ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
I am looking to add ditch lights to a model that doesn't already have the *fake* ditch lights on it such as the Athearn Dash 9's or AC4400's. A locomotive such as a GP40-2 just like in the image below. How do you go about doing this? i mean you really only have one chance to drill the holes.
I was thinking the same thing Drew but mine dont have the nose light just the one on the cab. It does have the same markings like yours but i think it is a different loco mine is a D&RGW SD60
I would use the 235-361, if you could find them maybe at a local hobby shop or check other online vendors.
Details west has the following listed in their catalog: DL-228 DITCH LIGHTS W/LENSES (PILOT-TOP MOUNT0 "EMD" 2 EA. $2.95 [FONT=Arial,BoldItalic][FONT=Arial,BoldItalic][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,BoldItalic][FONT=Arial,BoldItalic]If you wanted to, you could make it easy on yourself and put the ditch lights as pilot mount under the anticlimber, like the ge version. I have used these and after drilling the holes just a little larger, they will accept a grain of rice bulb, approx 1.8mm. This will alow you to run the wiring thru the pilot behind the ditch lights.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,BoldItalic][FONT=Arial,BoldItalic]http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/235-229 [/FONT][/FONT]
The anticlimber is an safety implement on the front of the pilot that keeps the coupler of another car/loco from going up into the cab; its what the handrails are attached to;
pic from google search: http://www.silicon212.org/images/f59ph.jpg
hope this helps, not thinking too straight this early.....
Drew
1st, find prototype photos depicting the ditch lights, that way you can select the proper style and mounting.
As far as powering them, I prefer to use the sunny while LED's from Ulrich Hobbies. These are surface mount LED's with wire leads already attached, very small , super bright and very little if any heat. (an issue with incandescent lamps)
Just make sure you use the right dropping resistors, or you will have itty bitty flashbulbs
Well I am definately interested, but are these $3.25 each or is this for a pack of 4 or 6 maybe? I sure dont wanna have to spend $100 to outfit 6 or 7 loco's...
That is the price for each of them. The LEDs are made by Richmond Controls.
Traintek, my local DCC store (yes, they only deal with DCC/digital control equipment!) wires up their own surface mount LEDs and sell them for $2.95 a pop (30 cents less than Ulrich) and they come in other colors as well so you can use them for other purposes such as class lights.
Also, Traintek charges very close to actual shipping (meaning they don't have a handling charge). I don't work for them or are affiliated with them in any way, but they're my go-to place for DCC stuff as they often have the lowest prices on everything, and are a stone's throw away from where I live)
Thats a great link! I am gonna order some sound decoders from this guy as he is about 5 bucks cheaper then the other 3 I just ordered on ebay. I might order enough lights to outfit and couple locos too...
I get mine off ebay and wiring them up takes a little while to get use to but once you get the hang of it it goes quick. Why pay $3 for a LED you can buy for around 10 cents. The cheapest LEDs are usually Red so I would recommend getting some of those to test soldering skills on and get the Golden or Warm white for the Ditchlights / Headlights
I just put my order in at TrainTek for SM 603's, resistors, 36 ga. wire and some other goodies. 100 lights for 10 bucks is a hell of a good deal I think. At least I can afford to screw a few up trying to get it right...
Train Tek really are a great bunch of people.
I too, am a stone's throw from their shop, and have spent many a work day lunch hour getting good advice on projects and happily giving them my money!
Usual disclaimer: I'm in no way affiliated with Train Tek, other than being a satisfied customer.
The ones from Traintek are the 0603 size, where-as the ones from Ulrich are the 0402 size - considerably smaller. I find in a lot of cases - especially ditchlights - the 0402 size will easily fit right inside the casting.
I have no trouble wiring the 0603 myself, but I buy the 0402 pre-wired .... they are just way too small for me to see with any accuracy.
