My 1/50 scale tugboat needs a searchlight, it must hold a 3mm white led. I'd like to build it from scratch.

Any ideas?

Thanks

rva1945,
Search light housing. Plastic tubing of the 'right' size? Mounting of the same type stuff, slightly larger, then 'pin' it? Imagination!

About the LED. If you grind down the 'dome' on the front of most LEDs, then polish it, you can 'focus' the light into a 'spot light' instead of a 'flood light' (sort of). Don't get the plastic too hot! Have lots of 'spares' - lol.
- 'Doc

(If your's works out well, would you make mine too??)

If you have a modern tug then a white LED would be appropriate because of the blue/white light. If you have an older tug then I like using the lamp modules/reflector from the Pelican brand flashlights, specifically the module from the Mitylite 2AAA flashlight. It has a Xenon bulb that puts out about 6000 candlepower and runs off of 3 volts. The modules are 1/2" in diameter and I shorten them up. They cost less than $5.00 each and can be found at better sporting goods stores or at Grainger. As for a housing, I make them up out of tubing and plastic pieces. Good luck.