Ever since I bought the Kato HO Budd Business Car with its working marker lights I have wondered if any manufacturer followed the Kato lead and made a caboose with working marker lights?
What a difference running a train with train end marker lights that actually are illuminated. I know that there was a company that made working marker lights that one could add to an existing caboose but that is not my question.
I know that Rapido has released their new Wide Vision caboose with working rear marker lights but that model is too new for my layout. Perhaps Rapido will release the older caboose styles in the future.
Don,
A few thoughts and questions:
Do you generally run night scenes? Where such markers can actually be seen?
Going all the way back to the 70's, kits have been available to install your own. I think the limited success of such products may speak to to level of demand. Although I agree that may be changing with the "new" type of RTR modeler.
They are still available from Utah Pacific, through Walthers, Item #755-64, $15.00.
Now for my real questions - how long have you been in the hobby?, how many caboose models do you own?, do you like the quality, detail, appearance of the ones you have now?, what brands/styles are they?
So would you actually go out and buy a buch of new ones just to get lighted markers? How much would you pay?
This market research, I'm thinking of getting into the model train manufacturing business.
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Don, A few thoughts and questions: Do you generally run night scenes? Where such markers can actually be seen? Going all the way back to the 70's, kits have been available to install your own. I think the limited success of such products may speak to to level of demand. Although I agree that may be changing with the "new" type of RTR modeler. They are still available from Utah Pacific, through Walthers, Item #755-64, $15.00. Now for my real questions - how long have you been in the hobby?, how many caboose models do you own?, do you like the quality, detail, appearance of the ones you have now?, what brands/styles are they? So would you actually go out and buy a buch of new ones just to get lighted markers? How much would you pay? This market research, I'm thinking of getting into the model train manufacturing business. Sheldon
I have used the Utah Pacific markers with my own lens for thirty years or more on my cabooses. I used to use battery power with a switch under the floor, but other methods are now available. They have small bulbs in them and you can see them in lighted conditions.
I ditto the Utah Pacific marker lamps. I really like them. I originally used PFM micro-miniature bulbs in them because they were 1.5V and had insulated leads. I used a ballast resistor with a full wave rectifier (or just four diodes two in series in each direction) to get a constant 1.4V to the bulbs. The ballast resistor has to match the current needed to power the two bulbs. Through the years I've stuck with that basic design but have experimented with adding a large capacitor or a rechargable battery to reduce the flicker. I've also had to adjust to other brands of micro-miniature bulbs since PFM went off the market. The other brands are cheaper but I hate having to deal with their uninsulated leads. I have not tried LEDS yet because the bulbs work so well.
I use the Tomar marker lights. I have half a dozen cabooses fitted with them. Rather than mess around with track pickups, I use a single rechargable AA battery in a plastic battery holder from Radio Shack. I also have a single 1 1/2 volt bulb in the interior of the caboose on the side where the conductors desk is. Rather than mess around with a micro switch, I just put a fresh battery in the cabooses when I plan to do some night running. I took a Dremel and filed off the locking tabs on the body shell. It's a simple matter to just slip off the shell and insert a freshly charged battery. I bought a dozen rechargable Ni Cads online, cheap, along with a charger. Keep it simple!
I've used and like the Tomar setups for marker lamps. The thing I want to see though are the later style markers, like the KAto set, and any of the later lightweight cars. Their more like the teardrops than they are a lanturn, and I'm not proficent enough to make that.
-Morgan
This GN car is an Athearn Observation with lighted rear markers and tail sign. It has a Radio Shack battery holder and a small toggle switch on the bottom.
My kitbashed Walthers observation car, the Silver Fountain, has a lighted tail light and lighted interior. It also has a Radio Shack battery holder and a small toggle switch on the bottom.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
I understand that you're looking for the manufactures to build cabeese models with working markers already installed.
But with the many options you can add yourself, I personally don't see these coming on RTR caboose models in the near future. Also there are several variations in prototype styles and lens colors that quickly becomes cost prohibitive for the manufacturers to add working markers to caboose models.
I have two of what I consider to be the current top of the line plastic caboose models of the classic Santa Fe style caboose. They are made by Intermountain. They cost around $40.00 per caboose! And no they do not come with working marker lights. They don't come with any marker lights.
But it is so easy to add your own. I used Tomar marker lights as they have the right amber and red lenses as used by Santa Fe, and I like Tomar products.
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
My plan is drill shallow holes into the cast-on marker lights and add the little red jewels.
Jim
Just buy the Tomars. They come with the jewels and bulbs already installed.
Sheldon,
I first entered HO model railroading in the early 1970's and from then to 1980 is when I bought the bulk of my rolling stock, including cabooses. They are mainly Roundhouse, Athearn and Train Minature. My original steam engines were Rivarossi. Since returning to the hobby a few years ago I have replaced the steam engines mainly with Bachmann Spectrum, Proto Heritage and BLI engines. I kept the original rolling stock and upgraded the wheels and trucks. I have acquired a number of newer cabooses made by True Line and Walthers. Passenger equipment is mainly old Rivarossi and some new Spectrum, Hornby/Rivarossi and Walthers coaches.
The layout I am slowly working on will have lighting so I will likely be running trains both day and night.
As for the cabooses I would not likely replace them. The newer True Line and Walthers are better detailed than the older ones by far. I do still require a few more cabooses. I will likely add working marker lights to many of the cabooses based on the remarks made here.
As I mentioned in my original post Rapido has now produced a line of cabooses with working running lights. However, they are the newer style caboose and I have no need of them. I would certainly buy a few if they later bring out the old style caboose. I am advised that the Rapido Cabooses sold out almost immediately. The new Rapido Caboose is super detailed and also comes with an interior. I am advised that they were almost an instanty sold out.