Mars light and normal headlight on N scale Kato F3

[93cram]

Good day all,

I'd like to know if someone has experienced installing of both headlight and Mars light on a N scale Kato F3.
My understanding so far is that the factory installed LED can be turned as a Mars light (CV ?)
but what about the headlight and use of both ?

thx for your help,
Marc

[woodone]

These can be modified to work. The Headlight and a Mars light.
Take a look at this video. 

/>This is one that I did a while back. 

[93cram]

Thanks for the link Woodone,

The video is interesting to see the results of the modification, yet since I live in Europe, I guess
that sending back my Kato F3's to the US to have them modified is not an option 

Marc

[woodone]

Well the cost of shipping could be a problem.
Not sure how much that would cost- and shipping it back would up the install price.
You are looking at about $30.00 (US) for what you see on the video. And that is if there is a DCC decoder already installed.

[93cram]

Properly insured airmail both ways would cost about at least $25/30, and with custom duties, this can go up to $50-$60.
Surface mail can take up to 3 months, been there, done that  ;D

[woodone]

Well the modification is not all that difficult to do.
You will need to find some surface mount LED's to do it.
I used a 3 MM LED for the Mars light and two surface mount LED's for the headlight and red back up light.
Had to modify the front of the frame for the Mars light. Cut the lens to separate the upper and lower lights and them mounted the two surface mount LED's to the upper lens. Wired them up to the decoder and was off running. Don't for get to use resistors on the surface mount LED's. For the headlight I used a 750 OHM but the red LED was way too bright so I used a 2k on it.
Paint the inside of the shell at the front too keep the light from bleeding throught the shell too.

. 

[93cram]

Thx for the explanation ! Woodone