i am having issues getting enough adequate light on my layout. its design is an u shape and is roughly 15x12 feet. it breaks into 5 sections. basically it is an island style with lobes on each end. is there a way to construct a lighting system that is incorporated into the layout. as i rent my house i cannot fit lighting to the roof. i had thought of some sort of valance that will follow the shape of the layout as seen in so many permanent layouts but i am unsure how to construct this to suit a movable layout… any lighting system will have to be light weight enough to be supported from the backdrop side only. i planned on using flourescent tubes as these are quite efficient as well as being quite light. can any one help with an idea on how to achieve this. pics for suggestions would be great.
i dont have a pic of the whole layout but the widest parts are the loops at each end they are 5 feet wide but then taper back to 2 feet wide. most of the layout is 2-3 feet deep front to back except these turn back curves. these are where the prob lies.
I have also seen the clamp on lights used in many cases but the neatest thing i saw lighting wise on a modular layout was the builders made overhead valances with two bulb florescent fixtures in each one basically a rectangular shaped box the same size as each module. each valance or light box had a pair of 2" steel pipe legs on the back side and they slipped into pockets larger sized pipe that was mounted to the back of each module with exhaust U shaped clamps.If memory serves me correct there were pinch bolts in the receivers so the post could be tightened down and they simply plugged the fixtures into extension cord. When all the modules were pushed together and bolted or secured not exactly sure what they did under neath but the valances/light boxes each had two holes in either end were secured with carriage bolts and wing nuts.
I would say each box was maybe 3’Lx2’Dx8"H I can’t recall what he constructed them out of but I imagine 1"x2" pine and Masonite would do the trick.
If you’re not worried about looks and care more about functionality I would put small cup hooks in the ceiling, hang lengths of chain, suspend a 1 x 4s and put puck lights along the 1 x 4s. You could fancy it up if need be. When you move and remove the cup hooks the holes should not be noticeable.
i am unfamiliar with the “puck lights” you refer to. may be we have a different name for them here. could you please explain? the suspended idea is one i have toyed with and feel that this may be the way to go.
Puck lights are Halogen lights about the size of Hockey Pucks. You can string many together in a line. They are used a lot under Kitchen cabinets to light the counter tops. Home Depot usually has a good selection.
Concerning Puck Lights, They get VERY HOT and need to be placed as per directions or they will burn things down. I have used them in many cabinets and they are safe, but they need care.
