I have this Rich Eaton HO scale brass Wig-Wag signal NIB, but it is not built to light up. Any ideas on how I can light it up? You cannot see it from the back so any wiring there would be okay. I've thought about perhaps drilling a hole from the back, installing a 1.5v bulb (since the wiring is the thinnest and most flexible?) with MV lens, grounding one end of the bulb to the signal's frame, and running a single wire from the bulb down behind the post after looping it behind the mechanism. Think that will that work?
using the frame and a single tiny flexible wire sounds like the most feasible way to me. I was trying to think of perhaps a way to use induction, or maybe fiber optic??...
You coule use an Ngineering Nano LED. Make the connections with #38 Magnet wire. Ngineering site LED http://www.ngineering.com/lightng.htm N Gineering #38 Magnet Wire http://www.ngineering.com/accessories.htm
Doug, there is a low-RPM motor that mounts under the layout to the shaft inside the post, and a cam at the top that has a wire that runs to the pivot of the wig-wag causing it to...uh...."wig-wag". TrainGuy....#38 magnetic wire is a great idea! Thanks to you and to AtomicVette, too! I've also thought about fiber optic...I just wonder how they do it on this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_HEUKPBd8A John
Resurrecting this now eight-year old thread (has it REALLY been that long????); last week I drilled through the target and modified it to take a 603 LED after coiling the wire in the mechanical box above the target to accommodate the swinging action, running it down the standard, and painting it silver to hide it. It came with a MV lens. John
If the opportunity comes around to where you can see this wig wag work in person. You won't regret the trip up the hill to see it. Awesome is the best word I can find to use to describe it. Steve and I happened to be there for operations night when John wired the LED into the wig wag. Steve said, "Those wires have to be finer then the hairs on my head". I said, " John, you have more patience then I do" Some awesome work there Nice work John.
Fabulous animation! Very rare and very nicely done. Definitely will keep this in mind for my crossings for my future layout.
