Vans is under some pressure but they can't have slipped that much!
There must be something missing in your communication to Vans... I can't believe someone there who understands the problem would call this "normal quality ...".
Make a call and explain your situation over the phone, I bet they'll make it right.
Cheers
My email to them:
“Please see attached photos of part VA-166 received in a recently delivered wing Kit.
Is the quality and clarity of this normal? It seems this would affect aircraft lighting through the lens.”
Their verbatim response:
“Thank you for the supporting photos.
This is normal/common/expected.
Some background information: During the entire history of Van’s Aircraft, we have always been extremely sensitive to the cost of our kits. The RV wingtip lenses have never been to the optical clarity/quality of the canopies and the price of these items reflect that. These lenses are for lights and not human vision.
I can almost guarantee you that if this item was produced by the same company that makes our canopies and done with the optical clarity criteria of those canopies, the wingtip lens covers would easily be in the $200-400 range each.
Possibly some of the blemishes might be reduced and clarity improved with the use of media/process/technique/polishing agents utilized in the plexiglass/Lexan/plastics industry. You are also free to return your lenses to Van’s (I will attach a return form) and investigate forming or having someone custom form ones of your use..”
I’ll definitely be looking into this more. Maybe the photos don’t do justice to what I see in person. I also don’t have anything to compare against, hence my post to the community to ask what others have experienced. Thanks for the input from all.