TEMPORARY BONDS FOR LAMPS

I’d love to add tail lamps to some of my wagons and brake vans, but I don’t want to fix them permanently. Is there a way of fixing them neatly, but temporarily, so I can re-marshal trains and exhibit the lamps according to the BR rule book? E. Dawson, Kendal

George says: There are a number of options for illuminated lamps. Train-tech and Express Models offer a variety of excellent, easy-to-fit packages for traditional oil lamps and modern flashing lamps, taking power from the rails or via small button-cell batteries. The Train-tech units also feature motion sensors to automatically switch the lights on and off. However, these invariably demand a permanent (or at least semi-permanent) fitting, with a battery pack and circuit board being accommodated within or below the vehicle in question. There’s also bound to be a need to drill holes into the body for the lamp’s leads to pass through. Alternatively, non-working lamps with coloured ‘jewel’ lenses can also be attractive, as they catch and reflect ambient light effectively. Springside Models offers a choice of lamp patterns – to suit different railway company and period styles – and colours, with red or white lenses for tail or head lamps respectively. They can be bonded temporarily with a tiny blob of Tacky Wax from Deluxe Materials. This non-staining adhesive provides a bond strong enough for everyday layout operation, but allows for easy repositioning (while the vehicle or locomotive remains on the track) without damaging the paintwork. Any traces of the wax can be wiped away with a cotton swab dipped in hot, soapy water.

Web: www.springsidemodels.com www.train-tech.com www.expressmodels.co.uk www.gaugemaster.com