Hey guys, i want to install some kind of lighting in my N scale roundhouse stalls…What should i be looking at? Thanks!
For my HO version, I used a string of battery-powered LED christmas lights. Here’s the package:
They cost me about $5 on sale the day after Christmas. I stripped off the rope and the snowflake and was left with this:
And here’s how it looked with the roundhouse basically complete (but before sealing of light leaks and such):
I put a resistor decade box in line with a wall wart and cut resistance in and out of the circuit until I got a brightness I liked.
Probably doesn’t matter too much what scale you’re in.
Darn, that really looks good, Mark. [Y]
Rich
I used LEDS from China along with products from Ngineering and ended up with this. I like things to pass muster in photos and though not perfect we are getting there.
Mockup
I used mostly the string LEDs similar to what Mark has but I bought mine from Amazon and they were just plain SMDs wired to a pair of copper wires:
RH_lights5 by Edmund, on Flickr
They have a nice golden glow. I just strip off the insulation and size-up the proper resistor for the number of LEDs I want on that circuit, usually no more than seven.
The gooseneck lamps were from WeHonest or one of the similar suppliers. Of course, N scale would be a different animal altogether:
I didn’t spend as much effort to hide the wiring as Brent did but I tucked as much as possible up into the rafters.
I saw some roundhouse interior photos showing lights on the columns shining toward the running gear. I wanted to replicate these as well:
RH_lights4 by [url=https://www.flick
I wanted the 50s look for my roundhouse and LEDs just don’t do it for me. My roundhouse is HO scale and size probably does make a difference but I went with 12 volt Grain of Wheat bulbs operating at 70% brightness to get the 50s realistic incandescent look.
I ran bare copper wires spaced at about ¼” and soldered the 3mm GOW bulbs to the wires. Four bulbs over each stall. The bulbs draw about 50ma each at 8½ volts or 70% brightness for a total of 1 amp. I run all incandescent bulbs for my structure lighting so I’m setup for high current lighting and the extra current or heat isn’t a problem for me. It’s the price I pay for more realistic looking lighting, I have hundreds of GOW bulbs on my layout and running at the lower voltage I haven’t had to replace a bulb in 33 years.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I agree. Classic modelling. Think of the effect you want and keep your eyes open for a suitable “thing” you can adapt to your purpose.
This site really needs a “like” button.
Wow, you guys have now 100% convinced me that I will need to light my roundhouse interior.
-Kevin
Think about what you will be doing before you put the structure together, it will make the job easier.[(-D]
Or at least before you put the roof on! [:D]
–Randy
Just a thought guys. If you are modeling steam era there will be plenty of smoke. The lights will be rather dull. As the building will have been there a number of years, the brickwork will be smoky black. Any windows will be smoky.
Most real buildings on a railroad are older than any of us. Nothing is ‘straight out of the box’.
Happy modeling.
David
Sometimes, yes — sometimes, not so much.
I still recall visiting the Western Maryland’s roundhouse in Hagerstown, and it was nearly spotless inside. Walls and ceilings brightly whitewashed. Bessemer & Lake Erie’s Greenville, PA roundhouse was also another one very well maintained and the light fixtures were cleaned on a regular basis.
Some of the photos I’ve seen of Nickel Plate Road roundhoused in Conneaut and Bellevue, Ohio also showed that these were kept very clean and well lit. The Bellevue roundhouse was fairly new with glass-block walls and fluorescent lights.
Cheers, Ed
I love the grime and I am working on but like to do it in concert with the surrounding area on the layout, it will come.
I can control the brightness of the lights with one of these. I bought a bunch for $2.00 ea.
I have never seen a ‘clean one’.
I guess it is a case of checking the actual roundhouse that is being modeled. [:)]
David
This is the look I want. CPR Vancouver RH.
http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/drake_street/roundhouse.htm
Where did you get and what is it called.
I ordered 500 LEDs for $2.50 several rolls of copper tape for $8.00 and a bunch of these voltage regulators for $2.00ea from China. It took 11 days to get here.
I ran copper tape along the rafters instead of wire and hung the lights from that. You can see the resistors soldered to the copper tape. After it was all soldered up I painted it white, here is a mockup.
Looking really good BATMAN. Well done.
David
Thanks David, it was a successful experiment.
Holy roundhouse lighting, Batman!
You went to a lot more trouble than I did! That will look great in the finished model!