Micro bulb on a HO scale Westside P-4

Lighting is one of those things that brings a locomotive to life. Most people want a headlight. Some people also want a back up light. If you want to go farther than that your options include multiple headlights (think Union Pacific 844 or a Daylight GS-4), a backup light, illuminated marker lamps and/or number boards, a cab lamp, and a rosy orange fire box lamp. There are some limitations of course. I have never tried to include all these options in an N-scale locomotive but I suppose its possible given enough time and patience.

Even a basic headlight need not be simple or plain. I used to install micro bulbs the have been drilled into the back of a MV Products reflector. The result looks like the prototype setup which was…. a bulb mounted in a reflector. It's a nice touch, and it looks great coming down the track.

un-illuminated micro bulb in a reflector

Recently I started installing tiny surface mount soft-white LEDs in the MV Products reflectors. So far everyone has liked the effect. I like fact that LEDs have a ridiculously long service life, so I know the LED lighting will probably outlast the rest of the locomotive.

As I do upcoming jobs that include things like illuminated markers I will add pictures of that particular effect.