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Realistic Coach Lighting

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  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 971 posts
Realistic Coach Lighting
Posted by alloboard on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 10:41 PM

I want to add internal lighting into an HO scale commuter car. I want to simulate realistic lighting, not just stringing light bulbs into a coach. Where can I find long LED or incandescent light tubes that I can mount inside the top of a coach with contact wipers that will hang down in the middle? Again I am looking for a long LED or incandescent HO scale light in form of a tube. If not, how can I kitbash a glass or strong tube that lights up?

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, June 5, 2008 6:26 AM

The Rapido light strips are battery-powered.  Does anyone have a feeling yet for how long the batteries last?  Are they standard commercial batteries, like AAA?

If the batteries last a year or so in normal use (not impossible, since the lighting looks like it's LEDs) then this would be a viable option.  On the other hand, if they require replacement after every few hours of running, then the expense of power wipes is going to be a better option in the long run.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Indiana
  • 3,549 posts
Posted by Flashwave on Thursday, June 5, 2008 9:52 AM
 MisterBeasley wrote:

The Rapido light strips are battery-powered.  Does anyone have a feeling yet for how long the batteries last?  Are they standard commercial batteries, like AAA?

If the batteries last a year or so in normal use (not impossible, since the lighting looks like it's LEDs) then this would be a viable option.  On the other hand, if they require replacement after every few hours of running, then the expense of power wipes is going to be a better option in the long run.

They're watch battery and shoul last for quite a whle

-Morgan

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