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Upgrading aristocraft pacific steam engine


BrianUPheritage
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After seeing my friends USA Trains j1e Hudson NYC, I was inspired to upgrade my aristocraft pacific's lighting and cab detail. The engine is a 2011 new version, so it did have an led front light but the side markers (clear) and cab light were incandescent bulbs. I decided to go with green led front markers and led cab light in warm white. The firebox did not light up so I added 2 red flickering leds. I wanted to add firebox lighting so I used 2 red flickering leds for that as well. I made a circuit board for the new lights and just changed the resistance for each led.

 

Engine before modifying, I had a little cat help.

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Testing the lights.

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Installing lights and cicuit board

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Here is the painted cab interior. I do not have a before picture, but was very poor on detail. I painted the valves red and dials white. Had to paint in a lot of the detail.20170715_205737.thumb.jpg.b315e65c705034c9526fb3710b31943a.jpg

 

Finished product. Camera does not do it justice but you can get the idea. Was a fun project, glad I upgraded it.

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Nice work!

if you wanted there maybe some upgrades made by Accucraft, PSC or Ozark miniatures that may help further?

https://www.accucraftestore.com/parts-1

https://www.precisionscaleco.com/

http://www.ozarkminiatures.com/Scripts/default.asp

I don't do much further with steam. I prefer diesel but I have been known to dabble.

 

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Great job! Improved lighting sure does make a huge difference! This makes me want to work on the firebox flicker on my steam locomotives. I only have one with firebox lights, but it's too dim to really see unless you're up close and looking for it.

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1 hour ago, WWD RR said:

Great job. Now I know I can add LEDs for market lights in my kitbashed K4. 

For the front marker lights I used 3mm round, non diffused leds. I ended up isolating one wire and enclosing both wires with black shrink tubing. Hardest part is not overheating and burning out the led when soldering.

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  • 3 months later...
 
 

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