09-29-2020, 01:08 AM
I use MV Products lenses, and have, in the past, had some luck getting them from Sprue Brothers.
They specialise in military models - planes warships, tanks, etc., but often have lenses suitable for model railroading, too.
Generally, the lenses are identified by a number equal to their diameter in thousandths-of-an-inch, so you'll need calipers to measure the inside diameter of your headlight castings. If you can't find one that's exactly right, there's often a chance that one slightly smaller will still look convincing. If you find a lense slightly larger than you need, a few quick turns with a suitably-sized drill bit in a pin vise can often increase the inside diameter of the headlight casting enough to accept the larger lense, and still look acceptable, too.
Some MV lenses seem to yellow over time - not sure of the cause, but most still look useable...better than nothing and usually better than jewel lenses, too.
They also offer lenses in colour, useful for marker lights on cabooses, and red and yellow ones for use as warning lights on locomotives. Another possible source for the lenses is Walthers. I've had no luck at all trying to contact MV Products directly, though.
However, I did stumble across this Canadian site a few minutes ago, which, seems to have a decent selection....although on closer inspection, many seem to be back-ordered.
I'd offer some photos, but those from photobucket will not show in this forum...I'll see if I can find some in my own library on discs.
Here are a few locomotives with MV Products lenses...
The MV lenses can be very effectively illuminated, too: if using a small LED, drill a shallow hole in the reflective material on the rear of the lense, using a suitably-sized drill bit in a pin vise, then cement the LED into the hole. The unlit LED will look like a bulb in a reflector, and with the LED lit, very realistic.
There are some photos of lenses with an LED installed HERE, although you'll need to scroll a bit to find them.
I hope that something here will be of use.
Wayne
They specialise in military models - planes warships, tanks, etc., but often have lenses suitable for model railroading, too.
Generally, the lenses are identified by a number equal to their diameter in thousandths-of-an-inch, so you'll need calipers to measure the inside diameter of your headlight castings. If you can't find one that's exactly right, there's often a chance that one slightly smaller will still look convincing. If you find a lense slightly larger than you need, a few quick turns with a suitably-sized drill bit in a pin vise can often increase the inside diameter of the headlight casting enough to accept the larger lense, and still look acceptable, too.
Some MV lenses seem to yellow over time - not sure of the cause, but most still look useable...better than nothing and usually better than jewel lenses, too.
They also offer lenses in colour, useful for marker lights on cabooses, and red and yellow ones for use as warning lights on locomotives. Another possible source for the lenses is Walthers. I've had no luck at all trying to contact MV Products directly, though.
However, I did stumble across this Canadian site a few minutes ago, which, seems to have a decent selection....although on closer inspection, many seem to be back-ordered.
I'd offer some photos, but those from photobucket will not show in this forum...I'll see if I can find some in my own library on discs.
Here are a few locomotives with MV Products lenses...
The MV lenses can be very effectively illuminated, too: if using a small LED, drill a shallow hole in the reflective material on the rear of the lense, using a suitably-sized drill bit in a pin vise, then cement the LED into the hole. The unlit LED will look like a bulb in a reflector, and with the LED lit, very realistic.
There are some photos of lenses with an LED installed HERE, although you'll need to scroll a bit to find them.
I hope that something here will be of use.
Wayne