A fix for poor light output in Spectrum Consolidation

Good job, Frank.

Any thought of experimenting with a fiber optic bundle?

Jay CNS&M North Shore Line - "First and fastest"

I haven't - are you saying as a replacement for the clear rod I used for a new lens?

Anyway, my goal in this fix was to make it as easy and as painless as possible. To that end, I think that chances are more hobbyists have access to the clear rod in their scrap parts box than they would fiber optic.

Yep, and to carry the light from the bulb - without moving the bulb.

Trivia: If ocean water were as clear as optic fiber, you'd be able to see to the bottom of the Marianas Trench (35,000+ ft. deep).

Jay CNS&M North Shore Line - "First and fastest"

OK - tell me how I go about procuring some, about the diameter of a piece of clear plastic sprue...

Frank,

Try:

They're reasonably priced and have a good selection of sizes.

Mike Tennent "IronPenguin"

Use a bundle of however many you need. The glue together with ACC or Goo. Sources? American Science & Surplus, Edmunds Scientific, back of a phone company truck (cut-offs from splices).

Jay CNS&M North Shore Line - "First and fastest"

Hmmm... wouldn't bundling filaments together make a distinguishable pattern of light in a lens, as opposed to a solid piece?

BTW, I've requested a sample pack of single filament 1-3MM from The Fiber Optic Store. Hope they come through!!!

My local hobby stores carry clear 6" plastic rods of various diameters. I don't remember if they called them optical plastic or not. I've discovered I can make some nice lenses by heating the end.

I checked it out - an interesting approach. I've always preferred to put bulbs in headlights, where they belong. I run DC, so I remove the circuit board in the tender, replacing it with a TTR constant lighting unit that puts out 1.5v DC. Using existing wiring, I run the output to the smokebox, and hook a 1.5vmini-bulb to it. And yes, you do have to remove the boiler shell. The Bachmann 2-8-0 uses a rather peculiar arrangement to gather the light from the bulb hidden in the boiler weight. It can usally be carefully removed by grasping the headlight housing with one hand and twisting the light pipe (a cup shape with a rod extending into the headlight through the boiler front). Once removed, the micro bulb can be slipped through the hole in the boiler front and into the back of the headlight housing. This places the bulb in about the right position for a real bulb, into the recess in the headlight lens. Reassemble everything, and replace the boiler shell.

Something similar could be done in DCC with an appropriate resistor attached to one of the bulb leads, and stashed in the smokebox...

Yes, plastic rod is available. However, I would venture to say that some folks have clear plastic sprue in their scrap parts box, and that is a good material for making lenses, as the article showed. And it doesn't cost a red cent! (grin)

Thanks!

Yes, if you don't mind doing some rewiring, lots of other approaches can be taken. My article was looking for the most painless approach, for folks who don't want to do any rewiring at all.