MV Products lenses

[ATSF_Ron]

I'm pretty sure this has been covered before, but I was unable to find the topic in my online searches.  Is MV Products, for all practical purposes, out of business?  I never see anything at the local hobby shop.  I've searched high and low on the internet.  Seldom do I see things on eBay appropriate for N scale lighting lenses.  Does anyone know of a decent substitute product they can direct me to?  I've also searched Hobby Lobby, Michael's, JoAnn's...nothing even close to the size we need for N.  I was thinking if I could find some scale sized sequins, those might work.  They seem to reflect ambient light the same way the MV stuff does.  I've got several SP diesels with light packages I need to install.  I don't care about having them actually light up.  I made up a couple of SD-45s a couple decades ago, and the effect is definitely passable by my standards.

[mu26aeh]

I think they are essentially out of business.  If you have item numbers you are looking for, post or PM me.  I work part time at Mainline Hobby Supply in PA, we have a stock of MV lenses.  I can look Sunday if we have any in stock that you are looking for.

[ATSF_Ron]

Thank you!  I don't have a stock number, but I'm looking for clear and red lenses in size about 1.5 to 2.0 mm.  I would like 14 clear and 7 red, if that's even possible.  Not sure if that's helpful without a stock number.  Thanks for checking!

I just checked Amazon as well under artificial gems and diamonds.  Smallest I can find is 4.5 mm.  That's far too large for N.  Bummer!

[ATSF_Ron]

Looks like part #22 or #600 for the clear lenses.  Part #200 is the red.

[mu26aeh]

Ok, I'll look tomorrow.  Website is showing #200 in stock.  I'll report back my findings

[ATSF_Ron]

Thank you so much!

[peteski]

Attached is a list of MV Product lens part numbers and descriptions.
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[mu26aeh]

Only have 2 packs of P/N 200, also 1 pack of P/N 281 2.1mm red

[ATSF_Ron]

Thanks for checking on those for me.  I think 2.1mm might be a bit bulky for this application.  However, I did find some "bling beads" at Michael's that I believe might work.  They are 1.6mm and made by a company called Recollections.  There are six strips of each size and there are three sizes.  The smallest should work for N.  I have a couple of cheap lifelike SD7s I weathered up for practice years ago.  I'll try them out on one of those to see what I think.  Holding one to the front of the loco, even the 1.6mm seems a bit large.   If I can figure out how to get a flippin pic to upload I'll post one when I'm done.

Peteski, thanks for that sizing chart!  That'll be handy to have around.

[ATSF_Ron]

Well crap!  The pic is quite fuzzy, but you can see that it's horribly oversized.  Yes, it's off center but I didn't glue it on as it's too big anyway.  Looks like the max size will be 1mm.  Maybe even less...

Also, there is no mounting bracket, such as the one by Miniatures by Eric or Sunrise Enterprises.  I thought I might be able to get away with not using one.  NOPE!  Looks terrible.  More stuff to order...yes, I know Sunrise went out years ago.  MBE is still around, I believe.

[jjb62556]

I made my own using 5 minute epoxy on a piece of  glass with a toothpick. Make a lene the size you want and pop it of with a razor blade when dry.....

[ATSF_Ron]

jjb62556, have you ever had the epoxy yellow on you over time?  I know some of them do that.  My older MV clear lenses have done that as well.

[peteski]

jjb62556, have you ever had the epoxy yellow on you over time?  I know some of them do that.  My older MV clear lenses have done that as well.

I have used 5-minute epoxy for decades and it always yellowed for me.  Sometimes it takes few years, but it always yellows.  I regretted using it as "glass" over gauges on 1:25 scale model car gauges.

[oakcreekco]

Checked my stash (still in the packaging) from the early 90's last night.

All were #205's, and all were yellowed.

[Chris333]

I was always told MV lenses where epoxy with metal foil on the back. Tried to make my own with Bare Metal Foil, but wasn't as good.