London Underground model railway 17 - layout lighting & footbridge repairs

Hey guys! Happy 2024, Im back for another video.
Last time i cracked on with the station platforms, so this time i thought while we are on a roll, lets get the lights working!
If you enjoy the vid please let me know in the comments!
If you need items/help building your model railway, why not check out my good friends at AGR?
www.AGRModelRailwayStore.co.uk
All the best,
Eric
Music I use: Bensound.com
License code: IGMJE3NT6CYYOGUH

[@going2thedogs]

Well done Eric, great job. Lighting certainly transforms our model railways.

[@UndergroundEric]

Thanks mate i think so too

[@Lighting_Desk]

You had me at lighting and I stayed for the underground and models.

[@UndergroundEric]

🙂🙂🙂

[@davidparry1982]

I like the contrast between warm and cold lights - fits your back story

[@UndergroundEric]

Thanks, seems to work!

[@timsully8958]

You have certainly got the right amount of lighting for that station mate. And it is a great idea to leave one platform essentially in a ‘before’ state and have a contrasting ‘new’ platform alongside! 😎 Did make me chuckle, cos when you said you were not sure what to do about the white light on the ‘before’ platform I just said ‘get some Tamiya yellow glow stuff”, and you then said you were going to do that very thing seconds later! 😄 You then said “I think that looks pretty good” and my immediate thought was “looks great but the footbridge looks a bit bright”…and you then cut to where you had installed new resistors 😅 I should have known what was coming when you said you weren’t sure about adding the lamp on the other side of the footbridge steps on the island platform: “do it!” I say and hey presto 🤣😂😅 Does look right though, not least because it nicely lights up the roundel for incoming passengers 🤓 The signal box looks fantastic now. The main light looks great to and me doesn’t look too bright, and the lit up access route sets it off brilliantly. Love the stove too 😍 Great content mate and hope you have a great break on NYC 🍻👍🍀

[@lels3618]

its really comming along, always happy to follow your progress :)

[@UndergroundEric]

Appreciate that 😃

[@dsj672]

Another super video, the lighting effects are amazing.

[@barrywendon5168]

Thanks Eric another good video Food for thought

[@UndergroundEric]

Cheers Barry 🙂

[@wasted-blaster.]

Ah another underground Eric who is ironically overground video! This man is an inspiration!

[@UndergroundEric]

Majority of it is overground anyway so it counts 😝

[@MarkWhitehead-px2cx]

Well done Eric another fine piece of craft work, layout is looking amazing

[@UndergroundEric]

Cheers!

[@ianhughes-zf1ll]

Looking absolutely fabulous it’s amazing the what the lights can make on a layout be waiting for next video

[@UndergroundEric]

Brings it to life mate, thankyou!

[@FC-Mobile-Highlights]

My day is ten times better when you post eric

[@UndergroundEric]

Thats a very nice thing to say

[@DeStoreholmskeBaner]

Neat cabling is always a great thing. However, when you separate the two bus wires like that, you actually creates an issue, as your wires will create a magnetic field, and by that create a higher inductance in the wires. The inductance is essentially resistance in the AC domain, and as the DCC signal somewhat resembles an AC signal, your DCC signal can’t travel as far. Better option would be to keep the bus wires together to minimize the inductance. In your case it might be rather stupid to keep the wires wrapped around each other, as it may introduce shorts 😉

[@UndergroundEric]

It works.

[@thomasedwards5700]

Love the lighting. All your decisions are good calls.

[@UndergroundEric]

Thanks, not afraid to take things to bits, usually seems to work out in the end!

[@mark5439]

ooooo better make tea and get comfortable. Eric you are churning out the vids, its fkin awesome

[@UndergroundEric]

Im trying to be more regular the past few months or so, to see if it helps the channel aswell as keep me motivated. Seems to be working i think

[@mark5439]

@@UndergroundEric yeah you are getting some good numbers

[@UndergroundEric]

@@mark5439 defo mate, its been a nice suprise

[@johnvine5731]

Good job. You have captured the mood of a platform at night. It looks like real life! To play around with the lighting, maybe consider variable resistors.

[@UndergroundEric]

Thanks bud, yeah that or buck converters, have used those elsewhere but was just using what i had laying around in fairness!

[@John_N_Quay_Harbour]

Impressive lighting Eric. I wouldn't be afraid to catch the night train

[@UndergroundEric]

Thanks mate

[@rosseades4213]

That footbridge looks fantastic Eric, them lights make it on the stairs great video again mate

[@UndergroundEric]

Thankyou!!

[@buildingtheelrstepbystep9607]

That unit can be programmed to flicker when switched on... adds tones of reality. Have a read of the instructions!

[@timfellows8334]

As usual, you have got me thinking about my own layout!

[@UndergroundEric]

Then that is more than i could ask for mate! Good luck!

[@2010ditta]

Amazing job..everything looks great in the dark. Very enjoyable Eric...all the best.

[@UndergroundEric]

Cheers mate

[@georgethomas7814]

Brilliant stuff

[@UndergroundEric]

Thanks!

[@DudleyCentral]

Great work! Love the lights! Joe

[@UndergroundEric]

Cheers Joe!

[@marcdempsey5850]

This looks so much better, easy to sometimes forget it’s a working scene; a model in its own right; looking forward to seeing some trains running. Totally inspired with this, all the best for New York trip. Regards Marc from Leighton Buzzard

[@UndergroundEric]

Thanks Marc, its coming along at a pace im a bit happier with now at least. Will get trains running sharpish, least i can do! Haha. Thanks a bunch mate, here now and it is incredible!!

[@royboydanny1415]

Eric, love the lighting, fantastic .👍

[@UndergroundEric]

Thanks!

[@PeterHHodge]

Great effort with the lighting, really does bring the scene to life. The day/night lighting is really something!

[@UndergroundEric]

Cheers Peter!

[@CaptainCreosoteRN]

First visit to your channel, enjoying your modelling immensely. have a sub 😉

[@user-cn4rg2bs4p]

well done eric.

[@UndergroundEric]

Thankyou!

[@standclear502]

Eric this lighting and attention to detail is a superb step in your ever increasingly brilliant layout ❤️ Thanks for making your videos and sharing your build with us 💜

[@UndergroundEric]

Thanks a bunch!!!

[@MrVinnyh]

Nice one Eric. 👍

[@UndergroundEric]

Thanks

[@kitchenhamfarm]

nothing wrong with solid core cable eric electricity companies use it, telecom companies use it, computer cabling is solid core any cabling that is static ,the only stranded cables are leads ie telephone leads rj45 computer leads your table lamp basically anything that can be moved about ,another terrific vid

[@breintonjunction791]

Hi Eric, your patience with the foot bridge really paid off and the overall lighting scene is up to your usual standard 👏 cheers Al

[@UndergroundEric]

Thanks Al, yeah im pleased with how that came out!

[@JamesPetts]

As to your New York trip - give my regards to Ealing Broadway.

[@jamfjord]

With the warm white, cool white and dulled white with the Tamiya clear, I reckon you've made the lighting even more realistic. All you need to do is wire in one flickering LED, and you've nailed it 😉😁

[@UndergroundEric]

That would be cool! Neat idea, maybe a street light on the station bridge?

[@bramelsheretan]

exceptional

[@UndergroundEric]

Thankyou

[@smallrails6831]

Lighting looks amazing. Hi from NZ...

[@UndergroundEric]

Hello from down under!!

[@smallrails6831]

Funny I like lol Bernie

[@Harp-House-Halt]

Impressive !

[@brianrobinson2962]

Awesome mate

[@m10cachilles43]

As well as CMX there is also the Sharge track cleaner, which does the same thing, but looks a bit prettier. When I went shopping they were similar prices.

[@UndergroundEric]

Yeah i have a couple mates with them, they said they are ok but they dont weigh as much as a CMX so are a little more problematic with derailing / set up ect

[@philipgardner7360]

Pleasure as always...I like your laid back approach...got the lights running too !!

[@UndergroundEric]

Cheers mate, yeah just go with the flow right? Seems to be working out!

[@andy81e12]

Hi Eric. Great layout indeed ! Your track looks amazing and immaculate. I’m building my first layout and using peco flexi track and it’s starting to do my head in so leave it for a few days then go back to it ! Your station also looking amazing. Actually looks real 😮 Great video as always 👍

[@UndergroundEric]

Cheers mate! Yeah im the same at times hence as my vids show i will switch from one area to another as i get bored ect. Its a hobby end of the day so keep it enjoyable 🙂

[@JamesPetts]

On the lighting: I am not a big fan of the Digikeijs approach of using RGB lights to simulate daylight: the colours are too saturated (night time is never bright purple, for example) and the white is not very good (low CRI). A better approach would be to use a mix of very warm white (~2,000K), daylight white (5,500K) and very cool white (~7,100K) and change the balance and brightness of these to simulate cloudy daylight, midday daylight, morning/evening daylight and moonlight.

[@UndergroundEric]

The colour levels are all adjustable buddy! I can change it all on the laptop 🙂

[@PeckhamHall]

Nice job, but the side of the transformer house is a bit bright. 🌞

[@UndergroundEric]

Yep! I need to sort that, good spot. Even after painting the inside it does have a bit of light bleed and needs turning down a bit. That and the lack of backscene (currently) are the reason its not permanently installed just yet 😀

[@Tencentsthetug]

How is the little layout growing eric hope you had a nice new year

[@UndergroundEric]

Ive been a bit busy but starting it soonish

[@user-im3hr1ed2l]

Really like the look of the lighting . The double platform lights I’ve only seen mounted at right angles to the track, not parallel ?

[@UndergroundEric]

I just had a very quick google and you have a point there… so thanks! I will search up some more pictures just incase, but looks like i may be turning them 90’ after all! In actual fact it would help light the (not yet fitted) roundels too!

[@duncanbirse]

Hi Eric, great videos thank you! Do you have any suggestions for an alternative to the DR4050? Yamorc have confirmed they are not planning to make anything similar. I can't find another obvious DCC option that will automatically dim the layout lights in a day/night cycle like the DR 4050.

[@UndergroundEric]

Hi buddy thanks I dont really know what else is out there tbh! I guess i am just fortunate that i bought one before they went bust, wasnt cheap mind you and i dont think they sold that well which is probs why Yamorc arent interested. Might be able to find someone good with arduinos that could build something possibly?

[@blossomchris7323]

A most useful video. Does anyone know the manufacturer of the single and double platform lights please

[@UndergroundEric]

DMG Electech 👍 they are the N gauge ones

[@blossomchris7323]

Thank you. Have you been on the subway yet?@@UndergroundEric

[@JamesPetts]

Nice lighting! I see that you use a TCS throttle - how do you find it?

[@UndergroundEric]

Best waste of £300 ever 😂 on a real its the nicest handset i have tried by far. My friends really like it too. Only gripe is going through batteries, i wish there was also a wired version so i could have both. They are maaaajor money but nice to use in general as its not got too many buttons, its like a simplified PowerCab

[@JamesPetts]

@@UndergroundEric Excellent, thank you! Do you use it with WiThrottle?

[@DavidHarris-vp7xh]

do you have a link for the day and night lights

[@UndergroundEric]

Its a Digikeijs DR4050 module, theyve unfortunately gone out of business with no replacement on the market so will be rare, though i dont think they sold amazingly well so you might get lucky in a couple ex digikeijs stockists or online?

[@Tencentsthetug]

Wher can I find a cheap horse of dcc chips thanks

[@m10cachilles43]

At the moment, Hatton's.

[@Tencentsthetug]

How much

[@Tencentsthetug]

Eric do you offer guest model train driving on harefeled

[@UndergroundEric]

Its close friends only im afraid, however it will (one day) make it to a show or two.