Ok, I decided to order a couple of lenses from DarkStorm.
SPECIAL MEDIUM LAVENDER, both clear and smoke gel.
Mainly because I really like those colors.
However, I am also hoping one of them does really match the Volkswagen Blue/Lavender you'll find in Golf IV and Polo III and other models.
Did anybody in here actually purchase those two colors and can confirm that?

Thank you all,

I have been trying to match the VW blue (without success) since I got my Rio 3 months ago.

I have just received the Medium Lavender from Darkstorm and tried it with both clear and smoke lenses. Although it is close-ish, it is far from perfect especially at night.

I think that the problem is the basic colour of the VFD display. I have tried gels that look exactly the same as the VW blue in "natural" light but in front of the VFD greeny-blue they are never "purpley" (if that is a word !) enough.

I have gone back to the clear lens with a inkjet printed purple colour film that looks OK next to the VW blue, rather than matching, and gives the best visibility in sunlight of any of the others I have tried.

GeoffT,

Thank you for your feedback. At least the LAVENDER I order will be closer than the original blue AR lenses from Empeg

Also, can I ask you more details about the clear lens with inkjet printed purple color film you mentioned? What clear lense did you use? From Darkstorm? What film did you use? How did you print on it? Do you have pics by any chance?

Thank you very much in advance!

IIRC, the closest gel colors are either Dark Blue or Congo Blue, with clear lens, but both of these cut out too much light for my liking - they look fine at night, but virtually impossible to read in sunlight. I'm considering going with some other contrasting color instead.

The lens I use is the clear from Darkstorm.

I printed out endless different colours onto OHP film and just tried them out. If I get a chance in the next few days, I'll try to post some pictures. I'll also try to dig out the file that I used for the print. Might not be until next week though.

Geoff

Bump.
Bringing this thread back to the top as I'll be buying a VW Golf soon and would like to get a suitable lens colour, or failing that cheat and use a clear / smoked lense with OHP film if GeoffT could be as kind to post his file it would shorten my time.

Congo Blue is as near a perfect match as you will find - unfortunately it kills sunlight performance.

I'm currently using smoked - which actually complements the blue and red very well (IMO). The 'Blue' button LED hack really pulls the whole empeg into the equation.

If you want to take a ganders sometime, let me know.

See attachment for the jpg that I felt gave the best results in terms of daylight viewablity (is that a word ?!) and while not actually matching the VW blue it looks OK next to it.

PS you may have to play around with the scale

Yeah, I created that filter and used it for a long time. I found it just a little too unreadable for GPSapp though.

in terms of daylight viewablity (is that a word ?!)


No. Nor is 'viewability'.

Here's a couple of photos I just took of the smoke lens in a VW, both images are about 56kbytes.

1) Close Up.

2) Wide Angle.

Here's a couple of photos I just took of the smoke lens in a VW

You have a bad case of "fascia blockage". I am referring to the way the top left part of the fascia cuts off the first few letters on the display.

This is easily fixable (see this post and the other posts in the thread) and will make your player even nicer than it is now.

tanstaafl.

Yeah, I know....I just haven't been bothered to fix it yet.

Edit: Ok, I've done it now. Happy?

Greetings!

Looking at that dash color combination, have you ever considered red buttons?

Has the backlog of orders let up?

Knowing that the button casting is the delaying factor, I figured that it'd only be fair to let other people get button kits first. But yes, red buttons are a possibility in the future.

It might be time for another New England meet. At least this time I'll have an install to show off, although lacking the amps, subs and more that others had.
Of course genixia if you want a tour of my work place that could also be arranged.

I'll think I'll go with a smoked lens and try and get a colour match using the OHT GeoffT posted.
What is the purpose of the raised edge on some of the lenses? Is this used with the button kit to get a rim around the edge I've see in some picutures?
Thanks tanstaafl for the "fascia blockage" link, I'll have to try that out when I get it all installed.

That OHT was designed for use with a clear lens, I don't know how what effect the smoke lens would have on it...but I suppose I could try at some time.

The bevelled 'neon' lenses are indeed intended to make use of the button LEDs to create the rim effect.

sigh
I suppose I'll just have to get both the smoked & the clear then

Genixia,

Do you have a pic of the Congo blue in place?

-Bob