I just posted this same subject on the MRR prototype site but it occurred to me that someone here may have more knowledge. I appreciate the help.
> I bought cheaply undecorated Precision Modelcraft F3A&B units that I have painted and decaled for Erie RR, circa 1950s.
I have just bought a Tsunami sound decoder to install and am wondering if the lower headlight could/would be a Mars light in this loco? It will involve cutting the secondary light board in the cockpit but it would be worth it.
Finally, did the B units normally have any sort of lighting as I have extra leads to use? <
MARS lights were an optional feature on F's and E's. They could come on the new unit or they could be added later by the owner. Some railroads would hang a headlight on the rear of the 'B' unit for back up moves ( some 'b' units even had controls on one end to move the B Unit by itself, or the b Unit was permanently coupled to the A Unit by a drawbar.
The rule if modeling specific units would be 'What did the Modeled Railroad do?' At the same time, it is your model, your perrogative to hang on it what you want.
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Thanks for the advice. Since this particular model came with upper and lower headlamps, I think I will use the upper for a MARS light. May not be prototype for Erie as all my picture show just the one headlight, but....... it will look impressive!
And I have the extra leads on the tether and plan to leave the A&B permanently tethered so I will find a dedicated light.
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