I have removed the original lightboard that came with my Bachmann Spectrum NJT F40PH Diesel locomotive. They claimed that it has strobe lights when it certainly DOES NOT!!! Strobe lights blink and go on the top. That sun of a gun lightboard does not even have numbers in it. and it emits a bluish glow. Where can I purchase an HO scaled number board like the one in the picture below, if not how can I kitbash it?
While not familiar with the newer run of this model I can say that the older ones do have two strobes on top. One of my projects on the back burner is to convert one of these to DCC, but the motor runs so poorly (bearing noise) that if just isn't worth my effort. As far as the number boards, get a sheet of Microscale number board backgrounds and numbers which should solve your problem.
It certainly looks like it has strobes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX4kZBRiGZg
If you don't like the bluish tint of the number boards, you might change the bright white LED to a yellow-glow LED, or replace the LED with 3 volt incandescent bulbs. Add your numbers from decals, to the number boards.
It ain't rocket science, it's toy trains!
If you don't have one, get a Walthers HO catalog for reference. You will be amazed what all you can find in it if you look!
Also, be glad you don't have a Tyco loco...they had numbers on the number boards, but they were the same number, no matter what road name they were painted in!
Rotor
Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often you won't even notice ...