Using Fibre Optics for lights.
Fibre optic cable is an easy way to mount small lights into locos, wagons and coaches. Shown below are a couple of fibre optic installations that I have done that gives the loco or wagon a great lighting effect.
Fibre optic cable can be bought in .5mm, .75mm, 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.00mm sizes. This very helpful wholesaler will provide model railroaders small amounts of fibre optics.
Fibreoptic Lightguides
Unit 7 109-111 Hunter St.
Hornsby NSW 2077.
Phone 02 9482 3216
Other suppliers are:
Shop 2/21 Campbell St
Blacktown NSW 2148.
Phone 02 9831 8217
P.O. Box 740
Glen Innes NSW 2370
Phone 02 6732 5711 Fax 02 6732 1731
Other hobby shops may stock fibre optic cable, check with them. Another source of cables is a decorative small Christmas trees.
LEDs are the best light source and the fibre optic cable can easily be attached by drilling a hole, the same size as the cable, into the LED body. DO NOT use super glue to secure the cable, as this will reduce the transmission of light.
The flicker free circuit to supply the LED in the guards van makes for a really great tail light that will stay illuminated for a few minutes thus eliminating that annoying flicker. Easy cheap bogie pickups can be manufactured from phosphor bronze to power the LED from the track – no batteries required. See below.
I am very keen to fit some marker lights to my Austrains 36s as these will really enhance these models. I will add this to my list below when completed.
Examples of using Fibre Optics in a few of my models are:
Flicker free lights circuit using a Super Capacitor in a Guards Van.
Trainorama 44 red and white marker lights
Josh’s Ditch and Marker Lights in NSW NR & 81.