TheRailwire

General Discussion => N and Z Scales => Topic started by: Iain on August 30, 2012, 04:05:27 PM

Title: Moving headlight on Bmann 2-8-0
Post by: Iain on August 30, 2012, 04:05:27 PM

All;
Have any of you an idea as to how to light the headlight on a 2-8-0 after moving it to the top of the smokebox front?

Title: Re: Moving headlight on Bmann 2-8-0
Post by: wm3798 on August 31, 2012, 03:19:33 PM

The lens is connected to a clear rod that goes through the smokebox door to collect light from the LED.
It's all glued together, so there's no easy way to pop it out.

I've moved two headlights to the top of the smoke box, one on my K-2, and one on the Potomac I was working on.  On the K-2, I started with a headlight that had no lens, so I put a grain of rice bulb into the housing, then flooded it with Micro Crystal Clear to secure the bulb and provide a full lens.
(http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Sweet_Spot_Articls_015smokeweb2.jpg)

On the Potomac, I cut the headlight housing from the center of the smokebox door, popped out the factory lens, then fabricated a new one using a heated clear sprue.  I bent it a bit to direct the inside end toward the new LED I installed, then painted the back of it black.
(http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Smoke_Box_Mods5.jpg)

Both use the ancient headlight housings of the 1st generation shells, so they're relatively crude.  It would be nice if Bachmann offered the headlight housing and lens/stem as a separate part, because it is much better looking than the old ones.

Lee

Title: Re: Moving headlight on Bmann 2-8-0
Post by: SkipGear on August 31, 2012, 07:50:31 PM

I find it easier to use a nano LED from Ngineering.

(http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1204/S-1SmokeBoxReady4Paint.jpg) (http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/22356/title/s-1smokeboxready4paint/cat/1204)

Similar to what Lee did with the grain of rice bulb, solder up the LED with magnet wire, insert in the housing, fill with micro crystal clear, paint the back silver, then black on the outside. In the case of the loco above, I made my own housing and the wires are hidden in the two brackets that attach the light to the smoke box.

Title: Re: Moving headlight on Bmann 2-8-0
Post by: delamaize on September 01, 2012, 01:11:55 PM

I'll 3rd the Nanno LED, that is what I am doing on my 2-8-0 headlight relocate, No pictures at the moment.