Instaling LED/ fiber optics.

Hi and Welcome

I would suggest that you also post your query to the Sci Fi forum as there are lots of knowledgable people frequenting that forum with experience in installing LEDs.

I am sure someone there would be able to advise you.

 Regards

David

Take a look at this page. About halfway down there are a few articles on lighting.

 http://www.starshipmodeler.com/tech/techmain.htm 

Thanks for the reply. I will check out those sites.

D.

Howdy all,

I'm just doing some research for my next build, a 1/48 F-117 to be modeled on static display with all weaponary laid out in front...

My question is ... I'd like to do some lighting for it, but was wondering what would be better for this scale, LEDs for FO ... or both. I'm planning on ligting up the cockpit, landing lights, and the weapons bays (as the model base will be a mirror IOT view the underside).

Thanks in advance.

Since the "fiber optics" thread seems to be a once a year reoccuring theme (and no one seems to be jumping on this one), I thought that I'd share what I've found.

Probably the must thing I've gotten thus far is from one of these older threads. Someone wrote about using FO, heat shrink tubing, and an LED w/ resistor. Sounded simple enough, even for a tard like me! Went out and bought some supplies. Cut a few strands of FO off my wife's cheesy x-mas tree (if you tell her, I'm taking you down with me!!!), put everything together and damned if you know it ... worked like a charm!!!

Now the only thing that I need to figure out is want size FO and size LED I want to go with. I was worried that this was going to be a HUGE pain, but it's actually turning out to be pretty simple. The oly question that I have now is ... Is there anyone out there that can tell me how to build/ rig up a battery box for this thing. Ultimatly, I'd like to use/ house two CR watch batteries instead of a 9V. I think it would be easier to hide. I would like to drill/ cut out a space for it in either the bottom or the back of the base. Would it be as simple as cutting out the space, running the wiring attached to foil and then shoving the batteries in (making sure I have good contact of course). The only other thing that I could think of doing is cannibalizing an old headlamp of something like that and using the battery box from it.

Hope my rambling thoughts helped ...

Is there anyone out there that can tell me how to build rig up a battery box for this thing. Ultimatly, I'd like to use house two CR watch batteries instead of a 9V.

 Would CR batteries have enough voltage? Two of these will only give you just under 3v and very low amperage.

You could canabalize a piece of electronics for the batt box. Buy a cheap clock, calculator or timer, in the local dollar store. Maybe even a small game in the toy section. Find a thin one, otherwise it would likely have AA or AAA batts.

dmk wrote:

Is there anyone out there that can tell me how to build rig up a battery box for this thing. Ultimatly, I'd like to use house two CR watch batteries instead of a 9V.  Would CR batteries have enough voltage? Two of these will only give you just under 3v and very low amperage. You could canabalize a piece of electronics for the batt box. Buy a cheap clock, calculator or timer, in the local dollar store. Maybe even a small game in the toy section. Find a thin one, otherwise it would likely have AA or AAA batts.

That sounds like a good plan ... I was thinking CR batts b/c they're smaller, and I remember reading somewhere that they should work. You don't need a lot of juice to light up 1-2 LEDs do you? Plus it's not like I'm going to display it lit all day, forever and ever ... although, that would be pretty cool .... having my model lights out-live me!

I was thinking about making a small wooden box to put the batts in. Remember, this is going in an F-117!?! Does anyone know of a cheap device that uses two CR batts? I think I've got an old G-shock in the drawer. Would that work? Although, I'm really thinking about DMK's dollar clock suggestion..... Hmmmmm.....

modelchasm wrote:

I was thinking CR batts b/c they're smaller, and I remember reading somewhere that they should work. You don't need a lot of juice to light up 1-2 LEDs do you? Plus it's not like I'm going to display it lit all day, forever and ever ... although, that would be pretty cool .... having my model lights out-live me!

 Check the specs on your LEDs too. they make them for all sorts of uses. I have an LED flashlight that's pretty darn bright.You wouldn't want that for your kit unless you were making landing lights.

Well, I am doing three landing lights, but I don't want them to over power the display. I just want the lights to be a nice addition.

Also, here's another one. I read somewhere about someone lighting up the display screens in a cockpit!?! Would I need some light screen for that? Or would a clear-colored piece of clear styrene with an FO behind it work?

Obviously, I've never done this before. I'm sure that I'm going to test a few things about. I just want to rule some things out before I start.

modelchasm wrote:

Also, here's another one. I read somewhere about someone lighting up the display screens in a cockpit!?! Would I need some light screen for that? Or would a clear-colored piece of clear styrene with an FO behind it work?

 If you needed something like a CRT screen, you could probably cut a squareish hole and fill it with colored celophane. Or maybe even better, fill the hole using one of the "make a window" techniques like using Testor's Clear Parts cement and then put colored celephane behind that to get a colored tint to the light.

modelchasm wrote:

...I'm just doing some research for my next build, a 1/48 F-117 to be modeled on static display with all weaponary laid out in front... My question is ... I'd like to do some lighting for it, but was wondering what would be better for this scale, LEDs for FO ... or both. I'm planning on ligting up the cockpit, landing lights, and the weapons bays (as the model base will be a mirror IOT view the underside)...

You might get some ideas from this site with a WIP Tamiya 1/48 117 with all kinds of LED lights.  Here's a linked photo.

 Have a look at this toot, it may be of some help:

http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/tutorial/31

 Camo

stan2004 wrote:

modelchasm wrote: ...I'm just doing some research for my next build, a 1/48 F-117 to be modeled on static display with all weaponary laid out in front... My question is ... I'd like to do some lighting for it, but was wondering what would be better for this scale, LEDs for FO ... or both. I'm planning on ligting up the cockpit, landing lights, and the weapons bays (as the model base will be a mirror IOT view the underside)... You might get some ideas from this site with a WIP Tamiya 1/48 117 with all kinds of LED lights.  Here's a linked photo.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! That picture is exactly what I'm doing! However, one of the captions says "motor to lift the canopy" ..... hmmm.

Also the read about wiring the car was great. I got everything I needed from the store today and I started testing my LED with success.

I'm still thinking about trying out the CR batts though. I looked at them in Radio Shack and the package said it was 3V. That is WAY better than having 2x AA's to try and find a home for.

Anyway ... of to bed for now. Guess there's always tomorrow!

So I did some looking around at the site http://dynamicscalemodeling.com/ that stan had posted the above pic (F-117) .... absolutly amazing.

Anyone interested in lighting up/ animating their models should check out this site. All kinds of great things to look at!

Thanks again, stan!!!

I'm working with LED lights for the first time myself, to illuminate the interior of a Bradley M2. The best resource I have found for info is the website at Ngineering, http://ngineering.com/lightng.htm. They have links to soldering techniques, wiring, calculators for resistors, etc. They sell good products and have great customer service, although the LED's themselves can be had for less at specific LED vendor sites.

You can run LED's from watch batteries, but I'm doing mine with a 9V, with plans to hide it under the base, which will be a picture frame with a piece of masonite for the foundation of the groundwork. There will be clearance enough for the battery and the holder. For button-type battery holders look here, http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=battery+holder. You can get a holder for about $.69, much cheaper and easier than cannibalizing some other product to find one.

Well ... work kept me pretty busy this week, so I didn't get a lot done in terms of playing with LEDs. But, I managed to get everything that I think I need. INCLUDING a great find at Hobby Lobby! I found a sheet of clear, green sheeting (near the model trains I believe), but this is going to work great for the CRT screens. I'm also just going to go with a simple 2x AA battery box. I wanted to keep the voltage low so that I didn't have to mess with resistors. I think that in my reading about installing LEDs I got a little too excited about it. I'm doing an F-117 ... there's not many lights on it anyway!?!

So, I've decided to just go with lighting the cockpit and the 3x landing lights. I may also place a few FO strands near the front of the weapons bays so that the bays are lit and can be viewed with the mirrored base. Other than that, I think I'm just going to play it simple.

Check out the guy who sells fiber optic cable on ebay.  I've bought from him twice (500ft of clear & 300 ft of assorted color FO)  When you purchase he sends you a huge email regarding the use of FO including battery ideas/voltage requirements, "light boxes" etc.

I'd email all that I got to you, but I'm not sure if he'd appreciate it.  His ebay username is me80 check out his stuff and email him directly...he might just give the info to you.  Good Luck!

Thanks, Rich. I actually just bought some FO from him a few days ago.

Work is putting everything on the back burner .... RRRRrrrrrrrrrrr........ But I'm sure that I'll get to testing everything sooner or later!?!

To modelchasm and other folks who are modeliing aircraft at static display--- why hid the batteries in the base?  Just model a groundpower generator of the type used by the particular planes you're building and put the batteries inside of it.  That way, you can use larger batts (at least AAAs) and run the power line in the scale power cable to the A/C.  Radio Shack, and other electronic parts sources, have micro cannon plugs (male and female ends) that can be pretty scale for 1/48 scales and there are sub-micro plugs used in computers or scratch made to scale for 1/72 models.  THIMK!!!!!                                                                             

Also, the output color of fiberoptics can be chosen by painting the strand in whatever color you want the light to be.  Simply draw the fiber through a cottonball dipped in the color; after the fiber dries; clip fresh ends.  To enlarge the ends, especially the output end, hold something hot, such as a soldering iron close to the end (not touching) and the fiber will turn back on itself in a tulip shape you can use as a light bulb for a house, a landing light, etc.  THIMK!!!

Have a goodday, y'all. 

Tinker wrote:

To modelchasm and other folks who are modeliing aircraft at static display--- why hid the batteries in the base?  Just model a groundpower generator of the type used by the particular planes you're building and put the batteries inside of it.  That way, you can use larger batts (at least AAAs) and run the power line in the scale power cable to the A/C.  Radio Shack, and other electronic parts sources, have micro cannon plugs (male and female ends) that can be pretty scale for 1/48 scales and there are sub-micro plugs used in computers or scratch made to scale for 1/72 models.  THIMK!!!!!                                                                              Also, the output color of fiberoptics can be chosen by painting the strand in whatever color you want the light to be.  Simply draw the fiber through a cottonball dipped in the color; after the fiber dries; clip fresh ends.  To enlarge the ends, especially the output end, hold something hot, such as a soldering iron close to the end (not touching) and the fiber will turn back on itself in a tulip shape you can use as a light bulb for a house, a landing light, etc.  THIMK!!! Have a goodday, y'all.

 Thanks for the advice, Tinker. However, I'm going with a mirror base w/ a weapns display set in front of the aircraft. I thought about putting a generator/ battery holder out there, but I think it would take away from what I want.

I receivd my FO late last week, so I'm excited about getting started, but I've got a figure and a dio to finish up before I start something else ...

... what the heck!?! I'll probably start the wiring tomorrow.

I noticed at Target they have some single LED book lights on clearance for under $3.(normaly $9)

It comes with thin battery(s) and a LED.

Just gut it for components and if need be install a brighter light.

Eric... 

This is the book lights I was talking about.

They just went on final clearance for $1.48.

Eric... 

NOT BAD!!!! Thanks for the heads up!

We'll let you know how many I get!!

Thanks 6.