The Warbird Formation Lights is designed to provide modelers with a set of three colored lights, all of which can be controlled by the transmitter, that replicate the formation lights found on the bottoms of the wings of some WWII warbirds. Formation Lights, which were sometimes referred to as "Friend or Foe Recognition Lights", were installed on some WWII aircraft to assist in communications between aircraft in a squadron during periods of radio silence, or when weather conditions were bad. There was some variation in the colors used on certain planes, so we have four colors available, Yellow, and Blue, Green, and Red. You can specify which colors you need when you place your order. The lights can be switched on/off sequentially from the transmitter, in four distinct modes as shown below. The lights utilize a 5mm or 8mm LED that is mounted inside a chrome-plated bezel (holder) with a flat top that is threaded along the length of the barrel, so it can be installed in a thick, flat surface, like the bottom of a wing or panel. The LEDs have a very low current draw, so this circuit is powered directly from the receiver, and requires no additional battery or power source.
The four modes available are: (example only)
Mode #1 = All Lights Off
Mode #2 = Formation Light #1 On (yellow)
Mode #3 = Formation Lights #1 + #2 On (yellow & blue)
Mode #4 = Formation Lights #1 + #2 + #3 On (yellow, blue, and red)
The LEDs connect to the control board with a small, 2-pin servo-type connector, so they can be connected to the circuit's outputs in any order. This allows the modeler to re-arrange them to come on/off in any order you prefer. Wire lengths on each LED are approximately 30" for the 5mm LEDs and 60" for the 8mm LEDs, and the wires can be extended using any small-gauge wire, or you can order the set with longer wires as required. Once you have the lights connected to the board in the order you like, you may want to install a 6-pin Multi-Plex Connector to the wires near the wing's root, to make wing removal easier.
Check out the short video above, it's the last image in the string of thumbnails under the main image.
NOTE: This circuit is now available in two versions.
Version #1 - Switchable Controller with 3 Lights. (Customer must specify colors.) This controller is switchable from the transmitter as described above.
Version #2 - Non-Switchable Controller with 3 lights. (Customer must specify colors.) This controller is not switchable from the transmitter. Patterns alternate randomly as soon as power is supplied. This version can be used on static models where no RC signal is present, or in RC models where no spare channel is available.
This circuit is now available with either 5mm or 8mm LEDs!
For modelers who want to install the lights without a controller, the LEDs used with this product can be ordered separately, use the Contact Form to let us know what you need.
