Help needed with wingtip navigation lights…

[cpxxx]

As it happens I have an Osprey Colour Series book on the T6 published in 1991. Lots and lots of pics, not one with a double light fitting. So it seems to be a later modification probably for a strobe.

I came across this on the Banaire website. It would seem to fit the bill. although it says it's for an early type nav light. Which were fitted above and below the wing rather than on the tips.

There are coupe of warbirds suppliers out there supplying T6 parts. I'm sure you could be up and running in no time.

What colour would you paint the wingtip? Me it would have to Insignia Yellow, the classic T6 colour.

[Babalonian]

well i was a smart boy and did my research, i looked up the T-6 wingtip lights and saw quite a few pics of it with only one light (meaning the second one could quite possibly be an addition) on it, and it was either white or red. i saw very few blue ones.

He's right, that's an odd-ball wingtip to have two, likely a custom addition, however both are of the same size and shape as the single-mounted original would be...  my bet would be some insurance/safety requirement had to of been met, so they added the addition and tried their best to make it look original.  Had you posted this friday I woulda grabed some pictures for you on Saturday when I was working next to two.

As it happens I have an Osprey Colour Series book on the T6 published in 1991. Lots and lots of pics, not one with a double light fitting. So it seems to be a later modification probably for a strobe.

I came across this on the Banaire website. It would seem to fit the bill. although it says it's for an early type nav light. Which were fitted above and below the wing rather than on the tips.

(Image removed from quote.) There are coupe of warbirds suppliers out there supplying T6 parts. I'm sure you could be up and running in no time.

What colour would you paint the wingtip? Me it would have to Insignia Yellow, the classic T6 colour.

Those look more original, the ones on ours are modern replacements (same general shape and design, but more plastic and acrilic).

are you sure that is from a texan? Ive flown them, but the ones i flew only had one Nav light.

Warbirds for the most part dont have strobes by design. If they do, then that is from the owners own doing.

I am fairly certain, it's extremely similar to two of ours (an SNJ-4 and SNJ-5), I've been cursing and trying to buff out a wicked ding in the paint on one of our two Texan's left wing tip... typical Texan pilot   

OK, but seriously, it looks to be from a earlier Texan wingtip, very much like our SNJ-4 or SNJ-5

[morfiend]

 Goaly,


 Are you looking to hook the lights up to household electric supply or are you going to use some other source of power?


  If your looking to use something with 110 volts,check out undercabinet lights,the type you find in kitchens!  you can get round puck lights in halogen or xenon. If you have the proper lenses for the lights you should have no problems mounting those puck lights and have it working.  


  And with a name like Goaly you should be right at home with "puck" lights.......      Oh and they're not very expensive either!



    

[G0ALY]

Thanks for all of the info! I am also reasonably certain that the second light was an add-on. Perhaps that is why this wingtip was in the corner of the shop. It was probably replaced by a correct wingtip somewhere down the line.

Here is a picture of the full tip. I plan to mount it on this piece of oak. The bottom part of the photo is cropped to give an idea of the final dimensions.



As for the lighting, I plan to use 110volt bulbs. A red bulb in the front fixture, and a blinking clear bulb in the back. Not too bright, because I don’t want them to overpower everything else in the garage.  I am considering these recognition lights that are on ebay for the housings. http://www.ebay.com/itm/400253139670?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
For sixteen bucks, delivery included, I can try to grind off the outer flange and make them fit. If it doesn’t work, I won’t have wasted a ton of money. I am keeping my eyes open for other options though.

As for painting the wingtip, I had honestly never thought about it. But I will now keep that in mind.

Thanks for all of the ideas!

[morfiend]

 Goaly,

 those are 24volt lights,you'll need a stepdown transformer to bring house current down to 24 volts. Maybe look at some wired outdoor lighting,they may have a 24 volt transformer but other than that good luck.  you might have an easier time finding a 12 volt transformer and maybe some automotive lighting.

 Really if you have the lenses it shouldnt matter what you use to illuminate them,those cabinet lights use IIRC 25 volts and have a transformer so you have plenty of options,it just a matter of selecting a light and any transformer if needed.


 hope that helps,besides puck lights and goalies I just couldnt resist.







   

[G0ALY]

An update on the project. I bought these grimes light fixtures on ebay. The total with shipping was only $12.90!



The red lens was given to me with the wingtip, I still need to find a clear lens. I’m hoping to find something cheap to fill the spot. Maybe the plastic bubble from a gumball machine trinket. Who knows.

I have decided to use LEDs to illuminate the lights. A solid light for the red and a strobe for the clear. That should not cost too much. The rest of the project: painting (I am seriously considering the suggestion of insignia yellow.), staining, etc. will probably be put on hold until spring. I’ll post a new thread when the project is finished.

Thanks for all the help!

[lyric1]

An update on the project. I bought these grimes light fixtures on ebay. The total with shipping was only $12.90!

(Image removed from quote.)

The red lens was given to me with the wingtip, I still need to find a clear lens. I’m hoping to find something cheap to fill the spot. Maybe the plastic bubble from a gumball machine trinket. Who knows.

I have decided to use LEDs to illuminate the lights. A solid light for the red and a strobe for the clear. That should not cost too much. The rest of the project: painting (I am seriously considering the suggestion of insignia yellow.), staining, etc. will probably be put on hold until spring. I’ll post a new thread when the project is finished.

Thanks for all the help!

I have made those very lights when I was at Grimes.

[CAP1]

well i was a smart boy and did my research, i looked up the T-6 wingtip lights and saw quite a few pics of it with only one light (meaning the second one could quite possibly be an addition) on it, and it was either white or red. i saw very few blue ones.

 i think tupac nailed it. probably a strobe added.

[G0ALY]

A quick update… I purchased a 9volt setup for the lights. An ebay seller custom built them for under twenty bucks. It saved me hours of time and many headaches!



(see it in video here) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWev_PiI3Qw

I am considering switching the constant-on LED from white to red in order to deepen the color. I will also lengthen the wires between the on/off switch and the circuit board. But I am very happy with the results. Although I still need to find a clear lens to cover the strobe.

In the spring, I will paint the wingtip yellow and mount it on an backboard.

This will be displayed above the Beech 18 rudder I just finished, and between some landing gear parts that I just purchased. (I will begin that project once the first parts arrive.)

Once again, thanks for the help and suggestions! Cheers

[morfiend]

 Nice,


  looks like you got things under control,should look cool when it's done!   still going to use a strobe??




   

[G0ALY]

Nice,


  looks like you got things under control,should look cool when it's done!   still going to use a strobe??




   

The strobe is already built directly into the little circuit board. The LED behind the red lens remains on constantly. The second LED where the clear lens will be mounted, flashes once very second.

[G0ALY]

Yet another update… While sifting through a box of odds and ends from an estate sale, I found two sleeves of 1950s flash bulbs. I thought, “What are the chances this glass would fit into the space where I need a clear lens on the wingtip?”.

I wrapped a strip of masking tape around the (very thin) bulb to keep it from shattering, and cut it in half with a cut-off wheel on a high speed Dremel tool. It fits great! If not permanent, it will at least do until a better lens comes along.



CHEERS! goaly

[jeep00]

Cool stuff. The company I work for here in nh makes the LED version of the wintip and nav lights, the tail position lights, etc. Also we make the military formation lights earlier mentuined, but those are electroluminescent rather than LED or incandescent. We also make HID wing landing and taxi lights. We have also fitted the interior exit and escape path lighting on countless aircraft, including A380 and now A350.
I love my job. Almost 20 years, last five as production supervisor, and always something new. It is quite cool.

Bob

[Babalonian]

Cool stuff. The company I work for here in nh makes the LED version of the wintip and nav lights, the tail position lights, etc. Also we make the military formation lights earlier mentuined, but those are electroluminescent rather than LED or incandescent. We also make HID wing landing and taxi lights. We have also fitted the interior exit and escape path lighting on countless aircraft, including A380 and now A350.
I love my job. Almost 20 years, last five as production supervisor, and always something new. It is quite cool.

Bob

I'm jealous, you have over 20 years of working in aviation, and the hardest thing you've had to do was change a light bulb...  No, but seriously, I'm jealous, a good/interesting job that's involved with aviation, can't get much better imo.   

[lyric1]

Nice work

If I was still at Grimes I could have got you a lens a large number of them fail final inspection for any number of reasons.

They just throw in the trash.