Based on pictures and videos I have seen of the completed version of this Agora Models 1:24 FDNY Tower Ladder 9 partwork model, I decided early on that I wanted to add more lighting effects to my own build. The stock model has basic headlights/taillights, turn signals, and flashing lightbars, but I wanted something more spectacular including working strobes, wig-wag flashers, and better lightbar visuals. This is the story of my custom lighting adventure…

DISCLAIMER: If you choose to attempt any of these modifications, you assume all risks thereof. I just wanted to share my experiences here. Neither Agora Models, nor myself, are responsible for any damages that may occur.

In the past, I have added used tiny-scale lighting kits from Light My Bricks (LMB) to illuminate my larger LEGO sets and the results have been fantastic. Since their do-it-yourself (DIY) components are pre-wired, modular and easy to use, I wanted to see if I could adapt them to this fire truck. The Light My Bricks components I selected for this project cost nearly $400 USD, but I think the end result will be amazing.

NOTE: While I wanted to share the products and processes I used to complete this modification on my model, be warned this mod is not for everyone. It requires soldering and resin work, permanent changes to the model, and electronics knowledge.

The Plan

Before I began, I created this graphic to plan out the lighting connections and which components would be used where. If my plan changes as the build continues, I will come back here and update this diagram and note any changes. I have used different colored ‘wires’ to indicate how the different lighting effects will be routed to the various lights. You can click on this diagram for a larger image.

DIAGRAM UPDATED January 7, 2023: This diagram now includes the correct extensions for the Rear Beacons, Body and Warning Bar lights:

The Components Required

From Light My Bricks (LMB):

• 5 x Micro Bit Light (Red) 15cm (4 pack) = 20 LEDs
  • Two (2) for Cab Front Emergency Lights
  • Four (4) for Cab Side Emergency Lights
  • Four (4) for Body Side Emergency Lights
  • Four (4) for Body Rear Emergency Lights
  • Two (2) for the Rear Beacon Lights
  • Four (4) for Rear Warning Bar
• 1 x Micro Bit Lights (White) 30cm (4 pack) = 4 LEDS
  • Two (2) for Dome Lights
  • Two (2) for Inner Headlights
• 3 x Multi-Effects Boards
  • One (1) for inner Headlights, Cab Front Emergency Lights, Rear Beacons
  • One (1) for all Cab Side and Body Side Emergency Lights
  • One (1) for Roof Lightbars, Rear Warning Bar
• 6 x Micro 4-Port Expansion Board (2 pack) = 12 Boards
  • One (1) for Dome Lights
  • Two (2) for inner Headlights, Cab Front Emergency Lights
  • Two (2) for Cab Side Emergency Lights
  • Two (2) for Body Side Emergency Lights
  • Two (2) for Body Rear Emergency Lights
  • Two (2) for Rear Beacon Lights
  • One (1) spare
• 4 x 6-Port Expansion Board (2 pack) = 8 Boards (5x if you want to rebuild the Lightbars = 10 Boards)
  • Two (2) for first Multi-Effects Board outputs
  • Two (2) for second Multi-Effects Board outputs
  • Two (2) for third Multi-Effects Board outputs
  • One (1) for USB Power Distribution
  • Two (2) for Roof Lightbars rebuild (optional)
  • One (1) spare
• 3 x Connecting Cables – 5cm (4 pack) = 12 Cables
  • Three (3) to connect USB Power Distribution board to Multi-Effects Boards
  • Six (6) to connect Multi-Effects Board outputs to 6-Port Expansion Boards
  • Three (3) spare
• 2 x Connecting Cables – 15 cm (4 pack) = 8 Cables
  • Two (2) to extend slow pulse Multi-Effects Board output to Warning Bar/Rear Beacons Micro 4-port board
  • Two (2) to extend slow Emergency Multi-Effects Board output to expansion boards to Forward Body Emergency Lights
  • Two (2) to extend Multi-Effects Board output expansion boards to Rear Warning Bar
  • Two (2) spare
• 2 x Connecting Cables – 30 cm (4 pack) = 8 Cables
  • Two (2) to extend Multi-Effects Board output expansion boards to Cab Front Headlight/Emergency Micro 4-port boards
  • Two (2) to extend Multi-Effects Board output expansion boards to Cab Side Emergency Lights Micro 4-port boards
  • Two (2) to extend Multi-Effects Board output expansion boards to Cab Roof Lightbars (or if upgrading, to two 6-port expansion boards)
  • One (1) to extend USB Power Distribution board to Dome Lights Micro 4-port board
  • One (1) spare
• 1 x Remote Control and Sound Kit
• 1 x USB Power Cable

Light My Bricks Components User Guide (click to Download)

This guide will help you understand how to use and connect Light My Bricks component together.

CAUTION: Pay special attention to how Micro LEDs are to be connected. They should only be connected to the smaller ports on the Micro Expansion Boards (you will see the nearby resistors). If Micro LEDs are accidentally connected to the larger ‘full-power’ ports, they will quickly burn out!

If you choose to upgrade the roof Lightbars:

• 4x Round Diffused 3mm LEDs – Red
• 2x Round Diffused 3mm LEDs – White
• 6x 150 Ohm ¼ Watt Resistors
• 3x JST PH 3-pin Pre-Wired Plugs (Digikey)

Installation

To make following my custom lighting modification easier, I have broken it down into sections. I recommend reading through these before you build each relevant stage so see what needed to be done. I have also included some pages regarding work I did between stages and some short videos I created along the way:

Lighting Stage 16 Adding warm white LEDs to the Dome Lights
Lighting Stage 21 Adding red LEDs to the cab side Emergency Lights
Lighting Stage 23 Adding red LEDs to the forward cab Emergency Lights
Lighting Test Video #1 I wanted to share a quick video of what I have done so far. I connected these first custom LEDs to a couple of the Effects Boards and powered them up. I can adjust the timing of the wig-wag and strobe effects with a small knob, so they will likely get tuned later on.
Stock PCB The PCB Sockets How to turn the PCB on
Headlights Modifying the ‘inner’ Headlights
Roof Lightbars Wiring the Roof Lightbars to our LMB components
Lighting Test Video #2 With everything connected to the appropriate LMB Effects Boards and powering up both the stock PCB and the LMB parts, we end up with this. FYI, in this video, I temporarily placed the interior into the Cab, fit the Cab to the Main Chassis, and popped the Front Bumper into place. We have not reached the point in the build where these are actually attached yet, but it looks cool! NOTE: In this video, I had not yet updated my roof Lightbars with new LEDs.
Cab Lighting With Sounds Video As an added bonus, by running the Lightbars via the LMB components, it separates the stock Siren sound from the lighting. This means the model will be able to be displayed running full lighting and siren as ‘Code 3’ or just the lighting as ‘Code 2’. A bit of a warning, this video can be LOUD! NOTE: In this video, I had not yet updated my roof Lightbars with new LEDs.
Lighting Stage 25 Adding red LEDs to the two Emergency Lights on the Body Midsection
Lighting Stage 38 Adding a red LED to Step Backplate on the left side
Lighting Stage 39 Wiring the left side Step Backplate LED
Lighting Stage 40 Adding a red LED to left rear Light Cluster
Lighting Stage 46 Adding a red LED to Step Backplate on the right side
Lighting Stage 48 Adding a red LED to right rear Light Cluster
Lighting Stage 49 Adding new red LEDs to the Rear Beacon Lights
Lighting Stage 50 Adding new red LEDs to the rear Warning Bar
Lighting Stage 54 Adding a red LED to the left rear Wheel Arch Cover
Lighting Stage 57 Adding a red LED to the right rear Wheel Arch Cover
Wiring Stage 59 Attaching the IR Receiver Attaching the USB Power Cable
Powering Up Testing powering the model and the new custom lights with one USB cable	COMING SOON!
Completed Build Video In this video, we will show off the completed model with all lights and sound functions.	COMING SOON!

Next Custom Lighting Page

LIGHTING 16 – Adding our custom lighting to Stage 16