If anyone knows, or has experience using, what would be the proper size MV Lens to fill in as an N scale locomotive headlight?
Size can vary by model, even by manufacturer of the same model. Take your N scale rule or any rule that measures in mm and measure the opening. Then go to the link below, scroll to the bottom of the page, and find the match. Note you can also match the MV number by drill bit size on the chart. http://www.hubhobbyshop.com/hint32.htm
I've been using fiber optics. .020 works great. Flare the end then paint the back silver. Looks great and works. Where as the MV doesn't. Just my 2 pennies, Wolf
What's the technique for flaring the fiber optic? Do you heat it with a flame? Never tried this before, but I'd like to see if it will work to fill in the lights on a dual Mars light detail piece that I put on my NKP diesels. The Mars light is plastic; easy enough to drill a hole in the back of it to run a piece of fiber through. John C.
No flame ! I used fiber optic, but a very small "dip" with soldering-iron, that´s it. .............................Rainer
Any heat source will do. I've use an electric stove coil, the heater element, not the tip on a soldering iron, candle flames. A quick exposure to the heat will polish the end for better pick up of light. The longer you hold the tip of the fiber near the heat the wider it will flare. Hold it there too long it will blob up. But they can represent bare lightbulbs. Never touch the fiber to the heat source it will contaminate or burn it.
I dunno. I still really like MV. It's noticeably good. But I have had a devil of a time finding the little ones. Walthers has been pretty limited on what they carry, basically you can locate .110 and .046 diameters of various colors, they are in stock, but that's about it now.
I use the heat from my soldering iron. Just put the end of the fiber close to the side of the iron. Watch for the fiber to flare- then pull back. It takes a bit of trial and error. But, you can a feel for it in short order. And as for colors- I use the Tamiya "clear" colors. They offer red, green, yellow(amber), blue and smoke. I have 3 different diameters of fiber. .010, .020 and .030. I use them from maker lights to the head lights on E,F, PA and FA's. After painting the back silver- it gives a great "Bulb" look. And again- they let light through. And in my opinion better than the stock light tubes. Wolf
In the link I posted is also a technique for drilling a small hole in the back of the MV lens. The light that passes through is magified by the reflector backing. Now one could potentially drill the small hole and run a fiber optic thread to it and secure with Micro Kristal Klear. Although it might be a bear to drill a hole in the back of the smaller lenses.
