Lighthouse scematic from 1980's

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Back in the 80’s Model Railroader had an article for making a light flash so that it looked like a rotating lighthouse beacon. Does anyone have the schematic? or know where it can be found?

2

I seem to recall that myself - probably part of the old Electronics Symposium series. Check the July 1978 issue, it included how to simulate a rotating beacon.

If you Google “Lighthouse Light Circuit” it will give you results for circuits you can either build yourself, or buy ready to install.

Mark.

3

You can e-mail Model Railorader customer services to see if they can send you a reprint of teh article, lacking that this is a list of lighthouse flashers from Walthers

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=LEM&scale=&manu=&item=&keywords=lighthouse&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search

4

http://members.iinet.net.au/~backway/OzDcc/lighthse.htm

http://www.discovercircuits.com/circuit-solutions/miniature-lighthouse.html

http://tinyurl.com/ng4l5uv

Rich

5

Ngineering also has a lighthouse module: http://www.ngineering.com/lighting%20effect%20for%20boats,%20ships,%20waterfront.htm

They also have buoy lights and other such flashing or “rotating” beacons. They are especially good to check when you need to fit in tight spots, as their focus is oriented toward fitting into N scale stuff. The lighthouse module above is less than 1" square.

6

from the magazine index, it looks like July 1978 Model Railroader, by John Decker

http://www.awrr.com/beacon.html looks like a description of the schematic from the article

7

Wow. Thanks for all the links guys. Now I have to build a few of them to find out which I like best

8

I am sure you know, the light is not revolving, just “simulating” that the beam is revolving. I use Miniatronic 1.2 mm diameter light bulbs that are the 1.5 volt types.

Rich

9

One caution, the parts list appears to be using Radio Shack part numbers, and, since RS is more into cell phones, R/C cars, etc, not everything may be available from them any more - I am thinking mostly about the NPN and PNP transisitors and the D1 & 2 diodes

10

If the OP like using an LED, a 3mm, inverted cone white LED would work. I have tried one and they give a nice 360 degree light.

Rich

11

gregc: Thanks for the schematic, I just built it and it’s perfect for my lighthouse. As for Radio Shack, I had most of the parts in my bins already si I didn’t have to go that way.