Locomotive LEDS

[mikebo]

It really depends on the loco. Some (most proto 2k, some Stewart) have a recess in the weight or cab interior where you can sit the led.  On other I either use double face tape and a few inches of excess wire to allow me to remove the shell.  Another approach is to glue a piece of plastic tube behind the light opening and push the LED in the tube.

Recently I have found that Microscale Krystal Kleer, stuff thats made to create windows works pretty well to hold LED's in place. Once it dries it's clear and is water soluble so you can remove it if you need to.

[Dub]

If you fix to the cab, go with silicone. It's removable. I once used red to fasten yellow flashers and it reflected out. Black is prefered.

[locoi1sa]

  Wire the LEDs!!!! Do you want to pop a decoder light function or a $3 LED. Wire is cheap and easy to tie back and handle. I have glued LEDs to the shell with some silicone or rubber cement.

   Pete
 

[MisterBeasley]

I mount all my LEDs on my frame and have them live just behind the lights....but I am strange like that.

David B

Another vote for this.  I do have some engines where I've actually glued the LED into the shell, but that eternally tethers the shell and frame via the wiring.  (No choice on this, really.  Just the way it was.)

LEDs have a very directional light output, like a flashlight beam.  So, even if you are a bit behind the shell, most of the light will still come out the front.

As for the wipers?  Nah.  Don't even consider it.  You won't be able to control the headlights from the decoder, the wipers are going to give you more flicker than running through the decoder, and the wipers add drag to the engine and will force you to use more power just to move down the track.  The minor hassle of running wires is really well worth the gains of wiring the lights correctly to begin with.

[Randall_Roberts]

I mount all my LEDs on my frame and have them live just behind the lights....but I am strange like that.

David B

I prefer that too.  It makes it easier to take the loco apart again if you need to.

[alloboard]

What is the neatest and most efficient way of holding locomotive lights on to the shell holes? I will also like to use a mixture of contact wipers instead to string wires all the way from a decoder onto the front of the locomotive.