Lost a ditch light lens

[grabbem88]

Somehow I lost a lens on my NS gp38-2

Replacements out there?

Or should I create my own? Using Krystal clear glue or silicone?

These are factory DL's btw

Or??? Does anybody have any spares???

Sorry to bother with my goof up

Art

[WP 257]

One alternative is to search online and buy the MV Lenses. I think you want the .046 or .052 diameter for most diesel locomotive classification lights. I've gone larger, but they appear a bit big, except on early U-Boats. If you search you can find which lenses are needed for which diesel models easily enough, and even a klutz like me can glue them into place (though I'd recommend Elmer's glue as it dries clear unless your hand dexterity with ACC is awesome).

The MV Lenses are curved glass with a silver back--so they are fairly bright in most room lighting situations. You can even drill a small hole in the silver back and place a light behind them, to illuminate them too.

The MV Lenses are worth the few dollars plus shipping--they look really good even when not illuminated on models.

[WP 257]

Sorry, incorrect--A tiny pinhole drilled in the center of the back of the MV lense can and does allow lighting.

This has been a defacto "standard" for HO modelers for years.

It's another way of getting to the same end.

In this application, to look right, one would most likely replace both cheap clear lenses with an MV lense of suitable size.

I keep MV Lenses on hand, because I know in the future I may not be able to obtain lenses from the importer.

[Mark R.]

Just peel the foil off the back of the MV lens - instant clear lens.

Mark.

[nebrzephyr]

IIRC the Details West #341 will work. I know they did for the ditch lights on the SD70's. You might give it a try.

Just out of curiosity, do the MV lenses still tend to turn yellow after several years. I haven't used any for probably 20 years, but back then that could be an issue. Bob

[mlehman]

My first brass loco was a Westside HOn3 C-25. There was a rather yellowish lens that looked to be of MV vintage . It looked good, because I was expecting a yellowish cast to the light. Nowadays we buy the Golden White LEDs to get the same effect. I have MV lenses from the last few years and haven't noticed any yellowing in the lens in any of them.

Couple of comments...

I think that the MV lens is some sort of resin. They can be distorted if you put too much pressure on them.

As for peeling the foil off the back. Yes, if you want a totally clear lamp. For many headlight applications, particularly for steam era lighting, drilling a centered hole through the foil creates a very convincing reflector assembly. Depending on your goal, you'll probably want to choose one or the other effect.

[WP 257]

MV Lenses come in both clear and amber (yellow) colors, as well as green and red.

I have never heard of the clear lenses "yellowing" over time. I suspect that a yellow lens is simply the amber color, and not a clear lens that has yellowed with age.

In the past some people have preferred amber, especially to represent steam locomotive headlights and marker lights, or "dirty" diesel class lights.

I'm using MV Lenses in detailing Atlas Trainman engines for which I'm not adding a decoder, so I don't have any LED lights in them.

Perhaps that makes me "old school".

[mlehman]

Aug 26, 2014 14:17:51 GMT -8 WP 257 said:

MV Lenses come in both clear and amber (yellow) colors, as well as green and red.

I have never heard of the clear lenses "yellowing" over time. I suspect that a yellow lens is simply the amber color, and not a clear lens that has yellowed with age.

I'll buy that. Makes sense. I can see the need for yellow before the days when LEDs made that easy. On the other hand, I've heard people discussing this as an issue. So there are people who either believe it or have experience with it. All I know is the C-25 came with the lens and it was yellow.

[carrman]

I have experience with 20 yr. old MV lenses that were perfectly clear yellowing. Pics available if you don't believe me...;-)



Dave

[grabbem88]

Yes this is an Athearn Genesis dcc/sound unit....I neglected to put that down..

Thanks for all the info too and discussion too!

Detail is a big thing to me and hate to botch my ditchlights with clear glue..

So MV lens

Manufacture request

Detail west ..

Thanks for the help!

[WP 257]

carrman--

Did they yellow evenly? Or did they look blotchy and not good at all??

Thank you for any info. you can provide.

[carrman]

They seemed to have yellowed pretty evenly to me.

[Mark R.]

I have a good half dozen packages of all different sizes that have yellowed significantly. They are still in the original packages and marked as clear, so I know they weren't amber.

There's two camps of thought as to why this happens. The first is the resin itself. I have some two part Envirotex in the translucent bottles that is really old. The resin is almost a dark brown at this point - was almost clear when I used it for water some fifteen years ago. Oddly enough though, my "water" on my layout has remained clear. (?)

The other thought is that UV light causes the yellowing - either from flourescent lights or exposure to the sun. My shop has flourescent lights, and a number of pieces of white styrene pieces that have sat on shelves for years have definitely discolored to some extent.

A Google search of "Why do resins turn yellow" will net you a number of topics.

Mark.

[grabbem88]

This is pretty cool learning something from my misshap of losing a lens!! Lol !

[bigb6flyer]

I would use canopy glue and put in a Details West 341 lens or use Microscale Krystal Klear.

[WP 257]

Wow, ok, that is indeed yellowed.

Never have seen canopy glue--will look for it. Canopy glue might be the way to go...

[grabbem88]

Ordered some 341's and ill see about the glue..

I had a nice set of cf7 handrails (yellow) to trade lol getting desperate

[bigb6flyer]

Canopy glue is useful bc it dries clear and you can still remove the lense or whatever should a LED or bulb ever burn out. With superglue it is pretty much permanent.

[grabbem88]

Has anybody used Gem-tac? By beacon

It says it dries crystal clear... Still waiting on that but it does bond well