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Instrument panel lighting

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  • Member since
    March 2010
Instrument panel lighting
Posted by Bocks Suv on Friday, June 20, 2014 9:10 PM
I just finished an Eduard BF 110 1/4 panel and it occurred to me that it would look so cool lit. Too late for this build. But how were ww2 panels lit for night flying: backlit or small recessed bulbs shining on each dial? And were night fighters and bombers' panels lit differently, perhaps with red lights? I bet the Allies had different techniques than the Axis. Or I could go modern and backlight a recent aircraft and that, I assume, would be all backlit in many colors and shapes, and maybe require using some fiber. Any insights or refs would be appreciated.
  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Saturday, June 21, 2014 9:54 AM

Cockpit lights were generally red (it was supposed to aid dark adaption, but later proved not that well).  Many planes had little tubes or projections from various places  in cockpits with small bulbs and red filters.  These were so small (typically about an inch or inch and a half) that fiber optics might be the only practical way to do them. I think LEDs would be too big except maybe in 1:32 and 1:24- even then it would take tiny LEDs.  Illuminated instruments and CRT screens came well after WW2.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Twin Towns, MN
Posted by MAgather on Saturday, June 21, 2014 2:47 PM

I think  Bock is saying he's got a 1:4 instrument panel not that he;s thinking 1:48.

Good info none the less.  

Good Modeling,
  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Sunday, June 22, 2014 11:23 AM

Ah!  And me having just read the thread in General Discussion on confusion between quarter scale and quarter inch scale!  Yeah, red LEDs should work well to make those little lamps that festooned WW2 cockpits.  Maybe just wrap a strip of colored card stock or very thin styrene as a cylinder around the LED body.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Sunday, June 22, 2014 2:59 PM

The B-25 had little spot lights mounted on the stick. External lighting was pretty common.

The British liked radium dials too.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

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