After some fidgeting with the tape I was able to get a better fit but it still felt like something was not all the way latched. But it was good enough to put it on the track and take some photos. I wasn't satisfied with the consistency of the ditch lights. Not sure if it was the difference in how the fiber was bent or how it was placed but the brightness wasn't uniform. In the photo above the rear step light is casting a clear pool of light on the ground where the front step light is not. I have ordered some 0201 leds and will have to give them a try. To see if they are any better.
I always run LEDs directly in the ditch light housings. These work perfect: https://www.ebay.com/itm/353943129775. You may have to play around with the resistor size to get them to match the intensity of the headlight if on analog or wiring to the same output as the headlight. Usually when I take the effort to run ditch lights I wire them up to the decoder so I can get them to flash alternately as that adds another cool effect.
Hot dog ! I am on fire now ! Here is a new handrail set for my SD90 and I have glued an 0201 led onto the bottom of each lowest step. I only had two wired together and powered by a 2032 3v batt. for testing purposes. I will add some more Aleene's Tacky Glue to the sides and back of the leds to gain some strength, then I shall use silver then black paint to stop light leak from sides of led. Fun, fun, fun, I'll keep you posted. BTW, I will use 0201's in the ditch lights.
Here is another test with my old SD90 parts. The led is glued to the bottom of the 2nd step to shine down on the very bottom step. i have painted some black paint but I need to do a better job around the sides, rear and front of the led. I see some bleed through but I want to see only light on the bottom step. At any rate it is doable and I am hooked, just need to "get er done" ! Crazy ? For sure ! Keeps me out of the bars !
So I finally got my 0201 LEDs and they sure are small. Have not wired them up yet but I am encouraged by your results @Carl Sowell
If you use an ESU Loksound/Lokpilot decoder, you can actually adjust the LED brightness of each function output LED to have matched intensity!
Exactly! I've used other brands that allow the same too but the lokprogrammer app on the PC makes for very simple adjustments like light intensity.
Got the LEDs installs. Sort of. Managed to break one off while putting the shell back on for a test fit. The 0201 LED are easier to work with compared to the fiber optic piping. Not that they are easy though. They are quite small. Barely bigger than the ends of the wires. They are too bright. I'll have to work on painting them black to cut down on some of the light.
Here is another "test' where I have added the handrail part to the bottom step part, and placed the cab on in order to test the route for the wires. The led is way too bright but I can control the brightness with the decoder cv settings for the step lights and/or adding some white glue to tone it down. I like it ! How 'bout you ? May end up adding some more black paint to decrease the size of the light egress. Experimentation, that's what makes it FUN !
Had a busy weekend with the family and didn't get any train time in. The P42 is still sitting on my workbench waiting for the wires to be soldered up to the decoder and the black paint around the LEDs. Your step lights came out nice @Carl Sowell . Will have to look at wiring up some of my freight locos after this.
This is a great project! I love crazy details, but I've drawn the line at step lights, mostly because I know I am immediately going to break any and all wires between the shell and decoder One thing to watch for with dimming the LEDs is that some decoders (or most? At least the ones I've used) control aux voltage using pulse width modulation. When the output voltage CV is set very low there might be a noticeable flicker to the LED. It's best to get the brightness in the right ballpark with resistors and/or a tinted coating over the LED, then use the decoder CVs to dial it in.
I only run my trains during daylight hours (train room lights on). That way I don't have to worry about step lights etc..
Same with me. I run trains with the room lights on. I think step lights are pretty cool but would be an unnecessary complication for me.
I am 84 in 2 weeks, and this is a challenge. Did I mention that I love challenges ! ! But I must admit to cheating by using these. The lens shown is a 3.5X and there are 4 others that range down to a 1.0X lens. The illuminated leds are on dim as there is a bright output. I have really enjoyed using these as they are very comfortable : I would much rather fool with head lights, backup lights, ditch lights, step lights, truck lights, cab lights and beacons rather than listen/watch the crap on TV these days. Be well ! PS - Cool image :
I have a lighted visor something like that Carl. I would be lost without it. And I use it for more then just model trains. That last pic is awesomely cool. I like teasing you guys. I am in awe of some of the detail work you guys accomplish.
I finally got the steplights installed and connected to the decoder. Still need some black paint or maybe some heat shrink tubing over them to dim them down. Will have to mess around with that later.
