Postwar Lionel 3520 / 3620 searchlight car

I was hoping someone might have an answer to your original question C W: 

Did all postwar Lionel 3520 and 3620 searchlight cars have reflectors mounted in the searchlight hood?

I'm also wondering if there are any preferred materials or methods for adding your own?

I love these cars.

The reflectors are available as reproduction parts.

All the original post war Lionel hoods had them.

If you want a RAL searchlight car, gt a pre-war 820.

Jim, check the "e" key on your keyboard.

That seems an easy part to get skipped, early on a Monday morning. That's my opinion.

Not to mention the type of part that may have gotten skipped due to lack of parts. With or without the intension of shipping is no guarantee it wasn't.  

The 2620's lights bucket is my favorite.

But the 8620 grab handles are a missed feature for sure

 But kinda reminds me of the smaller theater flood lights I ran vs the big ones. 

I like all searchlight cars. Sometimes I like to run a train of nothing but searchlights in a darkened room.

quote:

All the original post war Lionel hoods had them.

I never could find a reference that indicated one way or the other. How can you be certain?

Pingman-I know, it was late, I hurried, this is an 11 yr. old Toshiba I use after my good HP died. I have a newer Toshiba I use for photos.  The 820 is a heavy, well made car, with two searchlights and a switch on it. It goes with the 10 crane car. TH two of them weigh as much as a locomotive.

I can say I have seen some late 6822 searchlight cars without the reflector from the factory. Probably the last run(s) and Lionel didn't want to invest in parts at this point.

quote:

I can say I have seen some late 6822 searchlight cars without the reflector from the factory. Probably the last run(s) and Lionel didn't want to invest in parts at this point.

I have opened NOS 6822 searchlight cars. They did not have a reflector. I don't think I've run across any that did. I just looked at the 6822 diagrams and parts lists on Olsen's site. I don't see the reflector listed. The hood is listed as part # 3520-12 "searchlight housing"

The parts list for the 3650 searchlight extension lists part #3520-11 as being "lamp housing and reflector" Same goes for the 3520 / 3620.

So "Lionel Parts" is probably correct.

Thanks.