want them. 3D printing would be awesome but I have no experience with that, I'm afraid it takes a lot of time drawing the difficult shape and printing and testing it. Doesn't seem like it has been done before: https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=kraton

By the way I believe that adding lights not only makes the car much cooler (even more so at dusk/night), it also helps with orienting which way the car is driving (or flying ) and this actually could make a difference during a race. Just need to make sure the LEDs don't suck away all the power needed for the steering servo.

Funny, I just made a comment about this in another thread about fans...glad you dedicated a post to it.

 

[L0stB1t]

My son's monster truck is a grave digger body with red and purple LEDs on it. We decided to run the lights off a small 1000 mAh LiPo that is Velcro attached so it can be removed easily. This might be a better option versus taking power from the main system.

-Liberty

Those grave digger lights must look awesome Any pictures?

I've considered using AA(A) batteries before, but that would add some weight and a clumsy battery holder. Using a small LiPo is probably a better idea because it's lighter, but you need to monitor its voltage from time to time, right?

I may have some gadget lying around which contains a usable battery, will see if it's easier than running a wire with a servo connector like I've done before.

 

[LibertyMKiii]

Those grave digger lights must look awesome Any pictures?

I've considered using AA(A) batteries before, but that would add some weight and a clumsy battery holder. Using a small LiPo is probably a better idea because it's lighter, but you need to monitor its voltage from time to time, right?

I may have some gadget lying around which contains a usable battery, will see if it's easier than running a wire with a servo connector like I've done before.

The only picture I have of it is during the day time and you cannot even see the lights. The camera does not seem to pick it up but to the human eye they are visibly on.

-Liberty

 

[L0stB1t]

Here are some pictures of the lights on the new body for my DHK Zombie I'm working on:

Yes, this body also came straight from China; https://www.aliexpress.com/item/201...Racing-car-94111-width-190mm/32863385560.html Although it looks nice, the plastic is thin and I'm not sure if it's actually Lexan...

I've removed the paint from the body at the lights very carefully using acetone on a q-tip, after putting simple transparent tape around the edges of the light. Then with some plastic packaging material I created two light buckets and reamed a hole just large enough to hold the lenses of the 1W leds in place without glue. I spray painted the inside of the body black to keep the bright light from bleeding trough the thin paint, and then put the light buckets in place with Shoe Goo. Wired it all up with the tiny voltage regulator set to about 3.6 V and there you go, really bright realistic lights

I can't do the same for the Kraton because there's not enough room behind the lights. Perhaps there's enough room to put one or two normal leds at the top but I'm not sure the paint would come off that easily either, maybe I should try it out first behind one of the stickers...

 

[L0stB1t]

I finally found some time to put the lights in my Kraton. I decided to use the same method as before, and to put the leds as high up as possible so the shocks won't hit them.

First I removed the ugly stickers (on the V4 they look much better, right?), then taped off the inside to a simple but cool shape and removed paint easily with acetone on a q-tip. I fixed little mistakes with black paint and also darkened the surroundings to minimize light bleed.

To try it out I put a led with a metal socket in a piece of packing foam, and taped that into place with black duct tape.

LED THERE BE LIGHT!

It's not as bright as I want it yet so I'm going to try to fit the 1W leds andother time. If I dremel off the sides of the lenses they should fit ?

For the rear I might try something like this: https://www.arrmaforum.com/media/img_0138.1198/

 

[uncels]

I have my T-Bone xv4 bumper comming in today for my BRCC & planning to place the leds from Alie in there, that way the body stays intact. For the back i'm not sure yet.

 

[Raji]

I have my T-Bone xv4 bumper comming in today for my BRCC & planning to place the leds from Alie in there, that way the body stays intact. For the back i'm not sure yet.

This how I did it

 

[Lazy Bushman]

Looks nice and tough

 

[uncels]

This how I did it

Yep that's my plan as well sturdy mounted in the bumper & no need to drill holes in the lexan, how did you mount the leds on the rear?

 

[Raji]

Yep that's my plan as well sturdy mounted in the bumper & no need to drill holes in the lexan, how did you mount the leds on the rear?

I will post more pics soon

 

[Raji]

Yep that's my plan as well sturdy mounted in the bumper & no need to drill holes in the lexan, how did you mount the leds on the rear?

 

[uncels]

Looking good, couldn't finish my project, seems that my bumper wasn't complete.