steam engine diesel headlight lenses

[71jeep]

High all...

I was wondering what you all use for lenses in your steamers and diesel??

I know of MV lenses but read they are hard to find and not sure how they look any one have any experience???

I am building two PRR L-1's and would like to put some nice looking lenses in them after all the work i am putting into them but i am not sure what to use or even make them out of for that matter.So any help,ideas,links would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks much

Allen....

[Mark5]

For the steamers, are you gonna run like in the steam era? (lights off in the daytime?)

Back "in the day" (1970s) the steamheads in the HO club I belonged to used MV's on their loco projects.

I am unsure about N applications though.

Mark

[up1950s]

Use the ones sold as replacement parts . They are just clear plastic rods .

[Chris333]

I use MV's. They are just epoxy with chrome foil on the back.

This is one in a Z scale loco:

[wm3798]

For the headlight on the slug I used a MT bolster insert for the housing, stuffed a 1.5v Grain of Rice into it, then "puttied" it in with clear acrylic gloss medium.  I painted the inside of the bolster insert silver.


Used a similar process when I moved the headlight on the K-2...


Lee

[71jeep]

Thanks guys some good info so far it looks to me that the MV lenses are not worth it for something I can do myself and it sounds as though I can not light it.
Lee..
I like your results I was actually going to PM you at some time if you did not respond to see how you did the the light in the slug I liked the looks of it when you first posted it awhile back.

Here is idea for ya I thought of it this morning what about making the lenses out of .005 glass I could super glue them to a piece of tock them grind them round on a diamond wheel???

Thanks allot

Allen....

[sizemore]

Why not just heat the end of a plastic rod for larger lenses, fiber optic for smaller sizes?

[wm3798]

I just apply another bead of acrylic after the first coat dries.  The first coat usually sinks in, then the second forms a reasonably flat/convex shape.  The only issue I have is if the bulb burns out, I'll have to tear out the whole mess, but I have 11 million of those bolster inserts, so it won't cost more than the bulb, which I'd have to get a new one anyway...

Lee

[71jeep]

Why not just heat the end of a plastic rod for larger lenses, fiber optic for smaller sizes?

Well because that would be to easy  ;D I always like to make things complicated  : and push the envelope of my modeling ability.

Good point though it will more than likely come to that but i am just looking for something different I guess.

Lee...

That was the only thing I was thinking about was what would ya do if the bulb blew :-[.I was thinking about doing what ya did but with fiber optics.

Thanks guys

Allen.....

[Chris333]

Do you have one of those circle templates for drafting?
http://www.artsupply.com/templates/Circles.htm

Find the right sized circle you need, place it on waxed paper and fill it with a drop of epoxy. It will pop right out hen cured.

[71jeep]

Now there's an idea I dont have one of those but it is nothing for me to make one for my particular needs.

Man ever have one of those should have had a V8 moments BONK!!!

Thanks Chris  ;D


Allen.....