[RioGrandeFan]

Wanted to share with the group what I have been doing to the C-18 as far as lights go. This all started because I personally think the class lights that came with the model are a let down just based on appearance. So I purchased brass class lights from shapeways and got started.
I needed to figure a way to mount the class lights using the existing mounts on the smoke box. What I decided to do was take the stock lights and cut the base off using the lower section for the mounting points, before cutting I drilled them out slightly under from the diameter of the new lights so they are press fit and painted them black.
My plan is to use a coin battery with a switch mounted in the cab to route the wires back I replaced the handrails with brass tube and used small magnet wire. The headlight wire follows the same path as the prototype while the class lights use the tube.
My only concern so far is the wire from the headlight runs along the boiler in shrink tube and I'm worried the shrink tube will melt against the heat. I plan to fire it up in the next day or so to see what happens.
I will let you guys know.

 

[ripperj]

That came out nicely, good job.

 

[DetailsDetails]

You did Indeed improve the look of this locomotive. Nice job!

 

[Tdreabe]

That's great looking. Any plans to light the number boards? I'll be looking to do these on my engine someday.

 

[Tdreabe]

Another thought, I wouldn't be too worried about the wires by the boiler, I could hold my hand on my boiler at 20psi. The smoke box area is where I would worry since there's less insulation. Although, hopefully the heat has been absorbed by then.

 

[RioGrandeFan]

Thanks for the comments.

I am not going to be lighting the number boards it's to much work for me. I would need to mill out the current number boards and replace with glass then decal and finally wiring.
I completed the project and ran today with no issues from the heat of the boiler overall I am very happy with how it turned out. Got the switch and battery mounted in the cab.

My next project for this one is RC.

 

[ferroequinologist]

Hey Kevin, I'm surprised the heat shrink held up at the smokebox end so it's really something worth doing so thanks for being first and letting us know. Ever thought of another light in the cab roof to see pressure gauge and sight glass?
Russell

 

[piercedan1000]

Could light pipes work here? search for white light pipes at mouser.com Other colors are available!!

 

[RioGrandeFan]

Hey Kevin, I'm surprised the heat shrink held up at the smokebox end

Me too. The shrink tube does get soft on the smoke box maybe overtime and a hot summer day it will melt? What about adding another layer of insulation as is? A cab light would be cool I could probably mount everything including the switch and battery to the roof.

 

[Pete Thornton]

I'm surprised the heat shrink held up at the smokebox end

I'm still a little curious what it is for. I used tube instead of handrails - I got a deal on stainless steel hypodermic tubing on Amazon: 3x 36" tubes for less than $5. I ran it all the way into the cab, with a similar motor wire inside, using the loco as the ground. Not too tricky to disconnect from the power source in the cab, so I didn't use a fancy plug like yours!

 

[RioGrandeFan]

Pete,
In some places I also replaced the handrails with tubing. I used shrink tubing for the main headlight as I wanted to follow the prototypes routing for the wire and I like the way it conforms to areas where I would have to bend metal tubing like around the boiler straps which isn't a problem except from my experiences trying to bend such small tubing it collapses making it very hard to pass wires through.
A plug isn't needed but I decided to add one incase I need to remove the cab, I can simply unplug instead of removing the the battery and switch from the cab.
I think I am going to double up the insulation in the smoke box to prevent any issues.

 

[bigsteam]

K&S tubing is available online. They have thin wall copper as well as brass. The copper can be annealed and easily bent in small radiuses; use it instead of heat shrink.

Pikes Peak Loco Works used it for the oiler lines, 1/16 OD, from the lubricator to the smokebox instead of feeding oil directly into the steam line where it will coke/cake up the inside of the superheater.

 

[bigsteam]

Try here: Round Copper Tube |1/16" to 1/4" OD | K&S Precision Metals| USA Made

 

[Modelmaster45]

Thanks for the comments.

I am not going to be lighting the number boards it's to much work for me. I would need to mill out the current number boards and replace with glass then decal and finally wiring.
I completed the project and ran today with no issues from the heat of the boiler overall I am very happy with how it turned out. Got the switch and battery mounted in the cab.

My next project for this one is RC.

View attachment 65777
View attachment 65779
View attachment 65778

Wanted to share with the group what I have been doing to the C-18 as far as lights go. This all started because I personally think the class lights that came with the model are a let down just based on appearance. So I purchased brass class lights from shapeways and got started.
I needed to figure a way to mount the class lights using the existing mounts on the smoke box. What I decided to do was take the stock lights and cut the base off using the lower section for the mounting points, before cutting I drilled them out slightly under from the diameter of the new lights so they are press fit and painted them black.
My plan is to use a coin battery with a switch mounted in the cab to route the wires back I replaced the handrails with brass tube and used small magnet wire. The headlight wire follows the same path as the prototype while the class lights use the tube.
My only concern so far is the wire from the headlight runs along the boiler in shrink tube and I'm worried the shrink tube will melt against the heat. I plan to fire it up in the next day or so to see what happens.
I will let you guys know.

View attachment 65763
View attachment 65765
View attachment 65769
View attachment 65768
View attachment 65764
View attachment 65766
View attachment 65761
View attachment 65762
View attachment 65767

 

[Modelmaster45]

Thanks for the comments.

I am not going to be lighting the number boards it's to much work for me. I would need to mill out the current number boards and replace with glass then decal and finally wiring.
I completed the project and ran today with no issues from the heat of the boiler overall I am very happy with how it turned out. Got the switch and battery mounted in the cab.

My next project for this one is RC.

View attachment 65777
View attachment 65779
View attachment 65778

Wanted to share with the group what I have been doing to the C-18 as far as lights go. This all started because I personally think the class lights that came with the model are a let down just based on appearance. So I purchased brass class lights from shapeways and got started.
I needed to figure a way to mount the class lights using the existing mounts on the smoke box. What I decided to do was take the stock lights and cut the base off using the lower section for the mounting points, before cutting I drilled them out slightly under from the diameter of the new lights so they are press fit and painted them black.
My plan is to use a coin battery with a switch mounted in the cab to route the wires back I replaced the handrails with brass tube and used small magnet wire. The headlight wire follows the same path as the prototype while the class lights use the tube.
My only concern so far is the wire from the headlight runs along the boiler in shrink tube and I'm worried the shrink tube will melt against the heat. I plan to fire it up in the next day or so to see what happens.
I will let you guys know.

View attachment 65763
View attachment 65765
View attachment 65769
View attachment 65768
View attachment 65764
View attachment 65766
View attachment 65761
View attachment 65762
View attachment 65767

Hi Kevin, You are so lucky to have your C18 already, I'm still waiting for my delivery here in Australia, not sure what is going on with their production. You have done a great job with the lights, I intend to do the same, that's when I finally get my loco.