Help modeling working fluorescent light fixture in HO

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Since I am a tool and die maker, I thought I would model a machine shop at the edge of my layout, cut away to show a detailed interior. I have been acquiring machinery. The layout is circa mid 1960’s, so I would like to light the interior with a few rows of flourescent style light fixtures. I don’t expect find find HO scale flourescent tubes, but I would like to find some sort of small long bulbs that would look like the real thing. I saw what Miller Engineering offers, but I was hoping for something a little less expensive. Any ideas?

2

Just a thought, but what about glueing a small LED to a short piece of fiber optic and roughen the bottom of the fiber optic to diffuse the light.

Ray

3

I’ve seen miniature fluorescent light fixtures meant to represent highway streetlights, but those might be too big to accurately represent the tubes you’d find in indoor fixtures. If it were me, I would model the fixtures in styrene; paint the styrene rod “tubes” with a clear fluorescent paint (search Google for “invisible black light paint”); and illuminate the interior with an ultraviolet LED. Just be sure nothing else inside the structure is painted white or a fluorescent color, or it will glow, too.

4

I think the fiber optic idea sounds cool. I may have to try that. Another option would be to find a piece of clear plastic sprue with a tab still on it. put a light bulb hidden behind the tab, maybe behind a paper type shield, and it just may “light”. Nick

5

Similar to what Steve suggests…

Find a fine clear plastic rod, make up a fixture to place a pair of them at scale size (go for the 8’ long ones, I’d say, not the 4’ ones) then use a cool white LED enclosed by one end of the fixture to illuminate one end of the rods. I use the cool white one’s inside structures – just the bare LED without scale fixtures – and the effect of it being a fluorescent light is really convincing.

6

Hi slammin

I have seen under canopy HO flouro lights made by one of the European companies not sure whch one both plug and socket type and wired to fitting.

I would have thought a workshop would have old fashioned high bay sodium vapor or mercury vapor lights, that would be more apropriate to the period

In which case micro orange LEDS and HO industrial old style lamp shades are ideal if you can hide the wiring

Biro ink tube is ideal for geting it down an invisable inside corner.

regards John

7

Maybe some of these fluorette things can be adapted:

http://cir-kitconcepts.com/shop/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&keyword=fluorette&search_in_description=1&categories_id=&manufacturers_id=&pfrom=&pto=&dfrom=&dto=&x=0&y=0

8

Hi slammin:

I’m going to send a PM to Ray Dunakin to ask him to answer your question. He did some fluorescent fixtures for his 1/24th radio store which looked very real. You may be able to use his methods in HO.

Edit:

I just found Ray’s thread:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/244039/2718365.aspx#2718365

Dave

9

0.9 mm EL wire might be a solution.

https://www.thatscoolwire.com/store/item.asp?Category=202&SubCategoryID=118&GroupID=&SKU=WY-GH-86-3V

10

Thanks gentlemen for all the suggestions. I considered a styrene tube with a bulb at each end. I wll give most ideas a try and see what is most appropriate. Expect a full report, eventually!

11

Look at LED Filament lamps called Chip On Glass.

https://www.google.com/search?q=led+filament&biw=1344&bih=770&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiluOuwsrjNAhUMcz4KHdSrDCYQ_AUICSgC

I have various designs of “Edison” style antique look lamps and they are made using LED filaments like these.

You would have to browse around for a source but I imagine they’re out there. Most, of course, are like 2700K but I have seen some closer to 4-5000K which would be closer to cool-white fluorescent which you would desire.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xled+filament.TRS0&_nkw=led+filament&_sacat=0

Some of the filaments seem to be thinner than others in the lamps I have. The example below is 1.5mm diameter.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5X-1W-COB-LED-Filament-Candle-Bulb-Globe-Light-Source-Pure-White-Stable-Light-TB-/391362836783?var=&hash=item5b1f0af92f:m:mrIHajipbNlxkrbHfl_mlNg

The links are purely informational, I have no experience with these sellers.

Good Luck, Ed

12

Here’s a couple of possibilities gleaned from a few years of Internet surfing:

Cir-Kit Fluorette lights:
http://www.oakridgehobbies.com/cir-kit-electrical-hobby-miniaturist-s-lighting-clear-flourette-220ma-1pc-ck1018-3.html

…and the real deal, mini (& I mean mini) fluorescent bulbs:
http://www.hobbylinc.com/micro-structures-miniature-fluorescent-lamps-4-single-unit-w:driver-circuit-model-railroad-lights-741

Also, there’s always side-lighting fibre optic rods…

Hope this helps.