Picked up a Code 3 XL lightbar for my wall

[H20]

Our assistant fire chief has been awesome; first he donated an Aerodynic 24EH that I cleaned up, this week he gave me a 54" 1986ish Code 3 XL. He wasn't sure I'd even want it because it was beat up; but I saw a beauty under the dust and dent.

Both lightbars I got from the fire dept came off of tenders that were decommissioned; the lenses on the Aerodynic cleaned up really nicely but the chassis saw more use and needs cleaning up. The chassis on the Code 3 looks like new. The lenses need quite a bit of work and the harness was cut really short, but I'm pleased with it, especially being free. This was going to end up in their dumpster had I not asked about it. He even threw in a couple beacons, a Galls traffic buster and a Tripp lite NV-IND. I'll gladly trade both of those beacons for some 4416B bulbs and two 4416R bulbs, little beacons aren't my thing right now. I was able to gently push out the dent in the speaker cover; it's not perfect but it's a lot better now.

I was also recently very blessed by a friend who gave me a fully loaded Liberty and MPC-01 to run it. The Liberty cleaned up really nicely and is almost ready to go up on the lightbar wall.

In less than a year I've been able to collect 6 lightbars; one of my hitches is that I do this hobby on the cheap. I try to find red/blue or blue/blue bars. Next on my hope to find cheap list... a Vector, an LP9000, a Vista, a Jetsonic, and a blue aerodynic dome.

My collection so far:
MX7000
Street hawk
Aerodynic 24EH
9M 8 strobe, 4 flasher (new lens kit)
Serial Liberty
Code 3 XL

 

[lotsofbars]

Looks like you're off to a great start. Those specific XL's in that specific configuration have always been a favorite of mine. I used to have one, too.

 

[dmathieu]

That's a great beacon!

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

Nice XL9000
You can still get 4416R bulbs but the 4416B will be a bear to find.. let alone cheap.

My advice.. Par 36 Gel Filters.. Can be found on ebay or local DJ shops on the cheap.

See the video below... shameless plug

 

[Dave-O]

Very nice!

Disregard the 2nd half of my post... I found the info I was looking for.

 

[lotsofbars]

I also recommend using incandescent clear lights for the white lights and halogen lights for the colored lights, so as to balance out the brightness.

 

[jph2]

The XL looks good up there on the wall. Nice job!

 

[H20]

Nice XL9000
You can still get 4416R bulbs but the 4416B will be a bear to find.. let alone cheap.

My advice.. Par 36 Gel Filters.. Can be found on ebay or local DJ shops on the cheap.

See the video below... shameless plug

Does that bar you have there have blue gel filters? I looked on eBay and wasn't liking the color of blue that I saw in the auction of those gel filters, it wasn't a dark/deep blue like the colored bulbs are.

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

@H20
That was the first bar I started playing with Gel filters with.. all the bulbs I believe were GE7400 with colored filters over them.
There are a couple other videos with bars and gel filters as I started experimenting with them.

I used to paint the bulbs.. then I discovered these.

 

[H20]

@Stampeed Valkyrie can you share the link or source for where you got your filters?

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

I get them from a local DJ and Entertainment Supply Company..
They are made by a company called American DJ..
They are called Color Gel Pack sold in sets of 4
Model Z-CL100/PA (RBGY) and Z-CL100/PB (amber in this pack)

Americandj.com

 

[kerry4951]

Ive been painting 4416 bulbs blue and they are coming out fine. Might not work for an in service bar but they are fine for a display piece. Can do about 3 bulbs with one 3 oz can of Testors paint