i want to make my layout look really cool at night with alot of lights. where can i put some cool likes? Anyone have any cools ideas to put lights around. And what are some cool light stuff i can buy.[:)][8D][8D]
ColdCrow,
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First off, Street lights, Lots and lots of street lights. Then lighted signs. Micromark sells lighted sign kits for HO and O scale and have a kit where you can make your own as well. Then lit interiors. You would have to get a little creative at getting a definatly out of scale “House Lighting Kit” bulb to look natural, but on my layout, I plan on hiding the holder behind a styrene celieng, letting the bulb protrude through, then decorate it with some ornamental globe looking thing. You will want to light all your station platforms, as well as entry ways to buildings open late. You can also add working stop lights and crossing signals, and they can be used for daytime ops as well. And don’t forget layout signals. Not only can they help light up the layout, they are useful in helping direct train movements also.
I hope I have given eneugh for you to chew on for a while.
James.
Cold Crow, I have used stage lights very efectivly on two of my layouts. This is very easy and cheap to do. I start with a 4 foot or 8 foot long 1 inch by 4 inch pine board. Go to your local HOME CENTER and buy cheap single light bulb holders ( fixtures ). Buy a roll of lamp cord. Buy several red, blue and white 40 watt bulbs. Buy 3 dimmer swiches.
Screw bulb holders to one side of board about 7 or 8 inches apart. Wire every third one together so you will have 3 or 6 wired together on each board and wire each group to a dimmer switch and then wire each dimmer switch to a male plug to be able to plug into a wall socket. Screw bulbs into fixtures alternating colors so all of one color is run by same dimmer switch. Do this for each color. Mount completed light board above railroad behind a valance so you can’t see the bulbs themselves. Now turn all 3 colors to full and turn off room lights. Adjust colors for morning by turning down white and blue lights until you are satisfied with this effect. Next turn up blue and white and turn red down and adjust until you are satisfied with evening and or night time effect. Using less white light changes both morning and evening a lot by softening the light overall. I guarranty
you will be impressed and so will anyone else in the layout room. Also, the lights that Grayhound Challenger suggested you install will really stand out with this system.
If you are unsure or uncomfortable handling 110 volt projects, ask a friend or relative who can work with it to help you. I am definately going to install this on my new layout.
I hope you or any one else reading this will be able to enjoy this dramatic effect. Ray
try a Lighted Marquee
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-2713
B -
just roam around town at night and make a note of everwhere you see lights… parking lots, entryways, billboards, interiors, everything else that’s been mentioned. People don’t usually stop to take in the small things while they’re out, but it can be a great guide to modelling.
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]very cool thanks guys this help me with alot of new ideas off to the hobby store[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
traffic lights and those flashers on highway signs do the trick as well.