Fibre optic lighting

[ROZ]

Martin7, that is OUTSTANDING!

I've taken a bit of a sabatical but after going to the recent Southampton MRX I'm fired up once more, and buying stuff I can't run (yet)!!!! Funny thing is I did use this technique to illuminate a clock I put in my MX-5 (off topic I know...)

[dubdee1000]

Martin 71

I have to ditto ROZ's previous comments. Your work is simply STUNNING. I've just spent a while browsing through your youtube channel and was completely blown away. That said, i am now left with that sort of empty feeling when i look at my fleet

[edwardholmes91]

Martin 71

I have to ditto ROZ's previous comments. Your work is simply STUNNING. I've just spent a while browsing through your youtube channel and was completely blown away. That said, i am now left with that sort of empty feeling when i look at my fleet

I totally agree! I can't believe ive not replied sooner and congratulated you on your OUTSTANDING work! I remember looking at the pictures and videos absolutely awestruck!

[tuxychuff]

Brilliant, how about getting "steam" (smoke) To come from the whistle at the same time as the sound is trigggered

[Evaret]

I am really impressed with this type of lighting and what has been done. Congrats to Martin 71 and the others for their awesome work. I would like to try it.

But I can't work out how the lighting is powered? The lights in the engines seem to be powered through the DCC decoder?

I would be interested in doing some lighting without fiddling with a decoder.I would appreciate any advice on how I could set up an alternative power supply.

Thanks
Evaret

[bigbob]

Anyone got any tips on cutting the fibre optic without crushing it??

Bob

[trainsandco]

just snapping it is a good way

[bigbob]

Not very accurate though if you have 3mm sticking out the front of a Loco and want to cut it to size!

[edwardholmes91]

Seems a bit overkill but how about using something like a dremel? It might make it go a bit translucent on the end thought. Or try using a nice sharp knife. If you use something like a pair of wire cutters then I guess you get the crushed thing? Or again with sissors I suppose the same would happen.

[ste234]

Hmmm... Martin i love the shot of the n gauge model, very tempting indeed...
Might have to have a look at ordering some fibres and having a go at my 168 Chiltern, it cries out for lights!

[johnco]

All the fibre optic lights that i have used has come from a xmas tree found in a skip, I have enough to last for ever.
A bulb can be formed by holding the end of the fibre above a match or lighter, do not breathe in the fumes and be careful that the whole lot does not catch fire. I do it above the gas cooker (in the off mode) but with the extractor fan on. The bulb can then be glued at the back of the hole drilled in the loco body.

[Bufferstop]

As well as discarded Christmas trees you should look out for old 60s style UFO lamps, they had a bundle of fibres about an inch in diameter coming out of the top, 100s of fibres about nine inches long.

[beeman]

Have a look at this for interest.[urlhttp://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Forums/vi ... =7&t=35276][/url]. when doing coach/stock, tail light why bother with optical fibres when a 2 mm = 6'' led is just about correct scale size if the pip is filed off to almost flush with the main block a 10k resistor producing acceptable o/p level off DCC.Paint black then white so light only shows through filed 'lens'..The wire in tube method I concocted for the Pullmans, while worked, proved difficult to connect together, age and eyes getting on etc., so how have others connected a rake of coaches together so coaches can be parted, lighting switched, no flicker,no permanent wiring between, and not connected to loco, allowing loco change ?.. Doing some more coaches, I've now joined 'others' by using the warm white LED strips for coach internal lighting, rather than individual led's, a limiting resistor in each coach/strip feed to reduce the too bright light O/P. bit more expensive but easier. Beeman.
edit. 99p and pound shops stock fibre optic mares tail lights, but fibre being small diameter do not transmit much light. Size is important, unless optical concentrators/intensifiers are available .Found the xmas tree material brittle/broke when bent.

[beeman]

Try this if looking for a supplier at reasonable cost. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Component-Sho ... op=1&_vc=1
Beeman.

[Martin71]

Hi
As Beeman said why bother,

tail light why bother with optical fibres when a 2 mm = 6'' led is just about correct scale size if the pip is filed off

totally agree if your eyesight is failing.

On the other hand if it is not failing I would if that's your interest go the full hog. In most cases you need to use optic fibre in n gauge. I use it in OO, O etc for dash lights warning buttons on carriage doors etc.

This is n gauge





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Qh01LkJaU

Optic fibre was used right through these 2 n gauge HST's giving you 16 fully independent lighting functions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs2sOVac-p0

Day v night shot optic fibre used in bar area and fully controlled by 4 function decoder.







Another Pullman with the table lights switched off.



If you want to have it looking good fibre is the way to go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUwgaHOTlPY

I could only achieve this with fibre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB2958lE_eg

I don't bother joining any of my coaches any more not worth the hassle, I just put a decoder into each one.

Anyway thanks for the previous comments guys much appreciated, family and work has consumed far more of my hobby life but I hope to rein it back in soon.

Cheers

Martin