Taking a little break from scenery.
Here is a brass B&O S-1a (2-10-2) which I've posted about before:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50604018953_0d34bd6cc9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k6GPPp)DSC_0513 (https://flic.kr/p/2k6GPPp) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr
I installed a working reverse light, using some gold plated connectors:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50604761081_28680a9c2d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k6LCqH)DSC_0507 (https://flic.kr/p/2k6LCqH) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr
Unfortunately, these connectors, which seemed small to me at first, turned out to be a bit bulky--awkward to manipulate, hang too low, and so on:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50604761021_684d6d7884_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k6LCpF)DSC_0505 (https://flic.kr/p/2k6LCpF) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr
While shopping for scenery material at a hobby shop, I ran across these micro connectors from "Scale Shops" in Prescott, AZ. As you can see they are quite tiny:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50604883432_d6abdace67_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k6MfNd)DSC_0504 (https://flic.kr/p/2k6MfNd) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr
They are gold plated, there are 20 pairs of connectors for $12. Had to give it a try.
The wide portion of the connector made it easy to clip on a heat sink and solder to the wires:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50604019173_a4a614ec05_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k6GPTc)DSC_0510 (https://flic.kr/p/2k6GPTc) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr
I was able to shorten the wires and move everything in close:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50604760976_9fc05a26af_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k6LCoU)DSC_0508_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2k6LCoU) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr
Now the connection is easy and doesn't interfere with trackwork or the drawbar:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50604760956_c97c9d4726_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k6LCoy)DSC_0511_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2k6LCoy) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr
And it works!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50604761046_3c898a96ff_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k6LCq7)DSC_0512 (https://flic.kr/p/2k6LCq7) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr
OK. now I have to get back to scenery. Just made 171 new trees. Will get back to the layout stuff soon.
Regards,
Jonathan
Nice. If you do another loco, you could chuck the connectors in a drill and spin it against a file or sandpaper to knock the corners off.
Len
Very nice work. Something I cannot do anymore.
Rich
:) As I get older, I try to knock out tiny work. I know the day is coming when these little projects will get too tough. Even now, getting enough magnification to see what I'm doing, is challenging. I have discovered soldering magnet wire to SMDs is darn near impossible.
Len, I have three more brassies with the same set up. I will try spinning down the plugs to round 'em out.
Thanks guys.
Regards,
Jonathan
Man, if I tried something like that, I'd end up with a chrome ball
trailer hitch the size of that penny on the draw bar ! Nice work Jon.
Thanks for the pics. Beautifully weathered loco by the way.
Ken
Thanks Ken.
Regards,
Jonathan
I love the look of the steam locomotives, thats a cool project.
Thanks, Grumpy.
I took Len's advice and tried to put a plug in a chuck and round-off the insulating plastic. Also tried shaving it down with a razor. Neither method was creating a good look for me. The plug is just too small. However....
This is a Q-4b that needed a new smaller connector for the reverse light:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50613467207_b1bbaa1652_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k7xfsk)DSC_0517_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2k7xfsk) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr
I found it pretty easy to clip off that bit of plastic insulation. Then I could cover the whole plug with shrink tubing. This looks okay to me:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50613357131_5da0cee03a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k7wFJt)DSC_0515 (https://flic.kr/p/2k7wFJt) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr
Works:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50613467272_18d18991d6_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k7xfts)DSC_0516_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2k7xfts) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr
Thanks, Len, for putting my noodle in motion.
Regards,
Jonathan
Who needs a plastic insulator anyway when you have heat shrink?
Len