Model Railroading > MV Products Lense Question

I'm ready to set up a Mars Light for my Wabash Atlas GP7 using daylight yellow Surface Mounted LEDs, a Detail Associates casting and MV Products red and clear lenses.

Anyway, I have the right MV lenses but something puzzles me. The "clear" ones have a yellow tint to them. Is this something MV Products did to simulate the yellow light that older units had or did the finish yellow?

This kind of irks me as on the prototype the headlights unlighted are just plain clear. Just like the prototype, most of the time I won't be turning on the Mars light but rather using the regular headlight.

Back in the day, the MV lenses turned yellow with age. The newer ones don't seem to do it as much. Are your lenses older ones?

Must be. I've had them for a while. I suppose I will need to find some newer ones.

I found some info on the Atlas site too. According to individuals that posted there, this a consequence of the age of the polymer and possibly being exposed to sunlight.

Anyway, I'm wondering if a kit like this used to take the yellow off plastic automobile lenses might clean it up and prevent it from happening again?


http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-38771-Headlight-Restoration-Kit/dp/B00429NKWK

For $20, there might be plenty of material for more than a few MV lenses.

But it might be nice if MV Products puts a UV coating on their lenses, if that would cure the problem.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/14 08:30 by wabash2800.

My experience with MV lenses is that if you see yellow ones they were on the shelf at a hobby shop for many many years, sunlight does it. For headlights that you are going to light I use/recommend the DW lenses.

What is a DW lense? Also, I am told that fluorescent lights will also yellow them.

Details West makes plastic headlight lenses for lighting, you don't have to deal with pealing the backing like you do with the MV's

DW 341



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/14 13:50 by ESPEE5318.

Do they have a small enough to fit in a dual Mars light--.073" And do they make red too?

I don't have any in hand at the moment to measure they are made to match prototype headlight dia 6inch? no red just clear.

That would be .069 in HO. If they offer it in red too and it fits their cast Mars light fixtures I'd use their lenses.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/14 14:18 by wabash2800.

You can paint the DW lens with Tamiya Clear Red paint to get a good red lens. Easier than sanding to backing off a MV lens.

Barry Draper

X2

Detail Associates also has clear lenses: 229-1708, 229-1709

I do like the MV lenses and how realistic they look with a hole drilled about 1/4 in from the back.

You folks may disagree with me but I'm going to order some new ones and provided they havn't yellowed yet, I'm going to paint on a clear coat of UV resistant paint I've found from Kyrlon. Wish me luck.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/14 08:25 by wabash2800.

I received my Walthers order today and none of the MV clear lenses had yellowed. I also am awaiting some Krylon clear gloss UV protector and plan to paint that over the lenses in hope that will protect them from yellowing.