Large Scale Central

Bachmann K-27 lighting (Headlight) compared to Accucraft?

General Discussion
#1

So I ran my K for the first time at night outdoors…To say that the headlight was disappointing would be an understatement. Does anyone know if the Accucraft version throws off more light? My Bachmann engines with the white LEDs do a bit better but still pretty dim. I may just replace the LED with an incandescent.

I will admit from an operations viewpoint most “G” engines provide pitiful directional lighting. Some do ok, like the Bachmann 45 tonner. Some are great like my Lionel Atlantics. My USA/REA diesels, like the ‘K’ are pretty anemic. :frowning:

As the ‘K’ is one of my favorite pieces I’d just like a little more realism at night. As it is I won’t run it after dark, too embarrassing.

Mark

#2

I would change the LED for a brighter white one. I have done this for all my Bachmann stuff. A tip I read in GR says to roughen the surface of the LED to through more light.

Alec

#3

Just replace the existing LED with a “warm white” LED. I use the ones that come from Christmas lights.

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/eastbroadtop/TRR10/TRR1010.jpg)

As Alec states, scuff the outside of the LED with some sandpaper so it refracts the light, and that gets picked up by the reflector in the headlight. I’ve got these LEDs in almost all my headlights now, and the effect is very nice. I also replaced the LEDs in the class lamps. I’ve got headlight and class lights wired to functions 5 and 6 of my Aristo Revolution, so I can turn them on and off at will. The light on the tender is automatic when the loco is in reverse. Later, K

#4

Kevin,

What are you using for a reflector inside the headlight housing. I know you said at one time but I forgot. I have a headlinght by Trackside details that I’m adding a light to but I gotta figure out a different headlight housing, brass isnt going to work.

#5

In reality, most headlights on steam locomotives gave out a pitiful light beam, especially during the life of the Colorado NG The class lights on the NG never had red lenses, and were not used during the day. They used flags during the day, and both the lights and flags were either green or white, depending on the need. There were occasions that red lanterns were positioned on the head end of the NG locos, but it was only when the engine was running in reverse, on the back, or tail end of a train. Of course there may be those that can, and will prove otherwise.

#6

I rather like mine.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/slatecreek/_forumfiles/45crop.jpg)

Then again, it’s been tampered with … Matthew (OV)

#7

Ah, well. I can’t get the photo to work. Suffice it to say that at one point while settting up the sound in the tender, I used it as a flashlight to find the required cable in the dark …

#8

That’s what I want, a “flashlight”. :slight_smile:

So what did you use, warm white LED?

#9

Jake, that’s a stock Bachmann headlight with a new LED. If you’re looking for something to insert into a TD headlight, some folks have had luck with Mag-Lite reflectors. I don’t know if they still make them since most flashlights nowdays are LED.

Mark, yep, just a warm white LED from a string of Christmas lights. I get 'em in the clearance sales, so I end up paying $5 for usually 50 LEDs.

Later,

K

#10

Mine’s an incandescent grain of wheat bulb.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/slatecreek/_forumfiles/455to45.jpg)

Here’s an identical rig on a different locomotive (the headlight is even the same size…) http://youtu.be/WF1LVsnKElU I’d love to take credit, but these are two of TOC’s 14.4 volt wonders. Matthew (OV)

#11

There is nothing like the real thing for headlights. I use Mini Maglite reflectors inside my brass headlight housings. You can purchase the reflectors off the Maglite web page, I bought 20 of them years ago. They are too big to fit as is and must be turned down. I screw a retainer bolt for an electical face plate through the inside of the reflector; it’s tapered head will not scratch the reflective surface. I cut off excess support ribs on the back with wire cutters but DO NOT try to cut the reflector! The reflector surface is VERY fragile and only gradually sanding the outside will prevent deterioration of the reflective surface. It takes a while, but the result is stellar. Chuck your reflector in a drill press and lightly press sandpaper against the outside surface until you get it just small enough to slide into the brass headlight. You can use a grain of wheat bulb, or LED. Both will look great, and project a bright light ahead of the locomotive. If you do a search of Garden Railways Magazine look for the article “Let Your Lights Shine” and you will have a complete writup.

#12

Now that sounds like what I’m talking about!!! Of course the GR website was of no use.

Looks like Maglite has a new flashlight that will work…I’m going to try and order a few.

What state is Alexandria in?

#13

I used a reflector from a Life+Gear glow stick flashlight. It fit really well in a Trackside Details headlight ([url=

(http://www.tracksidedetails.com/pics/td-12.jpg)

]TD-12[/url]). For the light, I used a Golden White 3mm LED from Ulrich Models. I used the same LEDs for the class lights on #461. Here is what it looks like (on K-27 #461…that’s a bulb on #473):

(http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1729/locos1.jpg)

Here is #461 with the headlight off showing the reflector:

(http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/9510/k27hz.jpg)

#14
Mark V said:
What state is Alexandria in?
Virginia

The original one is in Egypt…:wink:

#15

I have an Alex about 2 hours from here…in Minnesota.

#16

My Alexandria is in Virginia.
The Mag Lites I was referring to are the Minies…about 3 inches long…
Looks like there are other lights out there that do not require sanding them down to size.
The really nice part of this is with a proper reflector the headlight looks real even with the light turned off.

#17

I just checked on the Headlight article in Garden Railways. It was in the April 2006 publication. I also found a photo of one of the Maglite reflectors installed in my Berlyn 4-6-0.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/littled/_forumfiles/Headlight.JPG)

#18

I accidentally did the photo twice…

#19

The Garden Railways Article on making a headlight was published in the April 2006 magazine. I also found a photo of one of these reflectors installed in my Berlyn RGS 4-6-0.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/littled/_forumfiles/Headlight.JPG)

#20
Jim Kottkamp said:
The really nice part of this is with a proper reflector the headlight looks real even with the light turned off.
Yes it does. Excellent and well worth the effort.