Jump to content
 

Paynestown - exhibition lighting

Barry Ten

Entry posted by Barry Ten in GWR

454 views

 Share

I'm the worst for leaving the boring jobs until the last minute, but for this layout I was determined not to be caught out and to try and get ahead on the less exciting tasks, including sorting out the fascia and the lighting rig. It'll still be a mad rush at the end I know, but at least the presentational aspects should be reasonably finished.

 

This view shows most of the layout, with a start made on the fascia, and also with the LED lighting in place for the first time. The latter definitely gives a different aspect to the whole thing, reducing shadows and generally cooling down the overall look compared to the "ambient" lighting I was making do with before, basically just whatever lamps I could get hold of.

 

P1140791.JPG.283451557cbdc98a0ba757def0526d8d.JPG

 

Another view in the opposite direction. I'm pleased with how the rear retaining wall's texture pops out under the LED, compared to how it looked before. I used a single cabinet-light style batten from B&Q, which runs the whole length of the layout. The unit itself was incredibly light, a real advantage compared to the fluorescent tubes I've used in the past. I've attached it to a demountable boom which projects out over the layout from the fiddle yard end (so only attached at the left hand side) and which bolts on and off very easily. I'm pretty sure the whole layout will fit in the car with the lighting rig still in place, but for the sake of a few moments it's probably sensible to take it on and off.

 

P1140789.JPG.95deaef417fe5e20330ec1e56ab7468d.JPG

 

A few more general shots follow, just to give a flavour of how the layout looks under the new light.

 

P1140792.JPG.eb51bf051e7707417cb73719d3941e0f.JPG

P1140790.JPG.75c1016f1603fde0ad527c75c11bede9.JPG

 

P1140788.JPG.d6b1a3d08adb1ae356506f72f5f15820.JPG

 

P1140786.JPG.c909a6b70245f4cd6b9f59abd866463f.JPG

 

P1140785.JPG.bfd98ea2e1770c5a02fd69901660a209.JPG

 

There is still much to be done, but at least as I push forward now, it'll be with the knowledge that the lighting is more or less settled, especially important when it comes to things like the backscene where you want to be painting under consistent illumination. Of course

one can't make all that much allowance for the ambient light at the exhibition venue itself, but the dominant light source ought to be from the LED now. Incidentally with the lighting rig in place, it's STILL just possible to reach behind the layout from the front, so front-of-house operation is still an option, even if it requires some awkward contortions on the part of the exhibitor! Best keep off the pies between now and August...

 

Cheers and thanks for reading.

Edited by Barry Ten

  • Like 14
  • Informative/Useful 1
 Share

7 Comments

Recommended Comments

  • RMweb Gold
Mikkel
  • RMweb Gold

Hi Al,

 

Good to see it with the new lighting.   I'm learning from this as I have only ever used "ambient" lighting.

 

As you say the retaining wall comes more into it's own. I notice that the sides of the stock are in shadow. Would a further batten towards the front address that, or will that make things too complicated?

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
ModRXsouth

Great views of your layout, but any chance please of some photos showing the lighting rig itself? The demountable boom arrangement has particularly caught my interest. Many thanks!

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
  • RMweb Gold
Barry Ten
  • RMweb Gold
6 hours ago, Mikkel said:

Hi Al,

 

Good to see it with the new lighting.   I'm learning from this as I have only ever used "ambient" lighting.

 

As you say the retaining wall comes more into it's own. I notice that the sides of the stock are in shadow. Would a further batten towards the front address that, or will that make things too complicated?

 

 

There is a bit of foreground shadow, but it's not as noticeable to my eye as to the camera, so I'll stick with the original intention for now. I also like the similar effect on @wenlock 's Sherton where the middle ground of the layout really pops out, almost as if a ray of sunlight was catching it on a cloudy day. That's the idea, anyway!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • RMweb Gold
Barry Ten
  • RMweb Gold
1 hour ago, ModRXsouth said:

Great views of your layout, but any chance please of some photos showing the lighting rig itself? The demountable boom arrangement has particularly caught my interest. Many thanks!

 

It's a bit tricky to get all the layout in shot right now, but this should give an idea of the arrangement:

 

P1210003.JPG.57acb85bc9ee85ed4456c9417cb1bebe.JPG

 

Basically it consists of a cross-beam of L-shaped wood of the kind sold by B&Q in 8 foot lengths, and which makes a very good, stiff basis for a lighting rig. This one has been recycled from some earlier bit of layout, hence the scruffiness!  The timber blocks on top are a legacy of the old application, but are now used to hide the mounting screws for the LED bar, and will also form the mounting points for a front screen (with the layout name on) when it's added. That should add very little weight to the arrangement.

 

The other bit is a piece of plywood cut into a curved bracket shape which then bolts onto the upright piece of wood which screens the fiddleyard, and which is in turn solidly attached to the backscene and the base of the layout.

 

With these new LED-style cabinet lights, they weigh so little that the bulk of the weight of the rig is in the wood itself, rather than the light it needs to support.

 

  • Like 1
  • Informative/Useful 1
Link to comment
brossard

Lovely looking layout Barry.  You don't see much on layout lighting.  I'm bad at this as well, I've had my layout at 3 shows and still rely on ambient light.  Happily the show venues were well lit.  Mind you, my layout is quite long (16' play area), so requires some thought. 

 

Yes, let's see your lighting rig.

 

John

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
ModRXsouth

Thank you for the photo and further details of your lighting rig. I am mid-way between a B&Q and a Homebase so will investigate their LED options.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • RMweb Gold
Barry Ten
  • RMweb Gold

I bought the LED from B&Q as well. I'll dig out the reference later.

 

Edit: it's an 1100 mm "Minidoka" from the "Colours" range.

Edited by Barry Ten
Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...