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trainspotter-usa
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
Posts: 315
Location: Minnesota
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 Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject: The lighthouse |
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Here's some latest pictures of the lighthouse for the new layout.
The cruel enlargements are a pain but if I was to photograph it actual size then you'd hardly be able to see it as I stands just 26mm high.
The next major task is to install the light and flashing unit. Which will probably wait until just before the model is installed on the layout.
I've got a bakatronics flashing unit BK 100 http://www.bakatronics.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=575 though having seen the 3mm led in place it looks a tad large. I do have a 1.8mm 16V grain of rice bulb that looks better. Would there be any issues with swapping one for the other I wonder.
Anyway that's what it looks like. I think its passable. Onto the railway bridge next...
Ian
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David K Smith
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 435
Location: New Jersey, USA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, what a difference some paint and a ladder make! Well done.
| trainspotter-usa wrote: | | I do have a 1.8mm 16V grain of rice bulb that looks better. Would there be any issues with swapping one for the other I wonder. |
Most definitely! Depending on the power supply voltage, the bulb may not be bright enough. Bypassing the load resistor in the circuit for the LED may improve things, but it still may or may not be enough. Also, the change in load may also change the behavior of the circuit.
You might consider using a white SMD LED. The larger ones are not all that difficult to work with. You'll just need a couple of short lengths of solenoid wire to make leads, or use LEDs that already have leads.
http://www.ngineering.com/lightng.htm
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http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/ |
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rmyers
Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Posts: 73
Location: Evanston, IL USA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject: Re: The lighthouse |
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Ian,
| trainspotter-usa wrote: | I've got a bakatronics flashing unit BK 100 http://www.bakatronics.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=575 though having seen the 3mm led in place it looks a tad large. I do have a 1.8mm 16V grain of rice bulb that looks better. Would there be any issues with swapping one for the other I wonder.
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No, you just can't swap a bulb for LED.
First, your bulb voltage is higher than the circuit supplies, as it's powered by a 9 v. battery.
Second, The circuit probably has a current limitation resistor for the LED that would not be appropriate for the bulb.
Third, the bulb would probably need a current inrush limiting resistor to prevent overloading and possibly frying the circuit.
Fourth and finally, I looked at the description at bakatronics and it seems that the circuit goes through a brightness cycle to simulate the appearance of a lighthouse beacon. The voltage cycle needed to do a simulation like this is much different for a LED and a bulb. So substituting a bulb probably would not look right.
You'd be better off trying to find a smaller LED.
There's a whole sub-cult of model railroading devoted to proper resistors to use for different voltages of bulbs, or current sinking and colors of LEDs versus what's powering them.
Might not the 3mm LED work? that's about 4 1/2' in T -- a plausible diameter for the lamp cupola.
Bob |
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trainspotter-usa
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
Posts: 315
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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David, Bob:
Thanks for confirming what I thought.
I reckon 3mm will be just fine. I was just over thinking things
Ian
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I CAN see how cool this stuff is!!!
http://more-t-please.blogspot.com/ |
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victorian t gauge
Joined: 02 Nov 2008
Posts: 109
Location: traralgon, victoria, australia
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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| congrats!! a brilliant looking building, especially the handrails & ladder how were these made? a strip of fly wire? cant wait to see the bridge. |
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trainspotter-usa
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
Posts: 315
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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| victorian t guage wrote: | | congrats!! a brilliant looking building, especially the handrails & ladder how were these made? a strip of fly wire? cant wait to see the bridge. |
Thank You:
Coming from the man who scratch built the VR locomotive that's high praise indeed.
Hand rails and ladders are ship modelling products products the ladders are from Gold medal models and and the Hand rails from a Czech outfit called Eduard. Doubtless there are stockists "down under"
Bridge? Gimme 5 minutes will you?
Ian
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http://more-t-please.blogspot.com/ |
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David K Smith
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 435
Location: New Jersey, USA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:17 pm Post subject: Re: The lighthouse |
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| rmyers wrote: |
No, you just can't swap a bulb for LED. |
Well, um... not to get argumentative or anything, but... yes, you can. It's just that it doesn't always work, and you can't predict the outcome.
This animation shows an N scale police car with a ski rack that I built using grain-of-rice bulbs, which I substituted for the LEDs that were originally part of a flasher circuit. I removed the loading resistor and adjusted the voltage supply, and it worked. Still works, 15 years later. Guess I got lucky!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bdfWYd45tA
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http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/ |
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zomer
Joined: 03 Nov 2008
Posts: 124
Location: Victoria, Australia
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:03 am Post subject: |
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Fantastic work!!! I cant wait to see the lighthouse on the layout.
| trainspotter-usa wrote: | Hand rails and ladders are ship modelling products products the ladders are from Gold medal models and and the Hand rails from a Czech outfit called Eduard. Doubtless there are stockists "down under"
Ian |
I just purchased a whole heap of N Scale details by Gold Medal Models. I got them from eBay seller "eddythejack" (http://myworld.ebay.com.au/eddythejack).
They were well priced (considering the Aussie dollar isnt worth much) and were shipped out REAL QUICK!!
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Victorian T Gauge Blog
http://www.victorian-tgauge.blogspot.com/ |
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B 67
Joined: 23 Sep 2008
Posts: 277
Location: Stratford, Australia
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 4:09 am Post subject: |
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I just had a look at Gold Medal Model's website. Obviously someone there has a sense of humour.
http://www.goldmm.com/nscale/gmnkill.htm
Might have to obtain some of their products. 
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jmg123
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:43 am Post subject: |
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| Instead of a smaller led, How about using 0.5mm fibre optic cable (there is 500ft for $8 + postage on ebay what a bargain) , just scrape the sides of a fibre and the light should come out sideways, if you put a bundle of several cables in, all scraped at different angles, and had seperate led's to power them, then it might look like the light beam was rotating around the lighthouse? |
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