I am some structures that need exterior lights, such as what would go above a loading dock door or an entrance. All I see online are gooseneck lamps and Victorian streetlamp-style things… all of which are too old for the 1980s era I model.
I would prefer the lights be lit via LEDs instead of bulbs.
Anyone know of anything commercially available? Thanks.
I can’t remember the manufacturer of these, but they’re 1.5v grain of wheat bulbs that are already wired. Drill a small hole in the wall, then insert the stem. I wired them together in parallel so they would all have the same voltage using a AA battery.
And at night…
Thanks for starting this tread! I also model the 1980s and agree that there are too few modern outdoor light options. Perhaps others can provide reasonably priced ideas.
I was going to suggest WEHONEST on eBay but their site is shutdown for a Chinese holiday, along with several others too.
I also use incandescent bulbs and make the lamp shades from washers. I use 2mm 12 volt bulbs and 2mm washers for the shades.
I operate the 12 volt Grain of Wheat bulbs at 8½ volts for longer life an much more realistic 50s look. To make the washer concave I put it on a pice of pine and using a Allan Screw Ball drive tool then hitting it with a hammer.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
They look great, but aren’t suitable for the era I am modeling AND I would prefer LEDs.
A few years ago I came up MT when searching for more modern exterior lighting fixtures. While not fancy I fashioned some by capping off the ends of some round & square styrene tubing pieces with 2mm tower LEDs & SMDs for lighting.
The end portion of an 2mm tower LEDs casts less light than a SMD & requires a larger hole, but the fixture size can be a bit smaller in length. The tower LED can do double duty by also lighting the interior of the structure if so desired. Structure wall thickness is a determining factor when using a tower LED.
Regardless of LED type the stryene fixture interior requires a thick coat of black paint to eliminate light bleed.
Freight door fixture is SMD lighted.
Side entry door fixture tower LED lighted.
Regards, Peter
I picked up some flat LEDs to mount under porch roofs, where the fixture wouldn’t be seen but the light would. I think it would be easy enough to fabricate a fixture from styrene and buy the LEDs separately.
HO-Velo,
That’s an idea I might try. Should be cheap enough. Thanks!
Hi Benjamin,
You can buy warm white or cool white 0603 pre wired LEDs pretty cheaply. These are flat chips that will shine the light down like a real lamp: