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Specific Fiber Optic question for you FO masters out there.

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  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 12:29 AM

That does help. Thanks Colin. However, I've already got some FO and some clear acrylic rod, so I think I'm going to go with that. I've got to run some FO to other spot on the model anyway.

See my postings inf Figures (Modeling a "night" scene & 120mm OIF figure) and you'll get a pretty good idea at what I'm looking for.

Thanks again.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: United Kingdom
Posted by cmtaylor on Monday, February 2, 2009 3:32 AM
Optical fibre is designed to constrain the light within itself, using Total Internal Reflection to minimise losses. From the 'pure realism' point of view, any laser beam would only really be visible from directly along the beam (DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!!!) any indication from the side would be down to reflectionss from dust particles/vapour droplets along the beam path. From the artistic point of view, you are trying to show the beam, so you would be better using a short piece of acrylic rod. Now I don't know if you're aware, but you can buy 'light gathering' rod which contains fluorescent dye and captures any available light, transmitting it to the end where it will glow brightly without the hassle of providing a light source:

http://www.ema-models.com/catalogue/0051-round-rods.html

look about halfway down the page

Hope this helps

Colin
Gentlemen! You can't fight in here; this is the WAR ROOM!
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Specific Fiber Optic question for you FO masters out there.
Posted by modelchasm on Sunday, February 1, 2009 3:23 PM

I'm coming over here, from the figures forum, to see if I can get my FO question answered ....

I'm doing research for a figure that I want to model "at night"; an SF OIF figure. I want to use a piece, 3-4 inches, of small FO to show a "green beam" coming from the PQ-4 aiming device. Is there anyway to have that length and size of FO stick out straight, as though it were a laser beam ... b/c that's what it's supposed to be. So, it can't sag or bend? I've heard of glass FO but I don't know where to get such a small amount of it.  

What about using a short piece of clear acrylic rod?

Also, as most Sci-Fi modeling is of space stuff. Do you guys have any tricks/ ideas about making the figure look like it's in the dark ... without closing the model up in a box? (See my post in the figures forum for some of the ideas that have been passed around.)

Thanks in advance for your help.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

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