Several years ago, I converted a Athearn Blue Box Kit powered Budd RDC-3, with the Ernst Gear Drive System Kit, saying bye-bye for good to the old rubber band drive system.
A near future project on this unit, will be to equip with a operable headlight (s), of coarse retaining the DC power mode. (No DCC).
In my mind, I've worked up a way to light, in line with the stock system used on Blue Box Locomotives.
Will use headlight fixtures offed by either Detail's West or Detail Associates, applyed and holes drilled through car body to emit lighting.
Thinking something in line with the locomotive headlight bracket group, that is stock with locomotives.
Like some ideas on how others have accomplished this project, possibly with photo's of lighting mounting, within the car body and body frame.
Hi there,
I have not done this with an RDC but it is on my long term to do list. However I have fitted LED's to most of my other locos including an SW7 where I put an LED in the cabin headlight.
I shielded the LED with a bit of heat shrink so it would not light the cab up etc so I would personally have a detachable cable from the chassis wiring (computer plug) so you could glue the heat shrink (or a black straw) to the roof of the Budd Car.
Alternatively build a thin styrene box and glue it in place...
BTW I do also have a LL Budd but it looks a bit silly on my curves so it does not see much use these days!
Hope this helps...
Cheers from Australia
Trevor
Here is a method of using LEDs for constant lighting on dc systems. I've put some together and it does work as described.
http://www.pollensoftware.com/railroad/index.html
Mark