Picky, picky of headlight color

Dip (or paint) the LEDs in transparent orange paint, that will warm them up.

I use Tamiya Clear Orange paint.

I just replace them with Warm White LED's, works best.

I assume the Tamiya paint is available at Hobby lobby or Micheal's?

  EDIT: Never mind found local hobby shop actually carried X26 bottle!!

GRJ

Is there an MTH part number for this LED or will I need to source and then solder lamp in place?  Does not look like Scotts have a lamp small enough to fit.

For most headlights, I use a 3mm warm white LED.  The MTH bulbs are 3mm, so it's the same diameter.  For some mounting when replacing incandescent bulbs I do have to file the flange off the back of the LED for a better fit, but that's not difficult.  For LED's, they are most likely 3mm standard LED's, no filing necessary.

I buy my LED's in bulk from a variety of sources, I don't know if MTH has a part number, but I'm sure it would be way more expensive than other sources.

Lionel is using bluish LEDs on their new diesels too;  very annoying.

Replacing LEDs may not always be easy - Lionel uses some unusual slitted ones for number board illumination.  I have found Vitrail Glass Paint (solvent-based) easier to apply than the Tamiya acrylic. 

Thanks, Found it is available in Iowa City about 20+ mile away.  Reasonable price for 45mL bottle.  Or I can get Tamiya locally. 

Would be interesting experiment if I had the time/motivation/inclination to buy both, paint one lamp one type, other end other type and see which looked more "headlighty" to my eyes.

I think I used a mix of orange and yellow - maybe 2:1 - to get the color that seemed most pleasing to me.  So if you're really picky, you should experiment to find the tint that works for you.  I painted some clear plastic with various mixtures to test.

Picked up a bottle of Tamiya X26 at LHS today.  I dabbed a drop on each LED in its holder as I didn't want to risk LED wire breakage.  Let paint dry then lit up engine.

Big improvement.  Lights are rather orangey, but better than High Intensity bluish.  Though in retrospect I would have gone lighter on the paint ie a light dab, try it, another dab if still too light.

I now have a many lifetime supply of this paint!!

Thanks for the lead on fixing this glaring MTH lighting oversight.

Update: I used a xacto blade to remove some paint to lighten up the orange to more yellowish.  Two LEDs were cleaned off then a slight dab of orange applied.  Not perfect, but better than bluish white or dark orange.