You know, the train I'm remembering could have very well been the Budd style Amtrak or even early PRR Metroliner cars. They had gyro lights and I rode them frequently into Penn NY, particularly the Amtrak branded ones.
That’s true. The Metroliners did come initially with a light that shone a circular pattern. I distinctly recall seeing the beam sweep the ROW in the evening. I believe there were three headlights centered up top, with the Mars in center
I remember being surprised it was not a GG1, but the new trainset.
@PRR Man posted:That’s true. The Metroliners did come initially with a light that shone a circular pattern. I distinctly recall seeing the beam sweep the ROW in the evening. I believe there were three headlights centered up top, with the Mars in center
I remember being surprised it was not a GG1, but the new trainset.
That's what I'm remembering: gyrating light in the center.
@pdxtrains posted:That's exactly what I'm looking for! Out of curiosity, does one need full DCS to trigger the light, or does it illuminate along will the main light in conventional as well?
Thanks for sharing!
All the MTH engines I've seen equipped with Mars lights it works automatically.
@mashinter posted:The manual says all lights operate in conventional.
I went looking for an engine with the MARS light because when I was a kid in Chicago, the C&NW engines had MARS lights. I really like this MTH light. This engine also has the horn that the C&NW engines had. I assume the C&NW commuter engines were E8s....not sure.
Have seen images of both C&NW E units and C&NW F units in commuter service. Google will pop a lot of them.
@pdxtrains posted:An E60 o gauge is going to be a tall order to find. The reality is, I don't care if it's a non prototype engine at this point--I just want a Mars light.
The easiest solution may be to send my PRR MTH P3 Alco to Gunnerjohn and have him install a Mars light. That would scratch the itch.
Thanks everyone for your help!
That's probably your best bet. I have the Mars Light obsession too, and have installed the Ngineering modules in a number of 3rd Rail engines. GRJ's methods are undoubtedly more efficient than mine, and I haven't attempted - because it was never necessary - to use these modules in an MTH engine.
The Ngineering Mars Light Simulator requires an onboard DC power supply, which you can get from Ngineering, but it's an incredibly small separate module and requires some soldering effort to install. (I don't say soldering skill, because despite my best efforts I don't have any!)
The Lionel/MTH approach to this feature has not been consistent. I have found the latest versions of the Lionel effort, including in a VL GS steamer, less than convincing. In certain TMCC models, they did it 'way better. This is a very short video of a Santa Fe F3 from about 2003:
This is a conversion of a 3rd Rail E7 diesel I did a few years back. I think that 3rd Rail now uses the Ngineering modules in their 3-rail models:
@Hancock52 posted:That's probably your best bet. I have the Mars Light obsession too, and have installed the Ngineering modules in a number of 3rd Rail engines. GRJ's methods are undoubtedly more efficient than mine, and I haven't attempted - because it was never necessary - to use these modules in an MTH engine.
The Ngineering Mars Light Simulator requires an onboard DC power supply, which you can get from Ngineering, but it's an incredibly small separate module and requires some soldering effort to install. (I don't say soldering skill, because despite my best efforts I don't have any!)
The Lionel/MTH approach to this feature has not been consistent. I have found the latest versions of the Lionel effort, including in a VL GS steamer, less than convincing. In certain TMCC models, they did it 'way better. This is a very short video of a Santa Fe F3 from about 2003:
This is a conversion of a 3rd Rail E7 diesel I did a few years back. I think that 3rd Rail now uses the Ngineering modules in their 3-rail models:
Yes, the Ngineering version is far superior, it actually looks a MARS light! I think the only real way to scratch this itch is to have a pro install it for me.
My go-to MARS light is the Ngineering one. I actually designed a microprocessor one that looked similar to the Ngineering one, but I can buy theirs cheaper than building mine, so it was a no-brainer. Adding to that fact is it's smaller, that's a bonus. I do have to add a proper power supply, but that's not that difficult.
@BobbyD posted:Have seen images of both C&NW E units and C&NW F units in commuter service. Google will pop a lot of them.
C&NW eventually started taking the MARS lights out and painting over the lens. Some F's had "gong" bells placed in the MARS light location.
Rusty
For the fun of it, it would be interesting to add a mars light circuit to the Williams Metroliners. At 15" also they work nicely on small layouts.
Here is a video of my Williams set (1 car is missing as I robbed parts as donners for other projects).
I also have a Welz set, but with a Lionel Pullmore motor drive, I don't think it is compatible with modern electronics. I like this set better even if the Williams set is a much better running one.
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No sweat to add a MARS light simulator...
@gunrunnerjohn posted:No sweat to add a MARS light simulator...
I would like to use a miniature simulator module to produce mars light action with the taillight on my Northland, a heavyweight business car. This is a K-Line model with incandescent overhead lighting. The car marker lights are LEDs and I have wired a red LED to that circuit. I run DCS with 18 voltage. The overhead light board has resistors for the LEDs and the red taillight works fine.
Question: How easy would it be to add a Ngineering MSM to that circuit? Would I just solder it in series to the red LED. Also, which module would you recommend - Early-era Flasher Simulator N037 or Earl-era & Modern-era Alternating Flasher Simulators - N038?
I am a little confused since the instillations and specs on the web site only refer to DCC operation.
Thanks for help and any recommendations.
Cheers, Dave
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You wouldn't use any of those, the N8031 MARS Light Simulator is the one you want. It needs a filtered DC power supply from 6V to 18V, preference being 12VDC or lower to avoid overheating the tiny regulator on the board. If you are driving a red LED, then you want the N8031C version for the lower voltage red LED.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:You wouldn't use any of those, the N8031 MARS Light Simulator is the one you want. It needs a filtered DC power supply from 6V to 18V, preference being 12VDC or lower to avoid overheating the tiny regulator on the board. If you are driving a red LED, then you want the N8031C version for the lower voltage red LED.
Thanks for the recommendation. From your experience, and possibly with this K-Line car, are the marker lights & end light using AC? The filtered DC power supply has me a little confused, are you saying add an 18volt diode in series to convert AC into DC for the red light? I will test the two leads to the red LED to read the Voltage. Any other suggestions?
Thanks, Dave
No, I'm saying you need a regulated power supply from track power to insure you don't kill the MARS simulator. You can put together three components to generate the required power for the MARS board.
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@Rusty Traque posted:C&NW eventually started taking the MARS lights out and painting over the lens. Some F's had "gong" bells placed in the MARS light location.
Rusty
Yeah, that shows in the images. He wanted to know if the C&NW used E and F units and I have no idea what year he is modeling.
@mashinter posted:I went looking for an engine with the MARS light because when I was a kid in Chicago, the C&NW engines had MARS lights. I really like this MTH light. This engine also has the horn that the C&NW engines had. I assume the C&NW commuter engines were E8s....not sure.
