An LED Model Railroad Switch Lamp

This neat little simple LED switch stand idea comes from Bob Farrell of Knoxville, TN.  This is one of those things that is so simple, you wonder why you didn't think of it.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in this case it is certainly true.  There is only a little that can be said because the photos and drawings show it all.

Bob uses these on his turnouts to indicate position and he also makes the little housing for the LED to look like a prototype 'sort of ' four light lantern. Just another method to accomplish the position indicator LED.  The next photo is of the same turnout but in a different position, so the LED has changed to green.

And here is how it was done.

"I used some .03 and .06 styrene to make the body of the 'lantern' base. I drilled a hole to fit the bi-polar LED (3mm) and cemented it in from the bottom. I then painted it all flat black and then using a .06 dia drill, just spot drill four holes around the LED just deep enough to make a circular hole through the paint. This allows the light to come through in four directions, which looks like the prototype lantern, and reduces the glare from a bare LED. It has a very good effect. I would solder the power wires to the LED before mounting in the base.  (Reciently I  made a new housing pattern and added bolt/washer castings to the four mounting holes and will be making a rubber mold and casting these for my layout (I need about 30 of them!)". Enjoy, Bob Farrell.