MT planet cars

[Sharky_McSharknose]

Rapido includes a wand with every New Haven 8600 coach. That probably added to the cost, but if you bought more than one then at least you won't need to worry about spares!

[propmeup1]

As per request I oped it up and shot this pic.  Oh and yes it will be good to have two wands.

[peteski]

Now THAT is a battery!  Giant Lithium cell! Should last a lifetime!  I'm glad they went with the huge battery. Those silly LR44 button batteries suck!

And this is definitely not a dry run for any passenger car lighting.  Totally incompatible (battery size and light panel shape).  The vertical rectangular light panel looks somewhat like a backlight for a tablet of smart phone.  it is probably nice and bright.

Any chance we get to see a closeup of the actual light panel (and any visible electronics on it)?

[propmeup1]

pics

[propmeup1]

pics #3.   This is as close as my phone will get in focus.

[peteski]

Thanks!  Those photos are tiny!  Do you have an ancient flip phone?

I'm surprised to see a 16-pin chip on that board.  Whatever it is, must be fairly advanced. Probably used PWM to run the LEDs.
Then the "light guide/diffuser" looks like a slab of clear acrylic?  I might have to buy one of these cars to just get more close and personal with that lighting module.

[robwill84]

Interesting they are labeled "Kinkade", apparently MT was going to issue lighted Thomas Kinkade painting cars, but couldn't get them done due to some kind of issues.

Begins April 2019
Micro-Trains is excited to announce our newest series; the Thomas Kinkade Painter of LightTM Series! This N scale series will feature twelve remarkable Thomas Kinkade paintings on black boxcars and will also include a locomotive and caboose.

Thomas Kinkade, the Painter of Light™, emphasized simple pleasures and inspirational messages through his art – and the branded products created from that art. From textiles, to collectibles, to music and books, Thom believed that both the ability and the inspiration to create his paintings had been given to him as a gift. His goal as an artist was to touch people of all faiths and to bring peace and joy into their lives through the images he had created.


Note: The illuminated cars will not be produced due to issues with the China manufactureing company.

[peteski]

Interesting they are labeled "Kinkade", apparently MT was going to issue lighted Thomas Kinkade painting cars, but couldn't get them done due to some kind of issues.

Yes, that's exactly what happened. I wonder if they will sell the lighting kits separately so collectors can retrofit their Thomas Kinkade cars?

[SkipGear]

The lighting is reasonably bright. Looks good in a dark room but you can barely tell it is on in a normally bright room. The pictures of the planets are just printed on thin white sheet and attached over the door openings. The rest of the car is normal. The diffuser does a decent job of not creating hot spots so the image glows evenly.

[EspeeGoldenState]

Yes, that's exactly what happened. I wonder if they will sell the lighting kits separately so collectors can retrofit their Thomas Kinkade cars?

I know I would definitely retrofit my wife's dozen boxcars as well as the three coming at the end of the year for Christmas.

Chris

[peteski]

I know I would definitely retrofit my wife's dozen boxcars as well as the three coming at the end of the year for Christmas.

Chris

Chris, Micro Trains staff is quite willing to help modelers out with special requests.  Even if they do not offer an official retrofit, give the a call and maybe they will sell you some of the lighting boards for your cars. As an alternative PM Joe (Shipsure) and see if he can help you out.

[wazzou]

Man, I hope that battery never overheats.

[peteski]

Man, I hope that battery never overheats.

LOL!  Yeah!  I hope that these are not shipped by Air-Mail. Lithium batteries!

[daniel_leavitt2000]

That... wow. That was not what I was expecting.

That backlight method is incredibly inefficient. A clear slab like that will not move much light 90* from it's source. LCD backlights use panels with direct LED lighting with a diffuser or side lit LEDs with a wave pattern panel that redirects the light 90* into the screen.

But why go to all this trouble if you are not going to use this as a jumping off point for passenger car lighting? That would be much more in demand I would think.

[peteski]

That... wow. That was not what I was expecting.

That backlight method is incredibly inefficient. A clear slab like that will not move much light 90* from it's source. LCD backlights use panels with direct LED lighting with a diffuser or side lit LEDs with a wave pattern panel that redirects the light 90* into the screen.

But why go to all this trouble if you are not going to use this as a jumping off point for passenger car lighting? That would be much more in demand I would think.

That's something you would have to ask Joe.  But I have to give them that they sure made a robust lighting unit which non user replaceable battery which will probably last a decade or longer.  I don't think that MTL has plans to illuminate their heavyweight cars.

The photos posted here are not large enough to really see how that clear diffuser works. According to comments here,  it seems to work well for its purpose.