I am planning a small 2.5’ x 8’ module (with an unscenicked loop for continuous running).
It will be located in the garage (dusty, dirt mess, no matter how hard you try to keep it clean) and rather than refinishing the garage (not gonna happen) I’ll probably build a box around the layout. So it will be a 2.5’ x 8’ box - almost more of a diorama I guess.
My question is what type of lighting should I be looking for? Flourescents on the cieling, smaller spotilights, both?
Since my layout will be so small, I’ll have the luxury of doing these things the “right” way.
Any tips on layout lighting?
I’m intending to something the same size as a portable On30 operating diorama, and from what others have done, I’ll probably light it with compact halogen lights.
They come in 10 and 20 watts, and look like hockey pucks - small and round; they work on low votlage and are powered with a wall plug power unit. They are intended for lighting kitchen counters, and would be mounted underneath cabinets. I’ve already bought a package as a test - they come in sets of three. Might be worth a look!
Bob Boudreau
Thanks Bob. Are they directed towards the ceiling, like with the halogen free-standing lights that are very popular for home lighting these days?
Aggrojones just said he has his regular bedroom halogens lighting his RR.
Sounds like you’re onto some miniaturization of that.
I don’t recall every seeing halogens in MRR. Seems most people use flourescents. I don’t know much about photography, but I know the shots in MR aren’t taken using joe shmoe flourescents hanging over the layout.
The halogens are like I said, actually called “pucks”, about 3-4" in diameter, about an inch thick. The bulbs are on their sides, with reflectors behind. There is a clear protecting glass in front. You mount them face down like I mentioned on the bottom of kitchen cabinets to light the counter. Look in your local building supply dealer the next time you visit.
Bob Boudreau
Interesting,
You must mean something like this:
http://www.pegasusassociates.com/XenonPuckLights.jsp#
if you click on “images”, there are pics of some applications.
Interesting.
It seems the one downside is you’d have one plug per light, as opposed to light bulbs with fixtures where you wire them and then have one plug (possibly theoretically illegal, who knows).
The price seems right - in the neighborhood of $15 each.
scratch what I said about needing a plug for each. With another 30 sec’s of researching, I found these - come with lead wires:
http://www.residential-landscape-lighting-design.com/store/PPF/parameters/1412_219/more_info.asp
Thanks Bob, I think you’ve directed me down a good path!
What ypu also may want to try are what we use on our clubs modules.Black Ikea desk lamps. Mounted behind the backdrop (in a hole drilled in a 1x2) or on a bracket, we can use incandecent (film friendly) or screw in florecent bulbs. They also can be repositioned to add extra light when working on a scene or taking pictures. They are cheap, about 7 bucks each, we generally place them about every 4 feet.
Here’s a shot of one of our deployments, see all the pretty lights?![:D]
For more,check out www.fcsme.org
If you’re going the “box” route, I’d suggest a shallow valence across the front at the top, behind which the Halogens can be mounted…perhaps 2 circuits (hey, you said you wanted to do it right!) one of which could be small directional spots. Using dimmer switches will then give you great mood control…and personally…I think you’ve turned the dust/dirt/dilemma into a positive in that w/ the lighting, the front of the box limits the viewpoints and becomes the window into an exoctic, miniature world. Good luck.
Alright,
I was at Lowe’s today picking up bark chips among other things (don’t you love it how house projects so easily intermingle with MRR’ing?
I checked out some lights like Bob suggested. They have some small Halogen lights that you string together in series, so you don’t end up with a bunch of plugs you have to plug in. Nice!
They’re like $30/each for 3 lights.
Pioneer Zephyr - interesting idea about having spots as well.
Yes, There will definately be a valance. I will probably set it up in such a way that the box comes right off, for ease of working on the layout. Maybe the right and leftmost sides will just be black curtains - not sure.
I’m going for the effect you mentioned of looking into a miniature world.
Here’s an example of this effect: (this guy does nice work!):
http://members.aol.com/__121b_lcsSBR6QY7AaoAvhSutWUrlTiZnXI1In