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Throwing a little light on the subject.

Kris

Entry posted by Kris

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The lighting at Avonwick has never been fantastic, a fact that was commented on several times at the 2mm Soc expo when it was exhibited. I had used 150 LED's to provide illumination, a good idea but not one that proved to be effective. With the layouts second exhibition rapidly approach I thought it was about time that I did something about this situation. I didn't want to be fiddling with 240v's and was looking for something to supplement the LED's rather than replace them so I trundled of to Wickes (other DIY chains are available) and purchased a set of 4 low voltage Halogen downlighters. These improved the situation some what but were far from perfect, they left deep shadows at each end for a start. So what next? Well in for a penny in for a pound and magically I found myself at the till with some more downlighter's this time surface mount ones.

As I had added a reasonably deep facade I have been able to hide all the lights behind this. I am a little concerned about the heat that is generated by these but as they are wired through 3 independent plugs (this is as much of a minus as a plus) I can remove some of the lights from operation at times if I feel this is needed.

 

 

I'm now up to 10 x 20w lights on the main layout, it's brighter than the LED's but it's not perfect. There are some annoying shadows on the sky at the back sad.gif . I have tried to angle a couple of the surface mount lights to solve this and it has to some extent. Something to think about over Christmas.

 

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New lighting with the room lights on.

 

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New lighting with the room lights off.

 

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General view of the layout of the new lighting.

 

So what else has been going on, on the main layout?

 

Well with Farmer Giles busy watching the progress or lack of on the extension developments have been minimal. Health and Safety has at last caught up with part of the railway though. Passengers are no longer required to jump down from the platform (or walk off the end) to reach the road. New steps have been installed complete with a handrail for those less steady on their feet. Disabled passengers are still required to access the platform via the ramp on right. There is still a lack of fencing between the goods shed and the new steps but that will be rectified once I find the stuff. Edit I've now found the fencing and have added that last missing section.

 

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The station building is now also on firmer foundations having had the inside fitted out with desks, seats wall paper and people. The building is now internally lit with the wiring going through hidden channels in the walls. Farmer Giles is mightily impressed, whilst bluebell is moosing on it. I have added a couple of bits of signage to direct passengers to the loo and ticket office.

 

The goods shed is now also more secure. 2 years after the construction of this building it has received its doors.

 

Finally the small bridge that crosses the stream (that also goes under the platform) has gained the railings that it needed. These have been constructed from scrap etch and the wires that were trimmed of LED and resistors used in the lighting of the station building. Reuse and recycling in model form.

 

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13 Comments

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-missy-

Hi Kris :)

 

Is there a reason why you havent used flourescent tubes for the lighting? I REALLY think you should.

 

Missy :)

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Kris
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Hi Kris :)

 

Is there a reason why you havent used flourescent tubes for the lighting? I REALLY think you should.

 

Missy :)

 

I was going to use them but could not find a shallow enough one to fit on the top section without showing one ones that were light enough (and cheap enough) that I could screw them to the inside of the facade. I shall be keeping my eyes open though to see if I can't find something suitable and affordable as what I have done is not a perfect solution.

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bcnPete
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Hey Kris - The lighting seems to be better than previously - the LED effect was interesting but from memory, it did make the layout feel quite dark at the expo - did you consider placing a diffuser across the lights to see if this helps lose the shadows - Perhaps a sheet of A1 tracing paper would be an inexpensive test?

 

BTW, when and where is the next outing for Avonswick?

 

Pete

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Donw
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I feel bad about having commented on the lighting at expo now, however this is much better. Flourescents do give a nice even light but do tend to fade colours especially if you go for daylight tubes intended for growing or keeping birds as these have a high UV component ( needed for vitamin D production in caged birds). Mind you all these new low energy bulbs are twisted flourescents.

The added details are just right the railings round the steam are just the sort of thing you would expect. Nice work.

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bcnPete
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yes - as Don says, the extra bits you have added work nicely.

 

one thing I have always liked about Avonwick is the trackwork - the colour and ballast both demonstrate the benefits of hand built trackwork...I mean, as we used to do before easitrac arrived...

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Kris
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Hey Kris - The lighting seems to be better than previously - the LED effect was interesting but from memory, it did make the layout feel quite dark at the expo - did you consider placing a diffuser across the lights to see if this helps lose the shadows - Perhaps a sheet of A1 tracing paper would be an inexpensive test?

 

BTW, when and where is the next outing for Avonswick?

 

Pete

 

Diffuser might work, I'd not considered it, but thinking about the lights, 6 have inbuilt diffusers these are not causing the shadows. The 4 without might need something. I shall have a think.

 

Avonwick is next coming out to play on the 12th of Feb at Newbury.

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bcnPete
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Avonwick is next coming out to play on the 12th of Feb at Newbury.

 

Is that in roundy roundy mode or as per the expo?

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Chrislock

Hi Kris,

I really like the simplicity and overall effect of your layout.

The In-daylight shot looks ok, though I also think the lights are probably too unidirectional as a solution- hence the shadows?

I will be interested to see how you finally resolve this as I have come to realise how important lighting is on an exhibition layout - especially on a smallish one.

What does Jerry use on his colliery layout as a matter of interest?

Cheers

Chris

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eldavo
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B&Q do a range of lengths of flourescent fitting that are largely plastic and much lighter than the majority. They are also cheaper! Might be worth a look as they are probably the only way you will get rid of shadows on the backscene.

 

Cheers

Dave

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Kris
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Dave

I'll have a look next time I'm near a B & Q. What is noticeable is that it is only the 4 lights without the diffusers on that are causing most of the shadows. If I can't find a suitable fluorescent fixing then I might swap these for ones with diffusers.

 

Chris

 

The lights are unidirectional which is the problem. The shot that you said was in day light was in a room lit with a single energy saving bulb. There was very limited natural light getting in. What this did show me was how little of the lighting from the layout reaches right to the front of the layout. Without having lights in front of the layout I can't see a way around this unfortunately.

 

I have no idea what Jerry uses on his.

 

Bryn

 

I'm treating Avonwick very much as an experiment. I will take all that I have learnt onto the next layout. Hopefully this will save time and money in the long run.

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