Project MTH SP daylight 4-8-4 steamer: Mars light and LED lights other goodies

here is the start of the tear apart!

I  pulled open the smoke unit also and want to replace the wicking.  im using tiki torch wick.

Interesting to see how this turns out. I have the same PS1 engine and added Electric RR cruise & Railsounds to it. I like it when I first bought it many years ago and then not. Sat in the box for a long time until adding the cruise. Still kinda sits in the box.

I've been toying with repainting it black for freight running.

here is some shots of the progress of the installation.  I have installed my flickering firebox and cab light.  the markers were drilled out and evans LED's installed there.  new LED headlight and the mars light simulator in the testing phase.  I need to package the wires and board as not to ground anything to the chassis. 

and some more of the light install

pulling the housing out of engine makes it a lot easier and I inserted the LED into the light housing. pushing it into the body.  I used a 1.8mm LED.  shaved the lip off and it fit well.

I was hoping for some updates... 

here is a run video of the SP.  I had to scrap the flickering firebox.  no room! I have to modify that at some point.  did get the mars light going, markers, led headlights, cab light and rear tender light.  heres a youtube link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be

I need a new fan smoke motor also.  squeeking and not putting out the smoke well.  I even put a new wick in her to make the smoke smell better.  original was from the PS1 days!  lol 

I'm ordering a new PS3 Daylight for our community layout- hope the MARS light looks as great as your upgrade. Keep the detail pictures coming.

Really nice work Chris. The MARS lite looks super! The new smoke parts should make a big improvement for certain.

Suggest you set the chuffs to 4 per revolution also for more realistic slow speed operation.

For the flickering firebox, I 3mm flickering LEDs, I just did one with four of them, red, amber, and two yellow.  Really makes a realistic looking flame.  I grind the front lens off and glue them to a thin piece of plastic, makes for a pretty slim arrangement and fits in most locomotives.

That MARS light looks like the ngineering.com MARS simulator, they do a very nice job. 

I don't want to rain on your parade Chris, but the MARS light should be on top.

Only 2 chuffs per rev?

sinclair posted:

Only 2 chuffs per rev?

He can fix that with a couple of keystrokes.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

For the flickering firebox, I 3mm flickering LEDs, I just did one with four of them, red, amber, and two yellow.  Really makes a realistic looking flame.  I grind the front lens off and glue them to a thin piece of plastic, makes for a pretty slim arrangement and fits in most locomotives.

That MARS light looks like the ngineering.com MARS simulator, they do a very nice job. 

I don't want to rain on your parade Chris, but the MARS light should be on top.

 

Gunrunnerjohn added the flickering firebox to my K-line scale Hudson (I think that's the one he's referring to) and it looks super. Take his advice.

Mike

Chris D posted:

here is the start of the tear apart!

I used his "Super Mars Light" board on my scale GS4. I used a Warm White SMD 5050. has 3 tiny LEDS in it already. I also use his Fire simulator boards for the fire box. I had him make a DC converter for the O gauge market. to support his boards.

I know now after seeing it and could not yank them out. The ca glue kinda is really good !!!!  Don't think it's coming apart now.lol

I use something slightly less permanent as a rule so that I can take them apart if necessary.  Many times, it's hot glue.  I also have used Liquid Tape, it blocks the back-scatter light from the LED's.

Just to clarify, only the PS3 versions have a flashing MARS light factory installed, correct?  The PS2 Daylights just have a steady light in both lenses?