I have several older (made in Austria) Atlas FP7’s. They come with numberboards that can be lighted. I use one blub for the headlight and try and use another for the numberboards. This does not work well at all. Usually only one numberboard lights up.
Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get the light to both numberboards without having to put in another bulb?
Thanks,
Bob Meeks
Propagator@earthlink.net
Bob,
Is there a length of clear plastic tubing extending from the back of the number boards? (I’m not familiar with the Atlas FP7 at all.) On many models whose number boards are intended to be lit, there is a length of clear plastict that extends back from both numberboards to a common point - often beside the headlight bulb - and these are intended to transmit light to the number boards - as only a soft glow is needed. You could re-create these with clear plastic sprues or tubing, leading to the headlight bulb (if it sits back far enough in the body to shine light) or you could use a separate bulb where the two tubes would meet.
If only one bulb lights, though, I’d be concerned about your wiring. If the bulbs are in series - i.e., the electricity has to pass through one bulb, then the other bulb, to get from positive to ground - then you must use identical bulbs, or only one of them will light, and the other will only barely glow (if at all). I’d recommend using bulbs of a high enough voltage that you can wire them in parallel.
Another good option would be to use an LED for each numberboard.
Jim
I’ve got two of these from the “E R Models” brand (same loco, different name on the box). Mine have a brass tube over the lightbulb that acts as both a light guide and a heatsink, and the numberboards light up fairly well. I spent a few minutes painting the edges of the numberboards which improves their appearance massively (they just pop out if you press gently from behind). If yours has the brass tube, you could try sawing a small amount off the end of it - this would result in the light being unshaded further back and therefore more light getting to the numberboards. Hope this helps!