F59PHI: Reworked Ditchlights, Tail Light!

tehachapifan Mar 7, 2003

  1. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

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    I could stand the stock Athearn lighting on this model no longer!! :rolleyes: ;) I installed new, white LED's (as inspired by a previous thread), then replaced the ineffective plastic light tubes that ran to the ditchlights with my own fiber optic strands. The strands terminate at a pair of BLMA ditchlight housings which are a BIG improvement on their own! [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Here's a shot of this loco in reverse running. I ran a strand from the rear LED to a front tail light! :D I still need to round-up some LS 701 "red" MV lenses to finish the job.

    [​IMG]

    Russ

    [ 07. March 2003, 06:25: Message edited by: tehachapifan ]
     
  2. Mopac3092

    Mopac3092 TrainBoard Member

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    russ that looks great, very cool. [​IMG]
     
  3. Colonel

    Colonel Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    WOW that looks so impressive was it difficult to complete?
     
  4. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Very nice Russ! Aren't fiber optics wonderful [​IMG] After backdating my layout, I don't need to fit ditch lights now, so that saves me a lot of time :D White LED's will be fitted in all locomotives, though.
     
  5. ednsfan

    ednsfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Awesome Russ!!

    Sadly, the delusional HO boys believe their scale is the only scale for detailing!!! Wrong again Athearn Breath!! (yeah, a little too much Johnny Carson as i was growing up!!)

    I'd like to see these again when you get the red MV lenses!! PLEASE!!!
     
  6. rush2ny

    rush2ny TrainBoard Member

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    Very nice indeed!

    Russ
     
  7. MarkJ

    MarkJ TrainBoard Member

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    Believe it or not, I tried experimenting with fiber optic strands in some of my N scale locomotives way back in the 80’s. The results were not really worth the effort, since the locomotives didn’t have the high intensity LEDs that are available today.

    Great work Russ! The layout looks first class too. [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  8. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the comments, guys! :D Sorry for the late reply.

    Not really, Colonel. This particular loco's shell is VERY roomy and was the easiest loco I've ever added ditchlight to. The hardes part is heat-bending the fiber optics to the correct shape so it will clear obstacles and still end up in the right place (usually takes me a few tries per strand). I've had great success with swapping LEDs on boards so far, even with so-so soldering skills.

    Alan,

    Yes, I see that backdating DOES have certain advantages! In the case of ATSF, if you go back far enough, you don't even need to relocated headlights to the nose! ;)

    Mark, your absolutely right. These new, bright LEDs make this all possible. In fact, the lights come on even brighter than they appear in the photo because I barely had power applied so I coulg get a picture.

    Russ
     
  9. rush2ny

    rush2ny TrainBoard Member

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    Where do you get you fiber optic from and how do you go about bending it?

    Russ
     
  10. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

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    Let's see, I got a fiber optic assortment through Walthers. I believe it was from BL Hobby Products and is listed under Walthers #183-700. To bend it, I hold it above my hot soldering gun and allow gravity to bend it to shape. It certsinly takes some experimenting and practice to learn how to get it right! :rolleyes: :mad: :eek: :( :D

    Russ
     
  11. rush2ny

    rush2ny TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Russ! The info is helpful and I may even give it a try!

    Russ
     

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