lighting your models

[capnkidd830]

I have several 1/48 , 1/32 , 1/25 kits that i want to build and i want to add lights to them ( nav lights , landing , head lights and so forth ) , is there any how to videos or sites where a "newbie" can go to learn this ?

[chief5437]

a lot of scifi and car builders put lights in their models, might be worth searching some of those forums/channels.
there are some lighting kits out there for aircraft, i have one for the 1/32 revell hawk, these come ready wired to install and have instructions to help.

I'm afraid its a case of getting your google on, lol!

[SergioSolo]

I've installed lights and fiber optics on several kits. I've shared the process on my channel, in case you're curious (Konrad, Kröte, Seapig, AT-ST, Millennium Falcon)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaHD8N ... mj7qq1EEyw

I usually put the battery inside the models, because just recently I started to make bases, so from now on I'll try to wire the base and connect a DC adapter

[Twokidsnosleep]

Oh this is right up my alley, just starting out in lighting some of my builds
There are tons of UTube vids and resources when you search google
Whappynutter here on ISM got me going on lights for the Star Wars Build
This past Christmas I bought a couple extra strands of cheap battery powered Christmas lights, then just alter up as needed.

You can hack those up and solder lines back together comme ca

Another option is fiberoptics from E bay not too expensive and then one light source can be moved to different areas on the model.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Been banging around on the internet and have been reading about SMD or SMT LED's
These are very small LED's mounted on a PCB = printed circuit board
SMD=surface mounted device
SMT= surface mount technology

Some references
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMD_LED_Module
http://www.nmra.org.au/Hints/SMDs/Using ... 0LEDs.html

They are super small and come in a variety of sizes and colours. Still lots to research for me, but readily available on eBay and relatively cheap. I think I will be looking into this stuff really soon!!!

[Fridgy]

Been banging around on the internet and have been reading about SMD or SMT LED's
These are very small LED's mounted on a PCB = printed circuit board
SMD=surface mounted device
SMT= surface mount technology

Some references
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMD_LED_Module
http://www.nmra.org.au/Hints/SMDs/Using ... 0LEDs.html

They are super small and come in a variety of sizes and colours. Still lots to research for me, but readily available on eBay and relatively cheap. I think I will be looking into this stuff really soon!!!

Well technically these are not models....... just saying

So you should be safe

[Twokidsnosleep]

Took me a sec for that one smarty pants
Hey they are like under ten bucks!!!! and I haven't bought anything....yet

[Fridgy]

Took me a sec for that one smarty pants
Hey they are like under ten bucks!!!! and I haven't bought anything....yet

my work here is done

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ok, now I bought a whole bunch of them LED's and a couple controllers
Looking for a couple led flood lights for my soon coming spray booth as well
Will do some show and tell when it all gets here from Chiner

[Twokidsnosleep]

Got the SMT lights and some controllers in last month but just tested them tonight
Verdict: SUPER COOL

Check this out. The tester with a 9v battery and a white light LED prewired. The LED is at the end of the black and red wires...the little grey blob bouncing up and down out of focus.


Fire up the red button and BLAMMO!!!!


Almost too bright to look at. This is so cool and they are soooo small and sooo cheap
More photos when photobucket behaves again
God my hands are hairy

[digger303]

Ok, now I bought a whole bunch of them LED's and a couple controllers
Looking for a couple led flood lights for my soon coming spray booth as well
Will do some show and tell when it all gets here from Chiner

These led flood lights might not be as advertised.....seems the wattage is claimed to be higher than it actually is. Saw a warning somewhere. Once you actually put a multi-meter on them they are only drawing about half as many amps as what you think your getting.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ok, now I bought a whole bunch of them LED's and a couple controllers
Looking for a couple led flood lights for my soon coming spray booth as well
Will do some show and tell when it all gets here from Chiner

These led flood lights might not be as advertised.....seems the wattage is claimed to be higher than it actually is. Saw a warning somewhere. Once you actually put a multi-meter on them they are only drawing about half as many amps as what you think your getting.

I watched a video like that as well about the LED floods. Also the arrays used to make up the lights are often of poor quality...so that it is spotty areas of led instead of even ones

[Twokidsnosleep]

The rest of my photos finally loaded
Here is a pack of 10 prewired LEDs. These ones are green/yellow


The little rectangular LED at the end of the wire


And fired up


I just ordered some red ones. I can see the applications to aircraft wingtips

[schweinhund227]

You don't even need wires.... anymore... with this stuff.

http://static2.businessinsider.com/imag ... ywhere.jpg

maybe between ... area but inside a wing or tight places... This Ink pen is a must have for those that like to lit their models....

[Twokidsnosleep]

You don't even need wires.... anymore... with this stuff.

http://static2.businessinsider.com/imag ... ywhere.jpg

maybe between ... area but inside a wing or tight places... This Ink pen is a must have for those that like to lit their models....

Oh that is crazy, wow I have not seen that before
Would be good for flat surfaces, maybe harder in convex or convoluted areas over angular supports and such
I was stoked as these wires are literally the size of a hair and the light is tiny but super powerful

[Twokidsnosleep]

The tester cost $1.99 cad shipping $1.50 ...I bought four as it is basically a super cheap switch for me
A pack of 10 LED's were $6.53cad. Shipping was free

This is even less expensive than the christmas LED lights I showed on the other page

[digger303]

I wonder if you could use that pen....spray over it...an it would still work ? You could literally wire the plane and have the power source on the outside.

did not know the light bars were affected as well with some dodge-ness as well.