Many have wondered how to put tip lights on the
MKIII's curved wingtips. Here is my solution. It is an extension
of the leading edge that fairs into the tip curve. It is probably
the least self-evident of all the various mods on these pages,
but here goes:
The wing leading edge is 1.5" O.D. tubing.
Make a 14" length of 1.75" O.D. thinwall tubing and
carve out most of the backside of it so that it will slide over
the leading edge and the tip bow. This is what the colored lens
fits inside of. I cut a small ring of 1.5" O.D. tube to fit
just inside the 1.75" tube for the lens to sit on. You can
see it just inside the outer tube in the right side picture. The
lens was purchased commercially, and is a standard round aircraft
lens. The light bulb and socket is from a small trailer running
light, and is about a ten watt bulb.The retaining cover
is thin aluminum sheet bent into a curve and is held on with a
plain screw.
The right side picture allows you to visualize the
triangular piece of aluminum (under the fabric) that blends the
extension into the curved tip. Also note the small piece of aluminum
that has flanges bent up along both sides. Those bent edges hold
the lens retainer into the right position so that it cannot move
or slip around. The blind nut attachment in the middle for the
retaining screw is hardware store stuff. This nav light arrangement
will take you several hours to make, but fits the MKIII nicely,
and costs about 1/3 the price of a pair of off the shelf nav lights.
