Researching lighting for model building

I have used fluorescent lamps for modeling for about forty years and it has never bothered me.  If you are particularly sensitive to flicker you might be bothered more, but you'd know by now by being around any fluorescent lights, not just on a modeling bench.  The problem is not eye strain, it is a general irritation for those very sensitive to it. I have heard people with epilepsy are more sensitive to high frequency flicker.

The most important tip is to get a lamp that positions easily and holds its new position.  Try it in the stores.  I personally use one of those lamps that uses a circular fluorescent bulb surrounding a big magnifying lens.  Very handy- acts as general illumination, but is handy if I need to really see a part close up.

I use two sets of lamp... one was only $25 from Lowe's with 'daylight' fluorescent bulbs.  It sure brightens up my workspace and it helps alot.  And I use one of those 'Ott-lite' desk lamp I brought at Hobby Lobby using 40% coupon... it should have been $80 and it cames with a daylight powerful bulb that I use it during painting stages.

Both works great together and I never noticed any flickering...

I use a pair of Ott-lites, one clamp-on and one floor model. These ARE expensive, but the color accuracy is very good. I'd recommend having two lights, if you can, one a little dimmer or further away than the other, so the shadowing inherent in one light is reduced. I would strongly recommend staying away from incandescent, as they are very yellow, and conventional flourescent, which is strongly green. "Daylight" flourescents seem to vary some in their interpretation of what constitutes "daylight". Be sure to get one that is easy to position and holds position well. I've had jointed-arm lights that would "sag" no matter how tightly their joints were set, and you don't want the light crashing down on you or your work.

Home Depot (at least the one near me) has a display that shows a side-by-side comparison of lighting colors from various types of bulbs. You may find this useful, if a HD near you has such a display.

Good luck on your search.

Thanks for the feedback.  Any particular light you recommend?  I can't seem to find an OTT that clamps to the desk.

Where do you live?  Either Michael's or Hobby Lobby sells those.  Be sure to use the 40% coupon... I am already thinking about buying another OTT lamp for the paint booth.

Fluorescent lamps with FULL SPECTRUM lighting are as close to natural as you can get from a fluorescent lamp. You should be able to find a good lamp for under $50. Just make sure when you purchase the lamp get an extra bulb right away too.

Ott-Lites are excellent but expensive.

As you can see I use fluorescent lamps in my workshop!

Here is my take on the color accuracy/spectral purity thing.  I never display my models under sunlight, though I do photograph them in sunlight.  But shows, contests, club meetings, etc. where I display/show my model have a variety of lighting.  Some have fluorescents, some add stands with incandescents.  So no matter how accurate my painting, I have no control over the spectrum of the lights where they will be displayed.  So, I do not bother to worry about the light under which I build.  I do not recall ever hearing someone say my colors are off. 

Let's face it, even under natural (sun) light, the color temperature varies with time of day anyway.  Do we get to the point where we say this model represents the prototype on a sunny day at 1PM at midsummer?

Hi Don, I am not worried about perfect lighting.  My main concern is eye strain and eye damage due to bad/improper lighting.  I was going to use a regular desk lamp with a "reveal" bulb until some of the members here suggested the OTT lite.  Sound like it is not florescent nor a regular light but something in between that is easy on the eyes.

40kminis

Hi Don, I am not worried about perfect lighting.  My main concern is eye strain and eye damage due to bad/improper lighting.  I was going to use a regular desk lamp with a "reveal" bulb until some of the members here suggested the OTT lite.  Sound like it is not florescent nor a regular light but something in between that is easy on the eyes.

As far as eye strain due to flicker, there are basically three types of light for interior use- LEDs, fluorescent, and incandescent.  LEDs are still to expensive for prime time, leaving us with fluorescent or incandescent.  All incandescents are the same as far as flicker (extremely low), so you do not need to spend a large amount of money just for low flicker.

40kminis

Hi Don, I am not worried about perfect lighting.  My main concern is eye strain and eye damage due to bad/improper lighting.  I was going to use a regular desk lamp with a "reveal" bulb until some of the members here suggested the OTT lite.  Sound like it is not florescent nor a regular light but something in between that is easy on the eyes.

 

 

Actually, the OTT-Lite is a fluorescent lamp; the bulb has a special spectrum. OTT-Lites are expensive little devils, but I was lucky enough to find a small folding one at a garage sale some years back. I used it for a while until I found something better--a fluorescent desk lamp which I placed atop a small (but very heavy) metal box turned upside down to boost the lamp's height.. And the price of the desk lamp was right--free! (I fished it out of the apartments' trash dumpster. There was nothing wrong with it; perhaps its owner was moving out and didn't want to cart it around with him.)

I still have the OTT-Lite. I keep it in a large cooler and when I take my model on the road, I use the OTT-Lite when I model in the motel room.