I recently decided to upgrade my Lionel No. 334 dispatch board. The original #57 bayonet bulbs consumed a lot of power, and seemed to create sharp concentrations of light in the center of the sign. The photo below shows the original incandescent bulb installation.
My first attempt at an LED upgrade was to purchase a box of direct replacement LED's. I chose bulbs with the widest angle of light spread (120 degrees) which are advertised as suitable for passenger cars. The photo below shows the result. The directionality of these bulbs creates a dark shadow effect on the top half of the billboard.
Not being satisifed with the results, I decided to install 12 volt LED strips. I installed (3) self-adhesive LED strips on the left, right and top of the plastic billboard frame. I also installed metallic tape of the type commonly used for air conditioning repair work to help reflect light within the interior. The LED strips are powered by a 12 VDC supply adhered into the base with double sided tape.
Routing and management of the wires was trickly. Careful attention was required to avoid conflicts with the steel frame which could cause damage to the wiring, or shorts. The original bulb holders and wiring were left in place to facilitate a reversable upgrade in the future.
I was very satisfied with the results. The photo below shows the completed project. Nice crisp and uniform light is projected out both sides of the sign. Well worth the effort!