I'm a lights rookie!

[Scapelnz]

I'm almost ashamed to admitt it but after years of owning Tamiya's I have never installed a light set on a car or truck. I want to install some on my clod and I'm after some advice.

- what's a good set to use? There seems to be a lot on the market and the more I look the less confident I feel about buying some lol

- is it best to run them off the battery or a separate battery pack?

- how does everyone fix them in place, Glue?

- the clod roll bar has 5 lights that are held together with screws, I'm keen to hear how others have turned these into working lights?

Any help would be greatly appreciated and pics too :-)

Thanks

[GregM]

If it doesn't strictly have to be a TLU-01/02 combo, I'd go for a 3racing light unit that should be able to do all the cool lighting functions you want to see on regular cars. Around 30 EUR. I have a similar Eagle Racing light unit and it does front lights, fog lights, rear lights, brake, reverse and indicators. It attaches to the servo/ESC cables were it gets it signals and power. It attaches to the bodyshell using double sided tape. Look out for bodies that come with light buckets and transparent decals for lights, if you don't want to fabricate your own. I think hard bodies can be neatly modified for any sort of lighting if you can do some plastic modeling.

Cheaper light units often miss reverse lights. Often you have to do a bit of trial and error to get the wiring correct.

[Scapelnz]

Thanks Greg, just been researching the 3racing light kits and they look perfect, even have a chrome 5 spotlight bar which will save me hacking up my clodbuster one

Cheers mate

[IBIFTKH]

Just a word of caution about the 3Racing units. They don't seem to be compatible with all radio gear. I've tried them with budget-range FlySky and Hobby King 2.4GHz radios and they just don't work. I assume it's some sort of signal issue because the same 3Racing units worked perfectly with Futaba or LRP 2.4GHz sets.

For anyone looking for a budget 'always on' light unit, I'd recommend these - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381031186388?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

They don't have the functions of the 3Racing unit but as a budget, basic LED set up they're hard to beat (and there are several HK/Chinese sellers too)

[BigSteve]

Just a word of caution about the 3Racing units. They don't seem to be compatible with all radio gear. I've tried them with budget-range FlySky and Hobby King 2.4GHz radios and they just don't work. I assume it's some sort of signal issue because the same 3Racing units worked perfectly with Futaba or LRP 2.4GHz sets.

For anyone looking for a budget 'always on' light unit, I'd recommend these - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381031186388?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

They don't have the functions of the 3Racing unit but as a budget, basic LED set up they're hard to beat (and there are several HK/Chinese sellers too)

Hi my friend what power supply do they feed off.

Steve.

[IBIFTKH]

They're powered from the receiver, either plug into an unused port or a y-lead off ESC or steering.

[Scapelnz]

Cheers IBIFTKH, the research continues

[BigSteve]

Just a word of caution about the 3Racing units. They don't seem to be compatible with all radio gear. I've tried them with budget-range FlySky and Hobby King 2.4GHz radios and they just don't work. I assume it's some sort of signal issue because the same 3Racing units worked perfectly with Futaba or LRP 2.4GHz sets.

For anyone looking for a budget 'always on' light unit, I'd recommend these - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381031186388?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

They don't have the functions of the 3Racing unit but as a budget, basic LED set up they're hard to beat (and there are several HK/Chinese sellers too)

I bought a set today at just over £7 delivered they'll do the job until I find some reasonable fully functional set of LED's.

Steve.

[AndyjcClod]

I have a few R\Cs running the ones that IBIFTKH recommended and for the money they are excellent

Tip from previous experience...

If you are going to glue them in place (I use a glue gun as I find they stay put the best)

Make sure you double check have the right light in the right place before you glue it

[BigSteve]

I have a few R\Cs running the ones that IBIFTKH recommended and for the money they are excellent

Tip from previous experience...

If you are going to glue them in place (I use a glue gun as I find they stay put the best)

Make sure you double check have the right light in the right place before you glue it

Hi my friend thanks for the heads up. I'm still looking for a fully functional set (brake, reverse and indicators) that are fully controlled by tx outputs.

Steve.

[Nitomor]

I used these Hobby king light units...very pleased with them;

ps. These do lights dim front and rear plus bright on throttle and rear illuminates brighter for brakes, reverse lights too. Indicators also, all off tx and includes Y cables. It has multiple configurations.

[Nitomor]

As fitted to my Bruiser... (post from another forum pasted below)

Please excuse the poor quality pics but the whole thing is a work in progress! Including smaller wheels on one side and the control unit was causing the body to sit lopsided too. I don't have the 3mm led's for the rear yet hence the brake lights are taped on fo now. Indicators and brake lights showing below.

Anyone have any sunglasses! These are the reverse lights...might need to put some filters on these, although clusters yet to fit!

Front lights;

and in neutral they are on dim...same as the rears...

[BigSteve]

As fitted to my Bruiser... (post from another forum pasted below)

Please excuse the poor quality pics but the whole thing is a work in progress! Including smaller wheels on one side and the control unit was causing the body to sit lopsided too. I don't have the 3mm led's for the rear yet hence the brake lights are taped on fo now. Indicators and brake lights showing below.

Anyone have any sunglasses! These are the reverse lights...might need to put some filters on these, although clusters yet to fit!

Front lights;

and in neutral they are on dim...same as the rears...

Hi I've been looking at these on Hobbyking's website. How many yellow indicator led's come with the kit. I can't decide between this set or t Turnigy Smart 2 LED set also on Hobbyking's website.

Steve.

[Nitomor]

Hi Steve,

Contents were in box pic above...copied below. But basically 4 indicators (2 pairs 3mm), 2 reverse lights (1 pair), 2 sidelights (1 pair) 2 headlights (1 pair), 2 rear/brake (1 pair). The front running light/headlight is combined, so when you accelerate they go bright, at neutral they are dim, I think you can also configure it to be full bright always or at a certain percentage like 50% or something from memory. The rears are again dim until you brake and they light up bright. You can also have them off permanenently as side lights and only come on on acceleration or braking I believe. Can't remember exactly.

I'm using a 7ch receiver and have a huge amount of options at my disposal. eg I can turn without indicators, or with, flash headlights, all sorts. For a Tenner they are a steal. Have a look at the box below for the sizes, for my Bruiser kit I had to order some extra LED pairs in a different size (had to order a red and a white light both in 3mm in lieu of the 5mm ones in the kit).

Rgds

Nito

[BigSteve]

Hi my friend thanks for the info. This may be a silly question but does this led system work with 2.4ghz FHSS radio gear.

Steve.

[Nitomor]

Yes

[BigSteve]

Cheers my friend. About to order a set from hobbyking. I won't bother with their Turnigy Smart 2 LED System as the light configuration of the hobbyking version seems more scale.

Steve.

[Scapelnz]

That looks like a great kit I'm putting together a clod but the rear lights and indicators are (unlike the head lights) not set up for a light system and reqiure cutting and drilling. Not sure if I have the guts to do this to a clod body Anyone have any pics of lights on a clod, I'm thinking I might just stick to headlights and spot lights

[WillyChang]

Red Clod was made during T filament lightbulb era (same as 959) or did they update later incarnations for LEDs mounting?

[Scapelnz]

Red Clod was made during T filament lightbulb era (same as 959) or did they update later incarnations for LEDs mounting?

I'm unsure, I'm guessing the later super clod would have been set up for LED's unlike the 87 original?

[Dojo Dave]

There are some tamiya knock offs kicking around....definitely not Tamiya. But cheap and bright I got 2 sets. One for Tudra one spare..

[DCCWildOne]

How far things have come! I built homebrew lights on my vintage Wild One from unused 1/72 bomber nose cones lined with tin foil, small filament 6v bulbs and clear tape over the front, all powered from the battery and attached to the same mounts as the original 'dummy' lights.