Ditch Lights

[6axlepwr]

I need to add some ditch lights to a couple SD40-2's. Installing the lights is not the issue. What I need are the housings. Are there any manufacturers making the housings? Or would I have to make my own?

I am referring to the round housing. The part that holds the glass and bulb. Not the bracket. These are for pilot face mounted ditch lights.

[flight2000]

The only manufacturer I know of is Miniatures by Eric.  http://www.miniaturesbyeric.com/itmidx8.htm

If going with pilot mount lights, I'd just use styrene tubing cut to length or brass tubing for a thinner wall?

Brian

[jereising]

Check out Shapeways, search ditch lights.

I used them for my SD40N project - read all about it in the Nov-Dec N Scale - the housings are mainly porch mount but produce a very serviceable pilot mount when trimmed appropriately.

I previously used styrene on an E9 project but these are closer to scale size and look a lot better.

[bnsfdash8]

I have designed some generic ditch lights through shapeways. https://www.shapeways.com/mymodels

Here some installed on my B32-8:

[SkipGear]

I am referring to the round housing. The part that holds the glass and bulb. Not the bracket. These are for pilot face mounted ditch lights.

A piece of thin wall brass tubing and some Micro Krystal Clear or some clear styrene rod will do the trick very easily. Not very hard to scratch build.

Basicly build what I have below without the porch mount bracket...

[6axlepwr]

Tony,

I like what you have there and looks like the right way to go for this. Thanks.

[Catt]

This link works better.

https://www.shapeways.com/model/1203084/n-scale-ditch-lights.html?li=shop-results&materialId=61

[bnsfdash8]

This link works better.

https://www.shapeways.com/model/1203084/n-scale-ditch-lights.html?li=shop-results&materialId=61

Thanks for fixing my mistake. 

[ednadolski]

Basicly build what I have below without the porch mount bracket...

A few more questions if I may:

 - What kind of LED is that, and what circuit do you use?
 - How does that connect to the loco deck?  It looks like it wants to plug into some kind of mini socket (which would be pretty slick!)


Thanks,
Ed

[SkipGear]

The LED's are Nano's from Ngineering. They are .020 x .040"

The ditch lights plug into a socket built into the porch of the loco... a picture is worth a thousand words here...





Drill the holes first, solder wires to small PB tabs, glue under holes, push in light from above.



I also created a contact pad in the nose of the loco so that I didn't have to unsolder the wires everytime I took the shell off.

[ednadolski]

That's a great solution Tony, and nicely done!  The contact pad is a great idea too.  Thanks for posting!

Ed