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Suggestions on headlight numberboard lenses

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  • Member since
    November 2012
  • From: Kokomo, Indiana
  • 1,463 posts
Posted by emdmike on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 5:05 AM

That micro crystal clear should work good.  It is a brass casting but with open numberboards for ilumination, which they will since I have installed directional lighting along with the flashing beacons.   I will pick up some of that the next trip to the hobby shop.       Mike

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, November 19, 2018 9:24 PM

 If the openings are small enought, Micro Scale Krystal Klear will form a nice filled in lens look. Definitely easier than trying to form super tiny pieces of clear plastic.

                             --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    January 2018
  • From: Douglas AZ.
  • 635 posts
Posted by Little Timmy on Monday, November 19, 2018 9:23 PM

I have used this stuff, for those "Hard to work with" area's.

https://www.walthers.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=kristal+klear

Perfect for attaching window glass, aircraft canopies, headlights and other clear parts to models. Dries completely clear, or tint with food coloring to make light lenses, stained glass or other special applications. Can be used to model window glass by applying in a thin layer to window openings. Cleans up with water; waterproof when dry.

Rust...... It's a good thing !

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, November 19, 2018 9:07 PM

Are you planning on illuminating the number boards?  Some brass headlight castings for steam locomotives had side numberboards cast as an integral part of the headlight, as on the loco shown below...

Most of these castings were hollow to accommodate a light, but were otherwise solid, while some types had open numberboard areas, too.
For the latter type, since I don't use lighting of any sort on my locos, I simply filled them with strip- or sheet styrene, then painted it with the rest of the loco, and added number decals.
If I were to use illumination in such castings, I'd use clear plastic, such as Lucite or Plexiglass, filed to fit the openings. 

There is/was someone offering white and/or black numberboard decals, available with clear numerals, but I don't recall the name of the company.  These could be applied over the clear plastic, the numbers lit by the LED or bulb also serving as the headlight.

Wayne

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • From: Kokomo, Indiana
  • 1,463 posts
Suggestions on headlight numberboard lenses
Posted by emdmike on Monday, November 19, 2018 7:59 PM

I am finishing up a brass Sperry rail car and need ideas for numberboard "glass" in the headlights.  They are open on this model and need something in them.  I tried cutting down window material but its so small that I am unable to install it "shakey hands"  Is there something else I can use to fill them?   I have the car nicely painted, decaled, working lights with flashing beacons on both ends and window glass installed.   Runs good as its a late model Hallmark/Dong Jin with a Sagami can motor.   Pics soon, still have the car in pieces on my bench at the moment.    Thanks  Mike the Aspie. 

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

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