Which manufacturer’s MARS or Gyralite is the most realistic? I am totally turned off by the one in the P2K E6, a dual filament, alternately flashing light. Back in January, there was a post that had a link in it to a mfg that produced a really super MARS light effect, lamp came on slowly to full brightness then slowly dimmed out. That link had three or four AVI clips showing their product in an E-Unit and an F-Unit. What is the opinion of Accurate Lighting’s unit or the one that Minitronics supplies? What other mfgs are there to choose from?
I put a dual filament mars light on my NKP berk, and it was dim/bright and looked great.
cant remember if it was modeltronics or some other maker.
This was years ago, worked!
If I find the maker, I’ll post it.
Richmond controls units (Mars AND Gyralight) are really great but they take FOREVER to ship. I had to wait almost a year for some units I ordered and I’m currently waiting for 4 Mars light units I ordered on Oct 28
I was kind of impressed with the P2K E6’s mars light. You don’t ever get down low enough to look straight into the lens, and from outside the effect is about the same.
Gotta tell you that If you look at the P2K E unit “stock” mars light and then see a mars light unit from Circuitron, or lights that are controlled from a DCC decoder, you’ll notice a big difference!
A friend of mine has been installing mars and gyra light effects in his locomotives using the FX feature from Digitrax DCC decoders. The results are stunning and just as good the Mars Lights effects that you can see in BLI E units. After seeing my friend’s GS-4 and Atlas FP7s that he retrofitted with Mars lights; the “blinking” light effect that comes in P2K E units now looks very toylike to me. All of my P2K E-units and two Atlas FP7s will receive the realistic functioning Mars light effects.
ORDER DIRECT from Richmond controls. He is very helpful . He made me up a custom lighting system for my CZ Observation: Flashing MARS tail, flicker free red sidemarkers, + illum. drumhead, that was the HIT of our yearly show. Not cheap, but worth every penny.
LHS’ charge full list anyway and they have to establish CREDIT.
trainwreck100
If you are “impressed” with P2K’s dual filamet Mars, you’ll fall on the floor with the ‘pulsing’ Richmond unit. Not even close.
For GS-4 engine’s, I prefer the 'Gyralight (dual pulse).
[:D] Thanks for all the responses and the discussion. Don’s direction is what I was after - the dual pulse as in the GS4. I remember some of the add-on lights SP used on ther GPs, had two-lamp housings and both lamps moved in the figure-eight pattern, I think. What about UP? Their passenger E-units had oscillating lights but were they MARS or Gyralite?
Just wondering, but does anyone have opinions on the MARS/Gyralite effects in the Lenz DCC decoders? I set the 1024 decoders in a couple of FP7s to use this recently and was impressed, but I’ve not seen the real thing in action hence my query. My plan is to add a couple of LEDs or other tiny bulbs to light the numberboards as with the stock lighting setup (single bulb) everything flashes!
The broadway limited mars light looks great. I have milwaukee road E8 from them and I’ve enjoyed it avery minute. but I really do not know if there is a better light out there or not. If there is could you let me know. Thanks.
James