Model Building HO SP Consist Part 9 - SD40 Rear End Lighting

Dan's HO scale Southern Pacific consist build continues with more work on the Conrail SD40. SP leased some power from Conrail in the 1990s, which probably explains the unit's appearance in Truckee, California in the summer of 1993. Dan's model of CR 6283 was built from an HO scale Kato unit.

This is a model train that Dan first built several years ago. In its first incarnation, it had a LokSound 3.5 DCC sound decoder. This was the first model that Dan built with fiber optic headlights, which has since become his standard. Unfortunately the model was built with its original cast on radiator and dynamic brake fans.

In previous episodes, Dan replaced the fans with Cannon parts. The old decoder is gone and the model is in the process of being reworked.

In this episode Dan builds a light box and installs LEDs for the rear number boards, as well as red LEDs for the rear marker lights.

A new speaker is installed and the custom speaker enclosure gets finished. Resistors for the rear lights are also installed.

At the end of the episode all the internal work on the rear of the locomotive is finished.

Dan talks about making a lighting plan for installing DCC in a custom model. It's important to consider how many lights need to be independently operated and how many outputs are available on the DCC decoder.

The LokSound 5 DCC decoder Dan will be using in this model has 10 lighting outputs! That opens up a world of possibilities for model railroaders, especially SP modelers! With its red marker lights and operating number boards, this HO scale Conrail unit will also benefit from having so many lighting options.