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[SimonCornes]

This sounds like a simple query but I'm looking for a deck light for a 1/16th Trent Class lifeboat. The kit includes a white metal circular light which has a diameter of around 4mm and its quite a flat reflector so quite thin. It shines down onto the rear deck from above the flying bridge. Any suggestions for a suitable working replacement?


There are so many working searchlights, navigation lights, you name it but it would be really useful if someone could point me in the direction of something not too big that would work? I also need small mast head and stern nav lights but I have some grain of wheat or rice bulbs that might do for those as 3mm LEDs are too big!


Any suggestions would be much appreciated,
Thank you

[HMS Invisible]

You can grind, polish, paint and resin pot leds to match your needs.
Led bulbs cost one quid these days. You can desolder and experiment today.
Newer individual led packages in mains bulbs tend to be several leds, sometimes up to six, in series.
Google 0603 and 0805 smt white leds for smallest leds.

[SimonCornes]

You can grind, polish, paint and resin pot leds to match your needs.
Led bulbs cost one quid these days. You can desolder and experiment today.
Newer individual led packages in mains bulbs tend to be several leds, sometimes up to six, in series.
Google 0603 and 0805 smt white leds for smallest leds.

Thank you. I've just been looking at model railway LED ceiling lamps and I could use one of those with a bit of fettling to slim it down but of course it would be on a slow boat from China so not here for a couple of weeks if I ordered some today. But I have a local model railway shop so that might be the best choice initially ? I take your point that LEDs can be ground down so I must have a few kicking aground I can have a try with first before I buy something new!

[Fred Ellis]

This is one of my tugs, all the lights are bright white SMD.

[Colin Bishop]

Railway Scenics have a good selection of LEDs, some of which might be useful.

https://www.railwayscenics.com/lighting-leds-c-20_25.html

I have used them a few times for other items and delivery has been quick.

Colin

[tigertiger]

Surface mount LEDs, SMD type are flat. The smaller ones are less than 1/2 mm thick. They come in square, oblong and round shapes and several sizes.
You can buy them or get them free. They can be free if salvaged from LED bulbs that people throw away. Many bulbs have several of these in a circuit hidden behind the opaque bulb. If one connection breaks they all go out like Xmas lights, but usually only one gone.
They can be a bit bright, but you could mask them to get the color and intensity you want.
Worth a look at.

[SimonCornes]

Thank you for that information - very interesting and all news to me! Unfortunately none of them will work for me because they are all basically square or rectangular and I need a 4mm circular unit. I will drill a hole through the centre of the white metal unit and fit an LED from behind.

[Akira]

Simon, Here is a  source I have used to make up 1/48th caged deck lights:https://evandesigns.com/

[HMS Invisible]

Thank you for that information - very interesting and all news to me! Unfortunately none of them will work for me because they are all basically square or rectangular and I need a 4mm circular unit. I will drill a hole through the centre of the white metal unit and fit an LED from behind.

The implication is to connect wires or pins, then pot in epoxy resin to the shape of the fitting.

[SimonCornes]

Understood - implanted light? I imagine it would be pretty fiddly fitting something tiny as far as wires are concerned although I do have some very fine insulated wire care of CS and of course the current is tiny. This is an idea I can play with I think. Probably worthwhile in investing in a bag full of some of these components and then finding uses over time.

[HMS Invisible]

Yes, but don't forget you can grind the corners off rectangular leds from mains bulbs and strip lights. Older downlights had several 5mm leds.
 Shaping and polishing 3mm and 5mm is easy and takes seconds on a fine sanding belt. They are all cased in soft plastic.

[SimonCornes]

Is there a limit as to how far you can go? I assume you mustn't get too close to the anode and cathode ?

[tigertiger]

These LEDs are probably cheap enough to find out how far you can cut them down the old fasioned way.

[HMS Invisible]

Yes, you can cut away part of the terminals. The led is a tiny piece of silicon in the centre of a plastic package that supports stamped, preformed terminals.

All the effort will be for nothing if you don't check the individual package voltage and if the device is fully working.
 Recently manufactured round GU10 and bayonet fitting 230 volt lamps have all parts on "Bobs Boards- like" alumina type wafers. What looks like six leds in series is likely to be six 24volt (6s) or thirty-six leds. Led strip lights with a transformer driver and banks of 21 series connected leds use one led per smt package.