The aspect that hinders internal lights is the flickering nature of them, as found with the Austrains BS/FS carriages, along with the suburban cars but they were not as bad, yet for all intended purposes the idea of the lighting is good, the problem is getting it right,I thought their comment regarding lighting referred to internal lighting in things like the XPT and other coaching stock. I have to agree with them as I am yet to see realistic lighting in coaching stock and what aspect of the lighting on the SDS 81 has not been catered for by Auscision on any of their loco releases over the past couple of years.Lima started off the Australian prototype one globe light 30 years ago.
Powerline kept the single globe, however they lighted up the marker lights and the number lights and made them directional.
Along came Austrains who just lit the headlights and painted the rest on like Lima did 12 years before them.
Trainorama and then Auscision put the marker lights back in as well as the number lights. but all on or all off, about the same as Powerline offered.
SDS have used a dcc chip that is capable of using up to 11 extra functions, and I believe the number lights, marker lights high and low headlights and ditch lights can be operated independently. That is quite a leap forward without a cost increase.
I think SDS do deserve our praise.
Peter was very negative about lighting, and I guess he really was wearing his bean counter cloak.
Some people on these forums rave that real railways rolling stock have graffiti painted all over them, so should the models. Well some of us say that the beaut stainless steel Aurora cars ran at night, and the shiny stainless steel was always complimented by the bright interior lighting and I guess we can be thankful they decided to add the tail lights on the two vans, all at $150 a car.
When I get my SDS vans it will be relatively easy to light up the guards desk, that is if SDS have not already thought of that. SDS might be the little guy, but they certainly seem to try harder
Cheers
Rod
How come when we can get the all wheel pickup needed for good & reliable DCC operation right, that its not able to be reproduced into lighting of carriages & guards vans, without the problem of the pick ups creating too much a drag on the wheels, meaning the loss of free rolling models?
How many modellers have layouts that operate without the bright overhead lights, which replicate only daylight operations, yet most of those want operating headlights & the like, yet,, at least in NSW the requirement for headlights to be switched on during daylight hours for diesels/electics/DMU/EMU's, under the same rules that applied to the general use of them did not take place until mid-late 1965? That did not apply to steam however, as the requirement to not have the dynamo turned on during daylight hours, owing to it being a waste of steam owing to the amount of coal & water wastage?
Each new model that comes out with added lighting also generally means that the pick up problem is more often than not is improved as well. What does surprise me though is how some model builders here can build up kits with internal lighting, & add all wheel pick ups to the model, internal lights that do not have these problems, on a full length RUB SET, WHAT SAY YOU ROD?
Not sure that the 81 Class ever hauled a tuscan daylight into Victoria, but feel certain the SDS 81 Class will look great on the front of this set 
How the hell I am going to explain that set on my layout? It will have to stay on the NSW side around South Grafton I guess 
