Rectangular walkway lights

[simulatortrain]

I've seen people on here light EMD step lights before, but has anybody done the rectangular hood end lights?  If so, how did you do it?  I'm particularly curious about opening up the molded-in details.  Alternatively, am I wasting my time?  Realistic night ops really appeal to me.

[ironstef70]

I believe it's matter of preference. I usually operate my own little layout late in the evening at home, and I appreciate having all the lights on. It really makes for realistic night operation. I do the cabs, step, trucks, end of can, ditch and head lights all with 0402 LEDs found on ebay at approx 20 for +/- 10$US.
That certainly requires some time; my favorite locos have up to 20 LEDs in:  LED job

I think it is worth the investment, if you can afford the time spent doing the job, and the messy wire spaguetti (make sure to tape or tie them away from mowing parts). 

With experience, you will figure out how your prefer doing the installation. On brass models, this may not be a concern, but the LEDs are strong enough that they will glow through resin cabs, just around the LED. You may want to hand paint the sides (even the back, once installed) of every one of them. Then gluing or just taping behind a lens is also another matter of preference...

Good luck with your job, and please let us know about your projects.

S.

[spike]

If you have a decoder with enough functions, you can use one for these lights. I have seen strands of fiber optics. This way you can hide the led somewhere in the shell, and run the fiber to each fixture.