Layout Room Lighting

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I have my layout in my garage and I finally set up some room lighting. I got a sale on some florescent spiral light bulbs at Walgreen’s. I bought some work lights at Home Depot and installed them using a 1x2 wood piece as a track.

Besides the low cost for everything I can move the light any place on the bar to get the best lighting. At the same time I set up a set of work lights with 85-Watt Tungsten floodlights and attached them to the bar. I plan to add a dimmer switch later on so that I can dim the lights for nighttime scenes.

Here is the scene with regular Tungsten 85 Watt floodlights.

Here is a picture with 100-Watt daylight bulbs.

The fluorescent bulbs actually only use 14 to 25 Watts.

I didn’t realize what a difference in color the daylight bulbs made. It should be great for taking photos of the layout. Your comments are gladly accepted.

Doc

2

Yes the daylight bulbs provide much more accurate lighting for photography unless your camera can adjust the white for incandesant. If it can the results will probably be better with the incandesant lighting as they are a “black body” radiator (they generate all frequencies of light).

One Very important comment! If you put a dimmer in the circuit, make sure that you have the CFLs (spiral screw in florescent) that can be dimmed!!! Most of them can’t. Or at least have your fire insurance paid up…

3

I use 4’ fluorescents over the layout. I tried the daylight tubes and thought they looked too blue. The kitchen and bath tubes looked too pink, but the 40 watt residentials were just right. I guess it comes down to personal preference. The second pic looks better to me.[2c]