New lighting for BB's

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

OK, I saw a recent post on installing a “grain of rice” bulb in an Athearn loco using a brass tube.

Is there any reason I couldn’t use a steel tube instead?

Thanks

Gordon

2

Should work, or you could just use LEDs which don’t require a metal tube to keep the plastic from melting, and will never burn out.

–Randy

3

I used a piece of black shrink tubing around the side and back of a LED. I installed this in the front and back of an Athearn GP-38.

4

That black shrink sleeve is great! I have just used that trick on two LEDs in a small switcher and there was virtually no light spillage. I did leave about 1/16 inch uncovered at the front of the LED to ensure that enough light spread to two parallel lenses ( using a 5mm LED with an internal cone diffuser). Cedarwoodron