HOW TO INSTALL DITCH LIGHTS (Instructional Video) - HO Scale

How to install realistic LED ditch lights on an HO Scale locomotive. This technique should work on nearly all HO diesel locomotives, including both GE and EMD models of BNSF, CSX, NS, UP, CP, CN, etc... engines. Since all manufactures ( Kato, Athearn, Atlas, Intermountain ) used the same shell structure, this technique should work on most HO diesels. All parts, tools, and techniques for the complete installation of operating LED ditch lights are shown in the video. Parts can be purchased from your local hobby shop, walthers (website), or Ebay.
LED Lights Can be Purchased on Ebay Here:
www.ebay.com/it...

[@enriqueaguilar4892]

Great job adding ditch lights for the locomotive it's better than the regular lights

[@CobraChamp]

You are an excellent modeler! It is great to see young guys taking the hobby to the next level.

[@stevepsmoldycannoli3732]

Good tutorial! A helpful tip to you and others is to perform any needed drilling to small detail parts while they are still attached to the sprue tree. This will provide something to hold onto while working, and prevent the part from getting away from you, thereby becoming lost within "the belly of the 'carpet monster'".

[@trains4one]

You could always use a pin vise with the appropriate sized drill. Getting the bit to center is as easy as what you did with the X-acto knife. Excellent video

[@bayshoretrainguy9879]

I’m planning on installing ditch lights on a few of my locos and was searching for information on this topic when I came across this video. I will definitely use the tips presented here. Thank you for taking the time create a video like this.

[@espeechoochoo]

Wish I had found this video earlier. Been looking for ditch lite techniques for years. Great Stuff! Thanks.

[@htrago5581]

Nice job! I give you credit for being able to film and work! I use a lot of fiber optics for my lighting, I tried filming, but it wasn’t PG! Thanks

[@Skyshark505]

Great video. How about a video on connecting leds to decoder.

[@vwgolfer1873]

Dab of glue totally has a smiley face 7:56

[@YouTubeUpdatesKeepGettingWorse]

vwgolfer187 did you say dab? DDDAAABBB on!!!

[@vwgolfer1873]

Smudge,Spot,Dot,Drop are they better

[@johnhermanson5249]

Great video! Looking around on Ebay, I found a deal for (20) golden white 0805 (.08 x .05") SM LEDs, prewired with resistor for $12, and they ship from California. Many decoders now come with built in resistors for LED use.

[@mikedeberg6326]

Josh, Nice job with explaining installing ditchlights in HO.

[@hoggersouthawk]

Thanks Josh, putting in the groove on the shell is something I hadn't thought of before - great tip. Thanks for sharing.

[@manolo602]

Very cool!.Added to favorites for future reference.Awesome job.

[@HARPO1ME]

Great video ,but not to create a weak spot or future crack in the shell .File the frame for the wire chanell. A little paint on the wires tacked to the shell will provide a accurate mark when putting the shell on the frame to file the frame .Resin shrinks over time and may crack right where it is filed into like you show,been there and it is not fun finding it later out of the box.Just a tip from a bad expierance.

[@gp3yt]

FANTASTIC how-to NSmodeler24, thanks so much for sharing all the great details - what a great hobby we have!

[@inthegameroompodcast]

Great video as always Josh. It's kinda funny, I've been watching your videos for so long that I can tell by your voice that you are several years older than you were when you started doing KZbin videos.

[@davidmuse7004]

This is an awesome video, did not want to even think about trying this until I ran across your video. I've got everything needed and will give this a whirl in a few weeks. Thanks again!!!!

[@gregorywilliams6771]

David Muse

[@peacefulmind1559]

Good video but here's a tip from me. Better to cut a grove in the frame Using a HACK SAW BLADE because you are less likely to damage the model. I have done this on about 25 Katos with great success. I can see many people damaging their model because they may cut through the sill.

[@jeffcramer8651]

That video of ditch lights was good info, but I've got a AC4400 and it's got it's ditch lights in the front below the deck and above the plow. I guess all I'll need to do is drill the fake lights out and stick led through from the inside. Thanks.

[@sparky107107]

thanks for the how to video ,, this will come in very handy

[@mcutube2011]

Excellent video! Thank you for creating it! I wanted to ask, if your loco (mine is an Atlas HO DCC) came with LED lights can you just add the ditch light wiring to the one already going to the headlight (if you don't care about controlling them independently)? Thank you. Keep making these great videos!

[@vwgolfer1873]

Great how-to Video. Thanks

[@RailfanDaniel1997]

Can you show us how to wire the ditch lights to the electrical components inside the loco?

[@GTlct04]

Yes, please!!!

[@jeffcramer8651]

Oh yea I forgot to say I liked that video of Wheaton Station in the winter time. I've been at that station a few times my self.

[@F2CRT]

Just a heads up: LokSound decoders already have resistors in them, so you don't have to wire any in when doing this on a unit with LokSound

[@toddthetrainnut]

+F2Craft Rail That's only true with the LokSound Select Direct. The Aux 6 and Micro still need resistors.

[@F2CRT]

+Todd Wegter Yea, forgot to mention that.... Thanks!

[@redtrainproductions]

7:57 the glue has a smiley face :)

[@Gurgenshlurgen2024]

At 7:50 the glue looks like a smiley face

[@dylanruppert4547]

I would really like to see some of CSXs Bat winged ditch lights sold because I like how unique they are

[@csxketh1]

Custom Finishing Models Part #294 should be what you're looking for.

[@codydombrowski3347]

Thank You For The Helpful Info, I Have One Question, I've Noticed The Ditch Light Housing Itself Rests On The Deck Of The Engine, What Would You Need To Do If There Could Be Low Mounted Ditch Lights, Like On Some Of The Ex-Conrail SD40-2s?

[@northern_onrailfan2878]

Used the included link for the LEDs. Looks like they no longer come with the appropriate resistors and it took about 2.5 months to ship to Canada. Do you know the value used or the color coding on the resistors? Stuck at this point, thought asking would save me some google research time. Thanks

[@pedullabass]

do I need to add resistors? I use digitrax decoders.

[@TheKoups]

the glue has a smiley face 7:33

[@railroadpics]

Should this be the same technique if the ditch lights are not mounted on the deck but above the snow plow? Thanx, Matt

[@Fyrfotog2]

Did you choose the Detail Assoc part for a particular reason? Plastic as opposed to the soft metal from Details West?

[@AIRSOFTTANK1]

thank you finally a good one

[@CodysTrainz]

Where do you put the wires for the ditch lights on the Decoder? F5 or F6 output?

[@spencerdutton4303]

Did anyone else notice the smiley face made by light reflections in the drop of glue at 8:00?

[@standforchrist1]

Is it possible you can do a running video of this locomotive running a local or doing local switching? Im really starting to like these NS SD40s running a local. Its so cool really especially the High hood engines.

[@nsmodeler24]

+Trainman Xavier Ill see what I can do!

[@wasatchrangerailway6921]

I found an even better way of installing ditch lights. Use the hand rails. Brass wire makes for a nice circuit path and you don't have to drill a single thing. Solder the wires to the hand rails with a single strand of 36 gage and you will never see the wires.

[@luckygamer05]

Sometimes seeing wires is prototypical!

[@wasatchrangerailway6921]

yup

[@Rebecca_The_Dragon]

now...how do you remove the shell with it wired to the locomotive?

[@John-gh2nn]

does the loco have to be missing the front handrails

[@beeble2003]

He obviously removed the handrails before fitting the ditch lights, and will put them back on afterwards.

[@beeble2003]

0:19 "You can do it in under $5 if you have all the parts" Surely, if I have all the parts, I can do it for nothing.

[@mrmartyman7]

WHAT SIZE BULBS ARE THEY 3MM OR 5MM?

[@railroadpics]

Would this work for headlights as well? Thanx, Matt

[@nsmodeler24]

+railroadpics _ It should be relatively similar

[@csxhoosiersub]

No link to Ebay seller of LED lights

[@HungryGuyStories]

You can but Nano LED lights anywhere... Tony's Trains, Nicholas Smith, or any other established train store...

[@AbelG8781]

Lol the days before scaletrains

[@larrymonske8086]

ditch lights with horse logo on the lens.

[@404blxze]

. NC

[@thefutureofyesterday8136]

Good deal $1 each.