I'm a little puzzled by the "fire box glow" fitted to a number of semi-scale locos in particular.
British steam locos were almost universally hand-fired - after all, even the biggest locos had tenders in the 8-9 ton range - so the glow from the firebox doors would be seen, at least when they were open.
But US locos? Is there any real reason why an American loco would have a visible glowing firebox while running?
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@Rockershovel posted:I'm a little puzzled by the "fire box glow" fitted to a number of semi-scale locos in particular.
British steam locos were almost universally hand-fired - after all, even the biggest locos had tenders in the 8-9 ton range - so the glow from the firebox doors would be seen, at least when they were open.
But US locos? Is there any real reason why an American loco would have a visible glowing firebox while running?
Yes. Any number of reasons:
1) All coal burning locomotives have fire doors with small air vents, no mater whether they are hand fired or stoker fired. Thus the "glow" from the fire can be seen through and/or around the fire doors.
2) Oil burning locomotives have a peep hole in the movable "sanding hole" cover, so the Fireman can see the color of the fire inside the firebox.
3) All coal burning locomotives have an ash pan arrangement, so the "glow" of the hot ashes falling through the grates can be seen from either side.
Because the fire glow 🔥 is cool!
@AlanRail posted:Because the fire glow 🔥 is cool!
And so is the flickering firebox!
I think the flickering firebox look is really cool, so I even designed a couple of boards with a group of flickering LED's to enhance the effect. With a combination of red, orange, and yellow flickering LED's, it gives a really cool effect. I normally put a piece of #20 white paper in front of these to further diffuse the light and enhance the look.
GRJ, where does the power come from? Are these for sale?
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I think the flickering firebox look is really cool, so I even designed a couple of boards with a group of flickering LED's to enhance the effect. With a combination of red, orange, and yellow flickering LED's, it gives a really cool effect. I normally put a piece of #20 white paper in front of these to further diffuse the light and enhance the look.
You should make and sell these John. It probably would be a good seller. If you don't plan to make and sell these could you please post the parts needed and schematic for it?
@Gary P posted:You should make and sell these John. It probably would be a good seller. If you don't plan to make and sell these could you please post the parts needed and schematic for it?
It's a bit labor intensive, so I never went for a production run. I have to file the flanges off the LED's for the right fit together, that's a bit of a PITA for a lot of them.
I never did a "formal" BOM for them, but here's the AC version...
Here's the DC version, this one I use when I have the Super-Chuffer with it's 5VDC supply available. I didn't even bother with a BOM for this one, it's just 0805 size SMT resistors and the 3mm flickering LED's.
Thank you John!
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