As a Milwaukee Road fan I just had to get my #4 looking like the prototype. Operationally the Mars light would have only been activated when the locomotive was placed into emergency.
Click here to see the mod in action
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As a Milwaukee Road fan I just had to get my #4 looking like the prototype. Operationally the Mars light would have only been activated when the locomotive was placed into emergency.
Click here to see the mod in action
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Would you like to share if it was as easy as swapping the headlight and MARs light connector? Looks much better. Hopefully it was just an easy swap.
I was curious if you swap the connectors at the LED bulbs or at the board?
Also, does anyone have a link for purchasing the correct red LED light?
@BAM Railroad posted:I was curious if you swap the connectors at the LED bulbs or at the board?
Also, does anyone have a link for purchasing the correct red LED light?
I suspect it's just a red lens and not a red LED. FWIW when the original FEFs came without a red lens, I used a red sharpy to "tint" the clear lens and looks perfect.
@MartyE posted:Would you like to share if it was as easy as swapping the headlight and MARs light connector? Looks much better. Hopefully it was just an easy swap.
Hi Marty,
The plug was swapped on the lighting board and a red lens was added.
@MichRR714 posted:Hi Marty,
The plug was swapped on the lighting board and a red lens was added.
Do you mind sharing where you get get the red lens?
@MichRR714 posted:Hi Marty,
The plug was swapped on the lighting board and a red lens was added.
@BAM Railroad posted:Do you mind sharing where you get get the red lens?
I decided to open mine up and get it fixed, voiding the warranty. (My choice)
Lionel is aware of this issue and has yet to present their fix. I'm not going to get any further out ahead of them.
@MichRR714 posted:Hi Marty,
The plug was swapped on the lighting board and a red lens was added.
Thanks for the info, that is what I suspected too. I'll probably open mine up at some point and fix it unless Lionel comes back soon with something different.
I made a little board to drive a MARS light simulator, or any 40ma or lower 12V load, and it features opto-isolated inputs to select when the output is active.
This allowed me to turn on the Milwaukee Road MARS light only when stopped and reverse was selected.
I've also used it for a diesel to activate the MARS light only when the engine was moving forward.
Boy that is just how it should work, it would be neat to have one, says a little known guy when it comes to electronics.
@MichRR714 posted:As a Milwaukee Road fan I just had to get my #4 looking like the prototype. Operationally the Mars light would have only been activated when the locomotive was placed into emergency.
Click here to see the mod in action
I am also curious as to where you have acquired the red lens, as well as the part number, nomenclature, dimensions, etc. When I search "red lens" on Lionel's part website, 61 results show up. Granted, most are not what we are looking for, but you would not believe the significant amount of those that could be IT . Thanks in advance, @MichRR714 and great work!
Another option would be to get a red lens on the mars light, but leave it unplugged since in reality it would be on as an emergency situation. Just a thought.
#4 is a real winner just the same!
The Mars light can be turned off via Legacy or Cab3 control icons. Jeff is correct that in most circumstances it would not be on.
Wow that is even better news, turn off and turn on when I would want to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've used red paint or even a red sharpie to change colors on lenses before. Wouldn't be too hard to do that with the clear lens on the Hiawatha. On the one hand, it's a bit of a bummer a brand-new model needs "repairs" or "modifications" already to be what was, at the very least, disclosed in the catalog. On the other hand, I'd much rather have a quick fix at home and go back to running it than send it out and wait for Lionel to do it for me. Glad it's an easy fix!
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