Got my Railsounds Upgrade from TA Studios - Now What?!!

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I recieved my Railsounds kit for my old Lionel 8480 F3’s and now I’m ready to install this kit - anyone do this before and have any suggestion on the install

Also anyone know how I can replace the headlight with constant voltage LEDs or bulbs - anyone put ditch lights on their F3’s?

thanks all

2

I have done it and the best suggestion is to read the instructions twice before the installation with the pieces in your hands so that you can follow along.

This time you gotta read the instructions.

3

FEC - to replace the headlight with an LED, you will need a superbright white LED (1,000 millicandella - mcd or 1 candella - cd - minimum or higher), a 1N4001 Diode, and a 560 or 610 ohm 1/4 watt resistor. Solder the resistor, 1N4001 diode, and the bright white LED in series, using heat shrink tubing to protect the exposed wires. Also add some flexible wire from each end connection. Note the cathode and anode connections for the diodes.

anode is this end —> -----l>l---- <----and cathode is this end

------////----------l>l------------l>l-------

Lineup above is 560ohm, 1N4001, LED

Connect the wires to the common (base of the F3) and to the pickup rollers (AC hot).

You will have to fabricate a mounting backet off of the original bulb mount and point the LED axially into the F3 headlight lens as white LEDs focus most of their light energy out the end of the LED. You will find the brightness increases with narrower beamwidth. White LEDS are typically sold in 20 degree, 50 degree, 70 degree, etc., beamwidths.

You can get the resistor and 1N4001 didode at Radio Shack. You will typically have to find a local electronics supplier or a web supplier for the super bright white LEDs.

Chi Wing on E-Bay has been a reliable supplier, good prices, delivery is from Hong Kong and takes a couple of weeks.

Richmond Controls is a supplier and has the warm white (not so blue - but less intensity due to manf process for warm white vs blue) LEDs.

http://www.richmondcontrols.com/

Hosfelt is another reliable supplier

http://www.hosfelt.com/

Have fun!
Roy

4

For an LED headlight you could just contact Scott’s Odds 'n Ends as written about in this months issue of CTT.

And the above advice on installing ANY kit from TAS is valid. Read the instructions from cover to cover. Then read them again. Then read them a third time with the parts laid out in front of you. Then start.

Jon [8D]

5

And if you are still not sure, email or call TAS, they are very helpful. Of course you can always have them install their stuff for you if you really don’t want to do it.

John