Need help in adding 2nd headlight to single-headlight F-unit

[friscobob]

I got an Atlas/Roco FP7 which I plan to detail & paint into the Frisco black/yellow scheme, for a "pike-size passenger train" such as 709/710. The model has but one headlight, while Frisco's FP7s all had 2.

How do I go about adding a 2nd headlight?

TIA

[StickyMonk]

<font color="336633">[b]Bob, I found the best way (for me) was to drill a hole in the shell the right size for the headlight, then get hold of an old Athearn F unit shell and shave off the raised light from that.

[stewarttrains98]

I think that you should check to see if there are nay casting made by Details West or Details Associates. Then drill it out before you mount the casting so that you will be able to illuminate teh headlight. You may also try Minitronics grain of wheat bulbs for the headlights. I think that will be the best way to go about doing the project. Or you can try to get a Proto 2000 E unit door with the headlight cast on it. Then drill small holes all the way around the inside of the old door on the model and then file smooth. Fit the E unit door in the new hole and go with the way mentioned above for the lighting. I hope that this will help you out. I know that this way sounds like a lot of work, but I think that you will find teh end result very eye pleasing.

[friscobob]

duplicate post

[friscobob]

Originally posted by StickyMonk:
<font color="336633">[b]Bob, I found the best way (for me) was to drill a hole in the shell the right size for the headlight, then get hold of an old Athearn F unit shell and shave off the raised light from that. I was thinking along the lines of drilling the hole, but hadn't figured out how to put in the 2nd headlight. As for P2K, I only have one (in Frisco colors), and it's staying untouched. graemlins/wink.gif Somewhere upstairs I SHOULD have a spare F-unit shell that can be sacrificed to the greater good.

Now somewhere I thought I read that a lens fixture is available for this size headlight.......or could I be wrong?

[StickyMonk]

<font color="336633">[b]Bob, M.V. Products do a light set fot the Athearn shell, I dont know if the Roco one is the same as the Athearn one, but at least it should fit the door light smile.gif

[friscobob]

They look pretty close to me. I'll have to check out the product (I foresee another trip to Discount Trains in Addison :D )

Thanx for the tip, Matt!

[Flash Blackman]

Carefully drill a hole and use any type of tube for the light. Hole location at the top of the access door is important. I have used both styrene tube and a ball point pen tube (N scale). The styrene walls are thick, so the inside diameter has to be thinned. I have only added lower headlights and it was surprising to me how easy it was; there is a thread on this, too. I think Russell Straw has done it many times, adding either upper or lower headlights.

I added Richmond Controls headlights to some of these, no problem.

[ April 16, 2006, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: Flash Blackman ]