Fiber optic tubing

[SP8315]

I'm adding LED's to all my loco's and iv seen where some have used fiber optic tubing to fill in the light holes as lenses. Any one know a good place where I can find 1.5mm clear fiber optic tubing?

[Mark R.]

There's a bunch on ebay - this being just one example ....

www.ebay.com/itm/3M-FIBRE-OPTIC-STRAND-FILAMENT-LIGHT-GUIDE-1-5mm-Dia-END-light-/261420665445?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item3cdde2ca65

Nine feet and free shipping for only four bucks !

It is solid, not a tube !  

Mark.

[nsc39d8]

I use Pastruct .60 fiber optic for all my headlights. I cut two sections to length, file the end flat on a 3mm LED, apply a little CA and then a piece of heat shrink over the LED and the fiber optic. Generally you will need a little more than a inch of fiber optic for each tube, the tube can bent using a little heat, to much and it will meat away.

James Wall

[Mark R.]

What do you do with the end of the fiber that is to become the headlight lense ? Do you just polish it flat, or do you form a convex shape to it ?

I'be always wondered if you could place a small drop of epoxy on the end to form a nice rounded lense ?

Mark.

[dtinut]

Mark,

A lens can be formed using a candle.
Take a piece of the fiber optic, and carefully roll it in your fingers near the flame.
It should cause the end to flare into a lens.
Sometimes it takes a few tries to get them just right, but the material is not expensive, so you can practice.
If you form a bad one, cut it off and try again.

Regards,
Brian

[Mark R.]

Brian, I've had good luck doing that with the fine fiber optics, but not so much with the thicker stuff.

Mark.

[SP8315]

Ok iv tried the method for forming a lense and I just can't get the right look. What I do when installing LED's and fiber optics in my athearn blue box loco's is I use the plastic lenses that they come with and put them in the holes like normal then after glueing the fiber optics the the end of the LED and shrink wrapping it is I push the fiber optics throught the back of the light holes until the touch the back of the lenses and tape the LED in place. Now the athearn RTR engines come with the 1.5v bulbs so no lenses and the old blue box ones are to big cause the light holes are smaller now, I don't like the sanded look of the end of the fiber optics after they are cut to length, and suggestion's on how the fix this problem or what I could use as a lense

[Mark R.]

I make my own lenses right in place using some 5-minute expoxy. Take some epoxy on the tip of a toothpick and run it around the inside lip of the headlight opening and draw it across the opening to form a thin film. Once that has cured, add another small blob of epoxy on the film you made. Add enough epoxy to form a convex lens. Hold the shell upright during these steps so it doesn't sag.

Mark.

[Deleted]

Instead of a candle, use a soldering iron. The heat is more controllable. Just gradually bring the fiber close to the heat and you will see it start to mushroom. Makes a perfect convex shape for a lense.

Also, Details West now offers clear 6" lenses. They really look good and have a nice shape to them.

[SP8315]

Do those 6 inch lenses fit nicely into the headlight holes on the athearn RTR models? And do u know the part number for those lenses? Thanks

[Deleted]

I have yet to get any of the lenses and try them. It is on my list of detail parts to get next time I go to my local store or order any. Part number is 341. Walthers number 235-341. Showing as in stock.

[SP8315]

Thanks For the info I got a pack coming, I'll see how that fit

[james13]

I use 1.5mm fibre opitcs I purchased off ebay. This is the results when combined with 0402 leds for the ditchlights also from ebay. I form the lenses with a solderung iron as well, it takes a little practice but the results are pretty good.

[james13]

Here's how I set up an Athearn SD70ACe, neat thing the cab roof comes off.

[zephyr]

James13 I like your style ! Another piece of shrink tube can sleeve your lamp assembly,
acting as a socket, glue the sleeve to the shell in your favorite open space.
Changing and adjusting is maintainance simplified. I've used same principle
for ground/ladder lights drill'd vertical through HO cast' frames for bulbs or
Fiber Optics."F Os" also light MV products lense all sizes and colors.
Many thanks for the photo too. "zephyr"

[zephyr]

Here LEDs and Athearn lenses...