Excellent:respekt: That is a very clean install, very nice work

You can count me in on one to :-) You could also see if someone with a 3D printer could scan and then just mass produce the wood part in black that would only leave the mount and LED part up to you or who ever. Just brainstorming.

Count me in too, just ordered the led strip to do this. Great idea, looks so much better than stock.

Looks nice :w00t:

Looks really nice, great job on the mod.

I would be in.

Here's an update regarding the brightness of the LED strip I used. I procured some tint samples and took day and night shots through each of 5%, 20%, and 35%. I had to lay the tint on the outside of the window, so it's bubbly and the light will likely be (slightly) more visible through properly applied tint simply because of refraction and all that.


35%

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...k/IMG_0884.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...k/IMG_0887.jpg


20%

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...k/IMG_0886.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...k/IMG_0888.jpg
I'm not sure what happened to the color on this one, but it's definitely red in real life, without this yellowish tint.


5%

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...k/IMG_0885.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...k/IMG_0890.jpg


Obviously, 5% is very hard to see through during the day. I would say they're all passable at night, so unless you prefer it brighter, this light should work with most tint. I'll add, though, that the light is slightly brighter looking in person than in these pictures. I tried to capture it as best I could, but on a white car, getting the exposure of the lights right is tricky.


Regarding availability of these kits, I'm still working on the logistics of making them (the money part), and it will likely be a few weeks before I'm comfortable selling them. This will also give me time to refine the design and test a few more ideas, so hang tight if you are interested in buying one.

Definitely digging the 35% tint with it and that's as dark as I was planning. Nice to see that it is still showing well enough in daytime testing.

If you can make one that spans the whole rear window with locations for turn signal LEDs and maybe an option for Alcantara wrap...I would pay you a reasonable fee.

Might I recommend side emitting LED's such as this since it would allow for an even lower profile (or you could double them up)...and they might be brighter.

Keeping an eye out either way.

Thanks for the suggestions. Since I don't intend to start a business, I won't be offering any options with this. I'll only make it like mine because I just don't have the time or skills to take it any further. That's why I made this DIY. The interest I got was just a bonus, and I'm looking into making a few more ;-)

I did look into the side emitting LEDs, and, while attractive for their brightness, I didn't want it to simply be a light coming from the headliner. I chose the aluminum cased diffused strip because it has a clearly sized light window. If I were to go with the brighter LEDs, I'd have to make my own diffuser and this would add time and cost, which I just can't do.

The side emitting ones are pretty nice, and I can understand why you wanted a diffuser to make it more of a light bar. I think I will go with the LED strip since the brake lights do not have a diffuser.

I have enough side projects going right now that I was hoping someone would just do this one for me lol. But I suppose I will add it to my list of mods.

damm it looks great! very Creative to make look like OEM. mad props for you! well done

I'll take one as is, just because I don't have the time to do this myself.

Subbed. In for one as well if this goes thru

Phenomenal craftsmanship, really impressed. :thumbup:

I did this the other day, I used some plastic material that I had handy at work. Turned out very well, this is a great mod. Looks so much better than stock imo.

pics or it never happened...:cheers:

[IMG][img=http://s4.postimg.org/i5ydkuxod/20140409_213417.jpg]
upload image online[/IMG]
I will get daytime close up of the housing tomorrow. Also, my first time posting a pic to the forum. I don't know if the image host is the best, but it was quick and easy.

http://s10.postimg.org/jrprybhdx/20140410_101533.jpg
[IMG]http://s11.postimg.org/yxy9cughb/20140410_190458.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://s23.postimg.org/co9b9afqf/20140410_190511.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://s30.postimg.org/n8e3dmi19/20140410_190808.jpg[/IMG]

Looks pretty slick brother!! Now all you gotta do is get rid of the OE 3rd brake light housing. Wouldn't feel like mailing it to me would you? :thumbup::thumbup:

I've got an idea and I currently don't have a replacement for my own. In a tinkering mood.

I reckon I could part with it. I have to get around to removing it tho. Pm me an address maybe it'll be motivation to finish the job.

What plastic are you working with? Might last a bit longer than wood?

It's called gravoply, it's technically made for engraved signs. I have no idea how much it costs or where to get it, we have had a sheet of it laying around work forever. I just know it seemed to me like a good material for the job. Paired with some hardmans epoxy, flat black paint, and Velcro for the edges that touch the window it turned out well.

You could use a thin piece of plexi, I started to make one out of that and it was working fine until I made it too short and didn't have enough material to redo it. Cutting and drilling Plexiglas is more difficult to do without chipping and cracking though

I tried plexiglass first. Man was that a bitch. Great job on yours, it turned out awesome!

@Anthony
A probable way of adding reverse back if you cared enough I guess.

This is what scion should have done in the first place. It looks great

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

I did something similar will a piece of angle aluminum bar stock and red led from an auto parts store. This Is waaaaayyyyy more oem like.

I'd be interested in buying one as well :)

any idea how the visibility of the light would have been without the whole wooden frame? can one just buy the same led light and attache it straight to the headliner?

holyshit that looks awesome!

That looks awesome!! definitely going on my list of small project!

You have any other projects you could tease us with :)

In...great work @fatherfork

Thanks for the DIY Fatherfork! I got the same led and extension you did, and used your DIY as inspiration for mine.....used house side molding for the housing/bracket

3rd brake light relocate to headliner (my version)

this is great,.....good job

Use Sintra for a volume product, or an injection molded part. I'd buy one out of sintra.

Ive been selling them now for about 6 months $160 shipped mounts with 3m its plastic and basically plug and play

job well done!

Got any pics of your setup?

Definitely interested in product with plastidip coating takes care of the wood look, and the cut felt for the shelf is included.. Great work OP!

i found this http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/...blog/31369710/

official site for the kit at http://www.zeleperformance.com/jp/pa.../item_444.html

but i like yours, any updates?