N Scale North American Passenger Cars

Preparation

Follow the instructions in "RDC Disassembly" for removing the bodyshell. It is important that you orient the shell to the chassis as instructed

All versions of our interior lighting kits may be purchased from your local hobby shop or directly from Kato by clicking HERE

Step 1: Removing the Front LED circuit Board

Remove the front end LED board from the front end of the unit by gently pulling it free of its snap lock tabs. The contact strips for the lighting board will be inserted on TOP of the now-exposed contact strips for the end LED circuit boards; it should slide neatly into the small gap between the contact and the while plastic of the interior detail (pictured).

Step 2: Final Positioning of the Contacts

Once installed, the lighting kit contacts should look as shown in this image.

Step 2a: Assembling the LED fixture part 1

You will need to assemble the light fixture before you can set it in place. The light fixture in these kits consists of three pieces: the mount, the LED board, and the optional orange filter. The orange filter may be placed to give the interior lights a "warmer" and more subdued color, though it may be left off to give the lights a brighter and more flourescent appearance.

Step 2b: Assembling the LED fixture part 2

If you are installing the orange filter, do so by installing it into the mount as shown here. Once this has been done, the LED circuit board will lock into place with its flat side facing away from the plastic, and its two metal pin connectors sliding into the little grooves in the white plastic mount.

Finally, Cut a small square from the foil sticker provided with the kit that is the size of the board and attach it to the exposed, flat side of the light.

Step 3: Setting the lamp fixture

The lamp fixture is mounted between the two flat vertical plastic pieces, lamp facing inward. Make sure to push it all the way down so that it fits snugly and will not press against the roof of the RDC after reassembly. Also be sure that both copper contacts are touching the metal contacts on the lighting unit... you may need to adjust how it sits in the slot so that it touches both connections securely.

Step 4: Positioning and Placing the Light Tube

Place the shell upside down beside the chassis. Be sure that you have the interior lamp ends together so that you have guidance in the placement of the light tube. Remove the paper backing from the foil. The foil should start at the lamp end of the car, against the end wall. For the RDC, it needs to fit up to the light shield for the end LED lamps.

The light tube will lay with the “V” grooves facing upwards, towards the roof. The FLAT end of the tube will be at the lamp end of the roof. It will be spaced from the end to allow for the lamp fixture to fit into place.

Step 5: Reassembly

Replace the LED board and bodyshell. Be careful to correctly replace the body shell on the chassis; the flat end of the light tube should sit just at the edge of the newly installed light fixture. If the bodyshell of the RDC does not lock into place or if it bows outward at one end after replacing, it has been placed on backwards and should be reversed.

Enjoy your light-up RDC!