Ditch Lights and Painting???

[swknox]

HI Guys,

I have some newer Atlas locos such as GP35's, Dash8-40B's & C's , SD35, GP38's, etc... All have the Dual Mode Decoders in them but now I want to upgrade to a sound decoder for all the locos. Also I would like to repaint the locos to a free lance Rail Road that I am Building and add such Items as ditch lights to represent modern day. The one reason I want to go freelance is it provides me a reason to have all these locos operating together, such as a large regional RR that uses older equipment still that class 1 RR gave up long ago. All Locos are factory painted by Atlas for Conrail or NS - mostly conrail cept 2 units for NS gp 40 high noses I bought. Whats the best way to repaint them since they have a factory paint job and the best sound decoders to use that would also allow me to use ditch lights? I have experience on an air bush but never painted anything other than undecorated units before this. One last question about ditch lights - some RTR models only have them up front but the real locos I see have them in the front and rear, is it possible to have them up front and in the rear of a model train? Thanks guys Shawn

[Anonymous]

I don't see why you couldn't put them on the rear too, it should be fine, but you'll have to either drill them in yourself or put cast holders up on the walkway. Then you'll just wire two bulbs off of the same lug on the decoder. I used 1.2mm miniatronics bulbs for my ditch lights, with 560 and 640 resistors, one loco with each. The 560's make a bright light, but I think the 640's are probably a better one to use for looks and longevity.

Greg