Return to the BUILD
“In this issue, you mount the scanner lens and base in the front bumper, and fix three lights on the left side.“
Contents
Parts
Materials: The Front Bumper is metal, but the rest of these parts are plastic.
Magazine
- The Series – David Hasselhoff
- Build Your KI.T.T. – Step by Step
- Secret Files – Michael Knight
Build
Front Bumper
Step 1
Fit the Left Side Light Bracket to the inside left (driver’s side) of the Front Bumper, and then secure it into place with one (1) AM screw.
Once again, I am using a soft cloth under the Front Bumper to protect the exterior paint. This is also your friendly reminder to try using 3-in-One Oil on all screws going into metal:
The small green dot on this part is a pedestrian sensor that was likely present on the K.I.T.T. vehicle that Fanhome scanned in order to create this model. It was not actually present on the real TV cars, so I have removed it on my model:
Step 2
Drop each of the Left Side Light Lenses into a Left Side Light Frame.
The large raised centers of the Lenses should go through the frames so the Lens edges sit in the recesses on either side of each frame, as shown:
Step 3
Fit a Light Housing to the rear of each Left Side Light Frame as shown.
If the screw holes do not line up, turn your Light Housing around. Each assembly should look like this:
Secure these three Light Housing assemblies together with six (6) AP screws into the smaller holes, two screws in each:
Step 4
Fit one of your Light Housing assemblies into the inside left of the Front Bumper. Each Light Housing will align over two pins, as shown.
When fitting these Light Housing assemblies, make sure the smaller ‘tab’ is at the top:
Secure this Light Housing into place with two (2) AM screws:
Step 5
Repeat the previous step to secure the other Light Housings into the Front Bumper with four (4) more AM screws, two screws in each:
This is what our installed Light Housings (Fog Lights) look like from the front:
Step 6
Fit the Scanner Lens over these two posts at the top rear of the Front Bumper, as shown.
Fun Fact: Glen A. Larson, the creator of Knight Rider, also created the original Battlestar Galactica television series. He liked the red scanning effect of the Cylons in that series so much, a similar effect was used for K.I.T.T.. However, he did add that the two shows are not related in any way.
Step 7
We will eventually install an LED circuit board behind this Scanner Base to light the scanner segments and create the iconic sweeping movement. To make these segments look more like the original reflectors, I used my Molotow Liquid Chrome pen to add a nice reflective surface inside each segment:
Fit the Scanner Base behind the Scanner Lens and onto the same posts we fit the Scanner Lens over, as shown:
Then, secure the Scanner Base to the Front Bumper with two (2) GM screws. This will secure the Scanner Lens in place:
After I completed this stage, I came back and installed the Metal Front Bumper Grilles from Mike Lane:
Thoughts
Again, I am very happy with the shiny black paint of this Front Bumper! While we only installed the left-side fog lights into it, keep this assembly stored someplace safe for now. We will install the scanner LEDs in Stage 5, but the right-side fog lights will not arrive until Stage 81.
Next Up
Stage 3 – Left Front Tire/Rim/Hubcap/Brake Disc/Knuckle/Brake Caliper/Brake Caliper Bracket
I had already installed the circuit board but took it apart to add the chrome to the reflectors, and I think it made a nice difference. The scanner looks more brilliant and realistic with the mod. Thanks for the suggestion!
Thanks! I actually saw this being done by others in our FB groups, so I gave it a shot too. I do think it helps improve the look of the scanner.