Find us on Youtube Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Sign up for our email newsletter
See inside current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine
See inside current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine

THE MAGAZINE

        CONTACT US

          RECENT ARTICLES

          POPULAR TOPICS

          RECENT REVIEWS

          POPULAR TOPICS

            RECENT REVIEWS

            POPULAR TOPICS

              RECENT VIDEOS

              POPULAR TOPICS

                RECENT THREADS

                CATEGORIES

                  NEW PRODUCTS

                  OUR STORE

                    CURRENT ISSUE

                    See inside the current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine

                        SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

                        Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

                        Search

                        Electronics for model cars.

                        602 views
                        4 replies
                        1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Electronics for model cars.
                        Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 25, 2004 5:52 PM
                        My next project will consist of working head and tailights. Have any of you ever added electronics to any of your builds? The problem I seem to be facing is the size of the power source. A nine volt or even AA batteries are just to big. The kit i'm doing is the Boyd Coddington Aluma Coupe. Whats nice about this car is that there is no frame. The body is totally enclosed. Its a perfect candidate for hiding all sorts of electronic components. But the power source has to be small enough to hide, yet I need to get to it should I need to change out the battery! Ive tried RAM electronics. The power sources are too big. Iv'e tried Micromark's small electronic section. Still to big of power supply. Also LEDs are going to be used since they draw minimal power. BUT WHAT CAN I USE FOR THE SOURCE? The components have to be totally contained withinside the car. Pleas help me!Banged Head [banghead]
                        Report Abuse
                        lizardqing
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Dahlonega, Georgia
                        Posted by lizardqing on Sunday, January 25, 2004 8:14 PM
                        If you are using LEDs you may be able to use some of the smaller camera batteries. Can't remember the sizes they use but it's something like N. They are still 1.5 v. You might could consider mounting the car on a base and having the power supply running through it to the source. I saw a display case that had small flood lights in it and a lighted gas pump that was this way. That would not work if you are wanting it to be stand alone though. Still with LEDs the battery should last for a very long time. I have a head lamp that with 4 LEDs in it says it will run for 750 hours off of 2 AAA batteries. If you only turn the lights on when you are showing it off then you may never have to change the batteries.
                        Chris The Scale Firehouse The Lizard's Workshop
                        Report Abuse
                        Matthew Usher
                        Moderator
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by Matthew Usher on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 10:51 AM
                        I've added electronics and lights to a number of my models, but most of them have been space and/or sci-fi models.

                        Since you're doing a car, check out RAM RC: www.ramrcandramtrack.com

                        They offer a pre-wired set of LED-powered head- and tail lights. All you have to do is install the set in the model and add a battery. I have one of their sets in my "to-do" pile, and it's very well made. It has a battery pack for 2 AA batteries, but I'm sure it could be adapted for smaller batteries without too much trouble.

                        Matt Usher
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 1:49 PM
                        Hi Mathew, and thanks for the advise, my friend. Actually I think iv'e found something that will work. I found a 12 volt battery that's exactally half the size of a AAA battery! I think this will work for me. That should power the headlights up front and the tail. The tail light bar is whats really going to set this model off. I'm doing the "knight rider" effect. The LED that moves back and fourth. I found the wiring diagram on the internet. I believe I can get the board small enough to fit where I need it. This project will take every bit of this year to finish. I plan on having opening doors as well. I should be able to pull this off and show no indication of wires, components, etc... I do have my work cut out for me though!
                        Report Abuse
                        lizardqing
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Dahlonega, Georgia
                        Posted by lizardqing on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 4:33 PM
                        Sounds like a great looking build once it's done.Keep us posted on your progress.
                        Chris The Scale Firehouse The Lizard's Workshop
                        Report Abuse
                        JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

                        Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

                        SEARCH FORUMS
                        FREE NEWSLETTER
                        SIGN UP
                        By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.
                          More great sites from Kalmbach Media
                            Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy