Are Lit Number Boards Important to You

Illuminated number boards on ALL models, are much more important to me personally, than whistle smoke and swinging bells.

I agree.

I prefer illuminated number boards. They are a nice detail that IMO makes a difference.

I definitely PREFER lighted number boards, but it would not be a deal-breaker for me if I really wanted a particular engine.  Most of my MTH engines are Premier PS-2 and PS-3, and almost all (if not all) of them have lighted number boards.  You're correct about RailKing engines: they tend not to have LNB's.

Its a nice feature.  I like it, and in the Premier and legacy level, expect it.  If I really wanted a loco and it did not have them, I'd probably still buy it, though.

I have a lot of PS 2 and PS 1 locomotives and I definitely prefer the lit number boards and even WBB has lit number boards so you would think MTH charging 250.00 or more for a RK locomotive could have lit number boards. This is one reason I am moving over to Legacy and Lionel locomotives because at the very least you get lit number boards even without all the bells and whistles and the same goes for the new WBB True Blast plus locomotives. There must be another way they can save that 10 cents instead of not giving us lit number boards on our RK locomotives.

I even light the ones on RMT stuff I convert, I am a fan of lighted number boards.

It's a very good detail, but lack of them wouldn't stop me from buying a loco.

Nice feature, not a deal-breaker.

Rusty

If it's prototypical, yes. Otherwise, no.

Gilly

Same here

I do like them but it's not a deal breaker as others have posted. 

Completely missing number boards have me fabbing up replacements tho.

It's Not all that hard to do.

All my MTH have lit number boards and I can turn them off if I like

Clem

I like em but won't stop me from buying a locomotive.

I would really prefer the lighted number boards, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker if it was an engine I really liked. I agree with others, they should all be lighted these days. I don't see how it could cost that much more when they are building the engine. The boards are capable, the LEDs & wires are cheap and they are already in there working on everything else...

When prototypical, yes. Not a deal-breaker, at all. In fact, I would prefer that they be 

non-illuminated if the lighting is done poorly with hot-spots and glare.

Lighting on model locos, even when well-intentioned, can as often as not give

the loco a Happy Holidays look, even in July. Toned down is better (especially those

red/green/white/too bright/often-inaccurate steam class and marker lights - I tend to unplug them).

I like it if the number board lighting is done so it looks correct.

The number board has to have a light diffusing coating of white with black numbers.

One bright LED has to provide the lighting like the light bulb for each number board.

Andrew

hello guys and gals...............

in a word "yes" and those MPC era lionel F-3's come with blank number boards and I have some but I don't know how to put numbers on them such as small piece of black plastic film and white numbers done by a printer ?  if someone can make 4 of them and I can just glue them on the blank number boards and the light would shine through it just showing the numbers. I WILL pay for them if any one can make them #2393............. The number board size is .630 by .155

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003,200

Tiffany

Number decals and dry transfers are usually available in a lot of different sizes.  These numbers were from a coal car transfer, not used on the car. A little large, but worked.   Dry transfers are a little less forgiving than wet-slide decals.

This older Weaver E8 required installation of small lamps to illuminate the number boards. Marker/class lights were added to both models. Original Weaver E8 models came with one large lamp located in the cab area.  The original lighting was replaced with three small lamps one for each number board and one in the cab area.  Engineer was also added. Weaver set includes to E8's 5753 and 5754.  Clear plastic number boards with black lettering were original to the model(s).

Weaver E8 drive and original cab/number board lighting.

I really like the lighted number boards on the Standard O Steam and Diesel Engines with Legacy from Lionel. It makes them stand out with more realism although they are still toy models. Three Rail Scale is very popular and this is a nice feature. Happy Railroading.

Seems like in the daytme, it doesn't really matter...

White lettering on a black background is just as effective.

Rusty

I like them.  In fact, as far as I'm concerned, the more lights, the better!  "if you've got 'em, light them up."

If you can get hold of a label maker you can make numbers on clear tape or black on white or white on black.

I tried doing my NH F3 this morning and here's what it looks like. I just printed out and stuck them to the lens and used a razor to trim. I did not spend much time getting them just right. I did not have white on black.

Hello clem k

E-mail sent this morning

thank you,smile

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003,200

Tiffany

Hello franktrain........

you really did a good job on your number boards

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003,200

Tiffany

They are very important to me. Really adds to the look of the locomotive under power.

Hello Clem k...........

I will mail the blank number boards tomorrow (Monday).  I am looking forward to the new number boards #2393. Many thank you's

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003,200

Tiffany

I have a couple of MPC diesel locomotives, including a Canadian Pacific F3.  One of the first things I did when I got them was to put numbers on the number boards.

After removing them from the locomotive, I painted the backs of them white, to diffuse the light from behind.  Then I put a coat of Dullcote on the front, and carefully applied numbers over it, from a sheet of dry-transfer lettering.  Finally, I sprayed Glosscote over the numbers, before returning the number boards to their locomotives.

That was back in the Seventies, and they've held up to this day.

Here is a photo of number boards I did on a custom paint job lionel GP

P touch label maker and they self stick

There's no excuse for them not to be lit these days.

Laidoffsick has it right.  I have turned down purchasing engines that didn't have their number boards properly lighted.  

Think of how much nicer Alco PA's, and EMD FT's look with their side number boards properly lighted.  

Hello Clem k..........

WOW, that a pro paint job you did on that U.P. Geep

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003,200

Tiffany

Thank you Tiffany

This is the third one I did, the others where Missouri Pacific and Union Pacific. The numbers are the paint date. All three are post war Lionel and all have a premier QSI reverse board, at the time that was the strongest one made. Used brake fluid to strip the original paint. The first one I did took me three try's before I was satisfied. I don't know if I can still do this kind of work.

Clem k

I hadn't realized - and am surprised - that lighted number boards are absent from many MTH engines. I run Legacy, so don't have MTH engines. I really like lighted boards, - can't imagine not having them. It's prototypical, for the most part, and in any case I'm with Bob Severin, as he noted above - the more lights, the better.

By the way, on many older Lionel Geeps, F units, etc., I put a couple layers of masking tape inside the cab, covering the number boards. Super easy. You can reduce the light to suit, and it looks a lot better - gives a more realistic background, and makes the numbers, if black, stand out much better.

On the older Lionel engines with clear number boards, adding some black letters using one of the methods discussed above, and using the masking tape on the back, transforms the number boards, and really adds a lot to the engine's appearance.