LED Swap in a Kato RS2 - What a Difference!

[Fluesheet]

I got the bug the other night to see how a spare "sunny white" LED would look in one of my Kato RS-2's. These are fine locomotives, but the stock LED is very yellow and very weak. To make it more difficult, what light they do produce has to travel through an ~1" light guide, further dimming it.

Attached are the results - the first two photos are of the same locomotive and were taken at the same aperature, shutter speed and ASA. The first is the original LED, the second the sunny white LED. The second two links are the same image, just a lot bigger - stay away if on dial up!

little (320x240)
http://www.calvars.com/gac/fluesheet/SSC_0864.JPG
http://www.calvars.com/gac/fluesheet/SSC_0863.JPG
BIG
http://www.calvars.com/gac/fluesheet/DSC_0850.JPG
http://www.calvars.com/gac/fluesheet/DSC_0851.JPG

The next two photos picture the upgraded locomotive alongside a sister locomotive for direct comparison. The first of the pair is in the dark, the second with the sun up...

little (320x240)
http://www.calvars.com/gac/fluesheet/SSC_0862.JPG
http://www.calvars.com/gac/fluesheet/SSC_0861.JPG
BIG
http://www.calvars.com/gac/fluesheet/DSC_0855.JPG
http://www.calvars.com/gac/fluesheet/DSC_0857.JPG

I like the results, though for the remainder I'll opt for a "golden white" LED to mute some of the blue that the sunny white still projects.

Matt