Check this stuff out.
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=3909&prmenbr=361
http://www.ravenwingperformance.net/Lighting_Electrical/VHT_Nite_Shades.html
A member on another forum, truck, tried it on his 03 Chevy tails and they look great! Check em out:
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/1/web/505000-505999/505536_10_full.jpg
All it is is tinted black paint like RC tint paint you buy at hobby shops. The same thing you would use to smoke taillights. I'm going to get some TYC's for my Box and try it on my stock ones.

go for it...

3-6 months later, tell me how it look like.

3-6 months later, tell me how it look like.The pic up there is about a year old.

i also used nightshades and testors candy apple red on my car... 7 months later and even during some nasty weather.. they still look just as good as the day i did em :)

Yeah plus if wanted to you could spray some coats of clear on there also.

i used night shades on both of my last cars and it came out great. use some very smooth sandpaper and wet sand the stock lights, this will help it stick better. spray evenly and lightly till you get the desired darkness, then once dry add clear coat for protection and somewhat of a glossy look. night shades will look dull without it. it lasted throught the toughest new england winters and i had no problem.

i used night shades on both of my last cars and it came out great. use some very smooth sandpaper and wet sand the stock lights, this will help it stick better. spray evenly and lightly till you get the desired darkness, then once dry add clear coat for protection and somewhat of a glossy look. night shades will look dull without it. it lasted throught the toughest new england winters and i had no problem.
What grit sandpaper did you use on the tails? I was thinking somewhere in the range of 1500 or so. You think i need to go higher or lower?

I candy apple painted my civic tails back in the day and they eventually faded and looked like $h*t (2-3 years) So ever since then I've been afraid to use any tail paint.

The overlays just seen like a better option. IMO

If you already have two sets of lights though, go for it.

-THE DON

i used night shades on both of my last cars and it came out great. use some very smooth sandpaper and wet sand the stock lights, this will help it stick better. spray evenly and lightly till you get the desired darkness, then once dry add clear coat for protection and somewhat of a glossy look. night shades will look dull without it. it lasted throught the toughest new england winters and i had no problem.
What grit sandpaper did you use on the tails? I was thinking somewhere in the range of 1500 or so. You think i need to go higher or lower?

1500 is what i used. i actually bought a pack at the home depot that had 3 different grits and just tried them all. it should feel almost smooth too the touch with just a lil almost unoticable grit. but definitely dont want to go lower. use tons of water to make sure its really wet so the lens doesnt scratch. it will looks sweet, just take your time with the painting. do it on a day where you may not drive your car.

I candy apple painted my civic tails back in the day and they eventually faded and looked like $h*t (2-3 years) So ever since then I've been afraid to use any tail paint.

The overlays just seen like a better option. IMO

If you already have two sets of lights though, go for it.

-THE DON

ive never had any problem with fading. did you sand the stock tails to remove/smooth out the clear coat off of them? that makes a huge difference on how the paint applies.

I candy apple painted my civic tails back in the day and they eventually faded and looked like $h*t (2-3 years) So ever since then I've been afraid to use any tail paint.

The overlays just seen like a better option. IMO

If you already have two sets of lights though, go for it.

-THE DON

ive never had any problem with fading. did you sand the stock tails to remove/smooth out the clear coat off of them? that makes a huge difference on how the paint applies.

Can't say that I did... Didn't think about that...

Also I was 16 and did't take my time and do it right :loser: lol
But I would still opt fot the overlays now, just because you can peel it off if
you change your mind.

-THE DON

I've been using nightshades for years all the car's Ive done look nice. just wax em regularly and they look sick. I've never sanded either and mine looks damned near perfect

I persoanlly have seen painted tails fade over time. If done right, I guess it'll last for a good while.

Bat™

Go with the overlays, from BAT you cant go wrong with the fit or look

Hey I was wondering if anyone ever got hassled by the cops for having tinted tail lights... I want to do the night shades on the rear, but in AZ the damn cops dont like it when you "modify" your lights. Any input?

Hey I was wondering if anyone ever got hassled by the cops for having tinted tail lights... I want to do the night shades on the rear, but in AZ the damn cops dont like it when you "modify" your lights. Any input?
I have the JINSU overlays on mine and have never had any problems, but different states have different laws regarding things like that.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/689000-689999/689750_191_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/689000-689999/689750_58_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/689000-689999/689750_59_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/689000-689999/689750_71_full.jpg

I've also done smoke on my bimmer and supra click the links in my sig for more pics.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/689000-689999/689750_191_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/689000-689999/689750_58_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/689000-689999/689750_59_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/689000-689999/689750_71_full.jpg

I've also done smoke on my bimmer and supra click the links in my sig for more pics.
Those look good! I have overlays now but I'm liking the "real" smoked tails! You don't have to worry about the overlay's wrinkles or bubbles plus they look more real cause they are. Custom doesn't come in a box!

Surprisingly the light output is very good also at first I was like "sh*t , I fu**ed up" but once I got em on , oh man I love em. Chek my other cars in my links same method used on those.

Here's another how-to, cept he used the hobby store tint paint.
http://forums.audiworld.com/tt/msgs/820106.phtml

Here's what i did today, using testor's candy red and clear coat...

http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/data/500/11293bb_rear-med.JPG

Here's what i did today, using testor's candy red and clear coat...

http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/data/500/11293bb_rear-med.JPG
Looks real good on that "Polar White" squareone!! What grit sandpaper did you use and how many coats of candy red did you spray? I was thinking of canding my stock ones and then smoking them too. I've also got some TYC's I would like to smoke. I think that would look great! IMO

BTW, I know Testors makes candy paint in different colors. I've seen blue before in a hobby shop. Not sure what other colors they make though. hotbox05: A candy blue then smoked would look hot on your ride! IMO

I have also seen another way to smoke/candy. I've seen a bodyshop mix a car paint with a clear coat and paint them so they would shine through. Kind of like a custom candy/tint paint. But I don't know what mix they used. How much clear vs. paint.

Go with the overlays, from BAT you cant go wrong with the fit or look

:clap:

Bat™

Go with the overlays, from BAT you cant go wrong with the fit or look
Cept from close up and then you really see it's a just a real thick sticker. :rofl:

yeah painted tails just look better up close, my next set im going to get them clear coated professionally.....

Here's what i did today, using testor's candy red and clear coat...

http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/data/500/11293bb_rear-med.JPG
Looks real good on that "Polar White" squareone!! What grit sandpaper did you use and how many coats of candy red did you spray? I was thinking of canding my stock ones and then smoking them too. I've also got some TYC's I would like to smoke. I think that would look great! IMO

BTW, I know Testors makes candy paint in different colors. I've seen blue before in a hobby shop. Not sure what other colors they make though. hotbox05: A candy blue then smoked would look hot on your ride! IMO

I have also seen another way to smoke/candy. I've seen a bodyshop mix a car paint with a clear coat and paint them so they would shine through. Kind of like a custom candy/tint paint. But I don't know what mix they used. How much clear vs. paint.
Thanks for the compliment! I actually didnt sand them at all, I might do that next weekend and add some more coats, they look good without the sanding !! As for how many coats, I did 3 coats of red, and 3 coats of clear. I too noticed the other testors colors, but none of them were "transparent", so I dont think they will come out that good. I could be wrong...

Here's what i did today, using testor's candy red and clear coat...

http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/data/500/11293bb_rear-med.JPG
Looks real good on that "Polar White" squareone!! What grit sandpaper did you use and how many coats of candy red did you spray? I was thinking of canding my stock ones and then smoking them too. I've also got some TYC's I would like to smoke. I think that would look great! IMO

BTW, I know Testors makes candy paint in different colors. I've seen blue before in a hobby shop. Not sure what other colors they make though. hotbox05: A candy blue then smoked would look hot on your ride! IMO

I have also seen another way to smoke/candy. I've seen a bodyshop mix a car paint with a clear coat and paint them so they would shine through. Kind of like a custom candy/tint paint. But I don't know what mix they used. How much clear vs. paint.
Thanks for the compliment! I actually didnt sand them at all, I might do that next weekend and add some more coats, they look good without the sanding !! As for how many coats, I did 3 coats of red, and 3 coats of clear. I too noticed the other testors colors, but none of them were "transparent", so I dont think they will come out that good. I could be wrong...
You can also wet sand after you are done with the clear coat. I'd go with some 1500 grit or higher though. They'll look way better IMO.

those candied red ones look good. just always remember to clear coat. also, i have noticed that with mine, (i smoked them with hobby shop paint also) seemed to fade over time at the center of the light bulb, im gonna redo them with more clear this time and see what happens

for all those worried about damaging your tail lights, one word for you... EBAY.

I've seen sets selling on there for around $50 or so. I don't really like any of the aftermarket ones, so until I can get the custom ones done, I'm going to pick up a set from ebay and trash/paint those. cops around here have a hard on for anything like that (hassled me 3 times for no front plate on my cavalier), so I don't wanna push it with painted tail lights since I won't have a front plate on the box either.

just go to NISH designs ....custom painted and look stock from the factory..... can't beat that!!

i smoked mine as well
but i taped off the reflector section
cops are real hard a$$es in Texas

Go with the overlays, from BAT you cant go wrong with the fit or look
Cept from close up and then you really see it's a just a real thick sticker. :rofl:

That would all depend on the install ;).

Bat™