HO-modeling functional lighting

[Anonymous]

Looking for a way to model exterior lighting. I am trying to model functional lighting, the kind that are on older buildings they just have a refletor and a bulb usually mounted to the building with a "goose" neck shaped conduit. I have found the reflectors from Cambell Scale models and even the tiny bulbs (smaller than grain of wheat). My question is how do you power it up so it is realistic looking? The bulb wires are small but not small enough to get through a realistic "scale" conduit. Any tricks out there? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[edo1039]

You might want to consider attaching them to an inexpensive dimmer switch so you can regulate the brightness,after you find away to install them.Ed

[Anonymous]

Hi Joseph, I ran into this too and here's how I solved it. What you need to use is called magnet wire... it is used to wind the armatures on minature electic motors...just like the ones in your locos... Radio Shack carries #30 magnet wire which is about the size of a small thread. The higher the # the smaller the wire. I've seen some that's about as thin as a hair. It is insulated by a coat of enamel which you have to scrape off to make a connection. If you need smaller than # 30 try some electronic supply places. I use this in conjuction with the 1.5 volt minature bulbs from Circuit Concepts and they are super realistic. Looks just like a bulb hanging in a gooseneck fixture. Circuit Concepts makes a power supply for them too and they also have a lot of dollhouse lighting and wiring that would seem to have a lot of model railroad use too. Worse comes to worse unwind the armature on an old no good loco motor to get the wire you need....Vic

[Anonymous]

Vic,
How do you hide the magnet wire? Do you find smaller brass tube and run it in that? Or do you glue it to the outside of some brass wire?

Thanks