I wanted to install SMD (surface mount) LEDs into this model. These are tiny, but extremely bright LEDs. The particular ones I am using in this model are Miniatronics part #12-625-04. This package comes with four SMD LEDs and eight resistors (four each of two different values).

The underframe of the car can be removed by removing the one screw. A lip in the back holds it in place, so once the screw is removed, the underframe can be removed. The headlights of the model have clear plastic "glass", so it is a simple matter of gluing an LED behind the glass. Of course, "simple" is understating it, because the plastic is curved and the LED is square. However, with a bit of fiddling it is doable. I started using canopy glue, but that turned into a disaster. The glue won't hold to the metal body. I then used superglue, which worked fine. As you may notice in the first photo, I unsoldered the wires that come attached to the LEDs, and replaced them with Ngineering's #38 magnet wire. The original wires are way too thick to work with under the car. The magnet wire works great and can easily be manipulated to prevent it from being seen. I have not yet glued the wire to the body, which will come later. I used a 15-watt soldering iron when soldering to the LEDs. I superglued a resistor to the underside of the inside plastic cabin part. I then soldered the positive (red) magnet wire from the LEDs to the resistor. A common wire comes from the other lead of the LEDs.

The next two photos show the LEDs powered. I routed the two magnet wires through a screw opening in the car's underframe (there are two such holes which were originally used to hold the car to the original packaging). The first photo shows the lights with no camera flash, and the second one shows the lights at a lower angle but with the camera flash. The LEDs were powered with a 9V battery.

There is some space behind the back seat area of the plastic interior, so I am trying to find a 3V battery that can be used to power the LEDs so that there's no need for external power. The rear lights on the model do not use a see-through piece of plastic, so to be able to make those, I will have drill out some holes in the body, install the LEDs and paint a red cover. This will be done later. I will update this page when I get that done.