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

[@Hunter_Dawso]

That fact that this is being done on a Conrail unit is especially helpful as I have a CR SD50 that I want to make these upgrades to.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you're finding the series helpful. I have a few more Conrail units to do myself. Thanks for watching!

[@paulkirkmanMYTRAINS]

I think I am going to make a new nickname for you. You are "Dr. Dan", HO model train locomotive surgeon. I get blown away by your work. Having all the lighting functions really adds a lot of realism but also more fun to operations as well . Great video Doc, thanks for sharing. 😷😷👍👍🌲🌲

[@DanielCortopassi]

Train surgeon. I like it. I guess it is kind of apt in a sense. One of the best things about all the lights and sound you can do with DCC is the extra dimension it can add to operating. For me the novelty value of having sound wore off a long time ago, but having to use the bell, horn and lights in realistic ways adds a lot to the experience of operating a model train. Thanks for watching!

[@jhoodfysh]

The level of detail you are providing is excellent Dan. Very interesting indeed.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you like the series. Thanks for watching!

[@jasonpeachrick2037]

Always love seeing a new episode of model building. As usual, wonderful stuff Dan.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!

[@dave3156]

Dan another great episode. Your model building talent is remarkable

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks so much!

[@kyaing9047]

From memory (I don't have a source to cite), Conrail marker lights are set up so that the other direction of travel (rear when going forward) is on, and can be toggled inside the cab. Unsure exactly when/why they would be on, though I'd assume they could be used to denote the rear helper unit for example. Joe

[@DanielCortopassi]

That makes sense. I have seen Amtrak use their red marker lights that way. Thanks for watching!

[@struck2soon]

Excellent work!

[@DanielCortopassi]

Glad you like it! Thanks for watching!

[@Trnenergy3]

Great video. Would be curious seeing the whole installation with decoder. I find it a challenge for wire routing once I add the decoder and rats nest of wires and trying to neatly organized them and closing up the shell.

[@draconightwalker4964]

same here

[@DanielCortopassi]

That part is coming in the next episodes. I'll show how I fit everything inside the model. Thanks for watching!

[@floridianrailauto9032]

Amazing attention to detail as always

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks for watching!

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

Excellent job on the lighting build, I have always wondered how the marker lights were lit. Thanks for your help!

[@DanielCortopassi]

You're welcome. I'm glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@TrainQuest-Model-Railroad]

Well done Dan. 🚂🏆

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks for watching!

[@Vman7757]

Thanks for sharing. Enjoying this series of videos. I am in N scale but I find your techniques work in my n scale. Keep up the good work. Love to meet you someday I live near Roseville yard in Carmichael. There been a few time we just missed by minutes. LOL Please keep up the god work. Vman

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you like the series. I've been to Roseville a few times to railfan. It would be nice to meet sometime after all this pandemic stuff is over. Nichole and I want to travel and do some railfanning as we go. Now that I've decided to model Donner Pass I really want to get up there and take some more photos. Thanks for watching!

[@Vman7757]

@@DanielCortopassi I would love to model Donner. Just don't have the space. I am a good scenic modeler. Maybe some day I can come up and help you. If I could have my way someone would build or help me build the bench work and lay the track so I can do the scenic work. Thanks for what you do. Keep up the good work.

[@nyemt601]

Conrail refers to the marker lights as “class lights” unique to Conrail and a feature that’s used to spot them still on the rails today

[@DanielCortopassi]

Okay, good to know. I wasn't calling them class lights because I'm used to class lights being red, green or white that have meanings according to the operating rules on most railroads. Every railroad has its own variations on jargon, though. Thanks for the info!

[@nyemt601]

Anytime and yeah Conrail a funny railroad. To my understanding they were used as a safety feature. I’m not fully versed in there operations. I believe it came on the heals of a re-end wreck. I believe Amtrak used something similar

[@mgr_video_productions]

Nice! I can't wait to see the next part! I surprised you're not using sugar cube speakers since many folks and some model train manufactures are finding them quite popular to use with sound decoders.

[@CentralJerseyRailfan]

Scale Sounds System speakers are becoming increasingly popular with ESU installs as well. The sound quality can’t be beat.

[@AKTG197]

@@CentralJerseyRailfan agreed

[@DanielCortopassi]

I have tried sugar cube speakers and I think they're great for some situations. The speaker I'm using in this model is one that I've used many times before and the sound quality is really good. Thanks for watching!

[@scottwalters6031]

Perfect timing for this video . I'm making a plan to do this with my locomotives. I think I'll just copy your installation. Thanks.

[@DanielCortopassi]

You're welcome. I'm glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@pretzelogic2689]

Fiber optics use was informative. Great video all around.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@draconightwalker4964]

its funny, just yesterday i put a lokpilot 5 decoder in my much older but near identical conrail loco, CR6373. now today your video pops up for lighting. sweet

[@DanielCortopassi]

Cool! Thanks for watching!

[@markhayes6407]

I've always wondered why athearn doesn't have rule 17 added to their decoders so the rear facing light on the trailing locomotive in a consist stays on dim while travelling in forward. Loksound provides that function. Generally its F5.

[@DanielCortopassi]

One of the things I like about LokSound decoders is the flexibility of function output and function key assignments. It's cool because you can use directional lighting on one key, and use another key to just turn on the front light, another for the rear light, etc. It's really only limited by the number of available keys on your DCC controller. I want to be able to have the rear light on dim for pusher units, something I've seen often in real life. Thanks for watching!

[@needs2quit1atgmail87]

Great vid. Very helpful bro

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks for watching!

[@josecarlospereiramachado2016]

Muito bom. Parabéns. Estou aprendendo muito. Excelente.

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks for watching!

[@amtrakisveryepic]

I can't even imagine doing this in N Scale lol SO TINY!!!!

[@DanielCortopassi]

It would be a challenge, for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@scottsilvey7522]

Nice work Dan, but the statement that it's just a Conrail engine is blasphemy!!! Just kidding Dan, here's wishing you and Nichole a very Merry Christmas and hope you get some train stuff in your stocking!!!!

[@tokerspade]

Shhhhhhhhhh don’t get him thinking or he will guess ☺️😜

[@DanielCortopassi]

Oops. I actually really like this engine, and I have some more Conrail units that I intend to use on my SP layout (conveniently SP was leasing some Conrail power in the 1990s). Merry Christmas to you, too and thanks for watching!

[@scottsilvey7522]

@@DanielCortopassi Merry Christmas to you and Nichole, if you get train stuff in your stocking act suprised!!!

[@mikedowell8978]

Great job ! Have you thought about doing a short history domercity maybe Nichole , kinda like jacks chrome shop watch it

[@DanielCortopassi]

We'll check it out. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@thomream1888]

Dan, this has been a fun ride watching you make progress with each video. There is one thin I wish you would stop doing, and it's a minor thing really. When you hold an object up to the camera (inside of the loco shell, LEDs mounted on the brace, etc.), don't keep turning it back and forth. It makes it harder to pick out the details - and if there's anything you're good at, is details. I know there can be reflection issues and one or two twists make sense, but when you continue to move back and forth it's difficult to see everything. My computer screen resolution is too low to freeze-frame, and doing a screenshot is even worse. I know it's a minor thing but it would make it easier for us, ahem, older gents. And any updates on the home layout? I'd sure like to see a current view. Merry Christmas, Ghost of SP

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks for the feedback. I've been doing that because I didn't want to have too many static shots on the screen where nothing is moving, but I hadn't considered that it could be annoying. I'll make an effort to do it less in the future. Thanks for watching!

[@kvcroff]

Hey Dan, like all your videos and what you have to say and show from your BOX of the month.......any chance of you selling 2601 BN b-unit that would make a great loco for all my green orrrrr make a video of how to build one please. Thanks for interesting vids

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm not currently selling any of my custom models. I could maybe do a showcase video about it and talk about how I put it together. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@lotpb]

I’m looking at an abortion 😂

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks for watching!