How did Stan2004 solder these individual LEDs for Observation car lighting?

looks like a different product. You still can do it I bet. The top and bottom of each are clearly marked for polarity before cutting. Make sure you keep them oriented the same and solder your connecting wires onto the top and bottom. They should be in series so the top of one goes to the bottom of the next. You should be able to see the trace on the strip to see the circuit.

Someone will chime in, in 3,2,1,.....

The sides of the SMT led's have the contacts you can solder to.  Truthfully, I find it easier to just use discrete flat faced LED's for this task.  I glue them to the lens in the ceiling using CA Adhesive.

@gunrunnerjohn's reference to individual LED's triggered a memory of a purchase made many months ago from AliExpress of an assortment of individual LEDs. A brief search found them, but also found was a completely forgotten purchase -- a set of 20 individually wired 12-18V warm white 3528 LEDs.

Broke-off a single LED and setup a regulator module with a test strip, then touched the leads from the single LED to the end of the strip and it worked great.  Solution found provided these can be glued to the LIONEL colored lens.

Thanks for the help E-J and GRJ.

These pre-wired, individual warm white LED's are sold on ebay for $8.95 for 20:

item #263224517829

The proverbial "rest of the story":

Before searching for the single LEDs mentioned by GRJ, and discovering the forgotten single, pre-wired LEDs mentioned above, last week's research for a solution led me to purchase this exact product, (that I already had on hand but had forgotten), The new supply will arrive tomorrow.

I like these pre wired with resistors.  Less work.  They fit nicely in the plastic lens for headlights and I found you just have to point them towards the lens for the marker light to shine bright.

You guys are doing it the hard way. How about this; way easier.

Pingman; just checked my records and you bought 4 of these boards from me last December. Why don't you use them??

Rod

@Rod Stewart posted:

You guys are doing it the hard way. How about this; way easier.

Rod, if you look at the LIONEL part I'm adapting, there is a long screw that's installed to attach the roof, rear door, fender skirt and frame to the aluminum shell where the aft end of your board is located--its head slips into the slot molded into the part as shown in the first post above. I test fit your board before pursuing an alternative soliution,

@Ron045 posted:

I like these pre wired with resistors.  Less work.  They fit nicely in the plastic lens for headlights and I found you just have to point them towards the lens for the marker light to shine bright.

What search terms are used to locate those products on Amazon, Ron?

PS:  I'm waiting for someone to post an AliExpress part or item number for these USA-purchased products priced at 90% less!

@Pingman posted:

PS:  I'm waiting for someone to post an AliExpress link where all of these USA-purchased products are available for 90% less!

Sadly, OGR frowns in you posting links in postings unless they're forum advertisers, so you might have to wait a long time.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Sadly, OGR frowns in you posting links in postings unless they're forum advertisers, so you might have to wait a long time.

Duly noted; the post no longer seeks a link; just an item or part number.

@Pingman posted:

Rod, if you look at the LIONEL part I'm adapting, there is a long screw that's installed to attach the roof, rear door, fender skirt and frame to the aluminum shell where the aft end of your board is located--its head slips into the slot molded into the part as shown in the first post above. I test fit your board before pursuing an alternative soliution,

Sorry Pingman; I missed that subtle piece of information! My bad.

Hope it works out for you, Rod

@Pingman posted:

What search terms are used to locate those products on Amazon, Ron?

PS:  I'm waiting for someone to post an AliExpress part or item number for these USA-purchased products priced at 90% less!

Sent you a PM.  Did not want to risk getting in trouble. 😉

Very kind of you, @Ron045; thanks.

And shrewd to omit links.

@Rod Stewart posted:

Sorry Pingman; I missed that subtle piece of information! My bad.

Hope it works out for you, Rod

Your board was the first thing I tried.

Any interest in designing one for the LIONEL roof section that would accommodate the screw?

@Pingman posted:

Your board was the first thing I tried.

Any interest in designing one for the LIONEL roof section that would accommodate the screw?

Shouldn't be a big stretch Carl. I would need a scaled dimensional sketch and a closeup pic to work from if you care to take the time? The sketch does not have to be fancy as long as its close on the dimensions.

Rod

@Rod Stewart posted:

Shouldn't be a big stretch Carl. I would need a scaled dimensional sketch and a closeup pic to work from if you care to take the time? The sketch does not have to be fancy as long as its close on the dimensions.

Rod

Should have what you need tomorrow, Rod. Thanks.

Carl, there may be an easier option using the boards you already have. If you hold one up to the light you can see where the copper traces run, around the perimeter. The whole area in between in the triangular rear end can be drilled or dremeled out to make a relief for the screw head you referred to.

Rod

@Pingman

I had to laugh when I saw this post.  I converted a bunch of cars to LED lighting, did my first observation car this way with no problem.  I have tried to do a second observation car, couldn't get another set to work after about a dozen attempts!  I will eventually get Rod's boards for the rest of my observation cars.