AM. FLYER REPAIR CLINICS

CLINIC # 45: THOSE TEMPERAMENTAL AIRCRAFT BEACONS !

Most of the AF beacons are heat-driven, although there are some very uncommon beacons that operate on vibration, similar to some Colber and Lionel beacons.

The heat-driven beacons can be very temperamental and frustrating, but here are some tips for good operation.

NOTE: For BEST results, operate your beacon on its own dedicated transformer so that the maximum current is reaching the bulb. If you have it wired to a transformer that is running track power and additional accessories, less and less current reaches the beacon bulb, and the bulb does not generate enough heat to drive the beacon top.. It does not have to be a large transformer; a simple, inexpensive 40 or 50 watt unit is fine. Connect the beacon to the VARIABLE post...not the FIXED VOLTAGE post....so you can adjust the voltage to the minimum needed for operation.

You must have a good quality 14-volt beacon bulb. There are poor quality imported beacon bulbs that will not work. Often the dimple is poorly formed and off-center. It also may not sit level in the socket.

I also carry an identical #465  12-volt beacon bulb which will generate more heat, but may not last as long, depending on the transformer setting that you use. As a point of interest, Gilbert originally used this 12-volt bulb, as did Lionel early beacons. Lionel soon switched to the vibrating beacons, at which point the #465 bulbs apparently became difficult to obtain, so Gilbert switched to the 14-volt bulb instead.  (See NOTE above.)

The entire beacon must sit perfectly level in its location, away from all drafts, and the rotating beacon top must sit perfectly level on the bulb. The slightest angle will prevent rotation.

If using a MARX top: The vanes on top of the beacon top should be angled upward at 45-degrees. Then take a pair of tweezers or small needle-nose pliers, grip each vane about halfway down, and give it a downward bend. The result is a vane that starts out at a 45-degree upward bend, but then terminates parallel to the base (i.e, flat). This increases the likelihood that it will spin properly.

If using an AF top, the above cannot be done because the AF tops have vanes which bend downward, inside the top. Trying to modify these will likely damage the top, so just use it as is, but observing all the other tips.

There are other differences in beacon tops as well. I prefer to use MARX tops. Original AF and Lionel tops tend to be slightly longer and heavier than Marx tops. Marx tops, being shorter and lighter, give better results in most cases.

PARTS AVAILABILITY: You should be able to locate parts referenced in this clinic in my website Inventory, under both "TOWERS" and "PARTS: BULBS".