Adding an Express Models Lighting kit to a
Bachmann Class 170 Turbostar. 

 

Here are a few pictures of how I added an Express Models lighting kit to my Bachmann 170 Turbostar. Hopefully these pictures will help anybody else who is about to undertake this conversion, as a picture is worth a thousand words!

(Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the pictures.)

Here are the basics with which I started. A Bachmann Class 170 Turbostar, an Express Models Lighting Kit and the now obligatory DCC decoder. Here I have used a Lenz 1025E decoder with the NEM plug removed and will hard wire it into the model, this has 4 functions and will allow day or night running lights to be used.
 

 

  
The body is simply removed by unscrewing the highlighted screws at either end of the chassis. The body then lifts off from the chassis, be aware that the original lighting circuit is attached by a plug and socket arrangement and must be disconnected.
 

 

  
The original lighting circuit can be seen here. This must be removed before the new lights are fitted, it's not as easy as it sounds as it is firmly glued to the glazing! Firstly remove the diode board by snapping the mounting screws and then cut along the highlighted lines to remove the lighting unit.
 

 

  
With a bit of care and a steady hand the lighting unit should come away easily and now the body is ready to take the new unit.
 

 

  
The light guides can now be gently removed and the lenses cut from them. The blanked off lenses also need to be removed from the body and the black paint scrapped away from their surfaces. With this done all the lenses are cleaned up and replaced into the body and held in place with a drop of superglue if required.
 

 

  
The roof light guide is located on the metal tube from the new unit and replaced back into the body. It may need a slight trim to achieve a snug fit and a drop of superglue to hold it in position.
 

 

  
The main light boards can now be fixed into position just below the cab desk. Hold them in place with a bit of Blu-tack initially and make sure it all lines up and works well, and then more permanently with some epoxy resin. I've run all the wires along the roof to keep them out of sight.
 

 

  
Here is everything in place and ready to be reassembled. I made up a plug and socket for the wiring circuit to allow the body to be completely removed from the chassis. You can also see the supplied plug which runs the lighting unit in the dummy car, this is fed through a hole in the vestibule door. The DCC decoder has also been fitted.
 

 

  
Both the front and rear lights are a real improvement on the factory fitted units, especially the top white light. It is now possible to run the unit with either daytime or night time lighting, (unfortunately my camera did not pick out the red very well here, I'll add a better picture when I can). Another fantastic kit from Express Models.
   

 

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Last updated on: Sunday, 06 July 2003 19:11:06.