[DML] Re: Night-illuminated speedo face (and the rest of the cluster)

["DMC Joe" <dmcjoe@xxxx>]

You can purchase tinted bulbs from many of the auto accessory outlets to
convert the white light to color. Although blue, green and red are available
I suggest amber. This modification is inexpensive and keeps all of the dash
elements original.

DMC Joe / De Lorean Services / <dmcjoe@xxxx>
Web Site: <www.deloreanservices.com>
.

----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Price <davep@xxxx>
To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2000 6:30 PM
Subject: [DML] Night-illuminated speedo face (and the rest of the cluster)


On the topic of the speedo face, but this relates to the entire gague
cluster....I wanted a modern-looking gague cluster with illuminated needles,
numbers and marks, not the lame way it is now where there are just some
lamps lighting up the entire cluster area.

Obviously, without replacing the gagues could one achieve this, right?
wrong! ;) My idea was to use a UV (black) light, which, if anyone has
stood by a blacklight wearing white, it glows bright purple, and other
colors (orange, green, yellow) glow their respective colors.

Well, as it turns out, the white numbering (and the needles) are uneffected
by the blacklight (however, the orange numbering works great!) ... so I had
planned to create a vinyl sticker (like the 140MPH speedo face) that would
replace all of the gagues with blacklight-reactive painted numbers.... I'd
love to know if Marty's speedo face responds to blacklight, and, if so,
could the outfit that printed those faces be contacted to produce the other
gagues as well? I've found a source for mini-blacklight florescent sticks
that would fit perfectly in the space between the binacle and the gagues...
Anyone else want to see those numbers glowing brightly without the
distraction of a white light illuminating the whole cluster at night?

Another cool cosmetic add-on would be a bezel around the gagues to give them
that "finished" look, round gagues rather than that tacky square look...
maybe in stainless steel?

Suggestions, opinions? Anyone want to take on the project? I'd buy it, I
just can't afford the R&D ;)

- Dave