New LED product I plan to use for Polar Lights NX01

[wellnow1101]

I have been having a tough time lighting the nacelles of my Enterprise NX01. So much so that my pickyness has kept me from completing it for over a year. I just don't like the effect from my Voodoo FX unit on the nacelles. It was too splotchy and uneven.

I have been experimenting with LED's on my own for over 7 or 8 months to no avail. However, I recently was shown how to work with the micro LED PC board mounted units without killing them when soldering. I just have not had the opportunity to actualy try it myself. Now I have found a solution that just amazed me. The brightness, color selection and versitility is awsome. I just ordered some of these in the 2" length to experiment with and I will let everyone know how it comes out.

attached is the PDF.

http://www.waclighting.com/data/arti_im ... edtape.pdf

There is a drawback however. The system as it stands requires a minimum of 5' of LED's to operate. This is due to the transformer they sell for its use, not a true operational limitation. You just have to use a smaller electronic 12v transformer to eliminate flickering when used with less than 5'.

When I finish I will post my results for everyone to make thier own minds on how it came out. If it works there are quite a lot of possibilities for future projects I plan to work on.

[QuincySapien]

To be honest I am totally away from using LEDs for Nacelles (except the red for the bussard collectors of course).
Whatever you try you alwas have lighter and darker regions.
The LED-Tape seems to be fine but you see it in use only as indirect lightsource in the pdf from quite a distance, when you install it in the nacelle I am afraid the LEDs will again build spots.
I tried EL-Sheets aka Lightsheet) in my Runabout and it is astonishing how it works. The Sheet is illuminated absolutely even over the whole length. If you need something longer you can just lay another sheet behind it without seeing it from the inside.
And it is really easy to use. Just install the little transformer inside the ship and lay wires to the sheet´s electrodes. You only need a 5V DC-Source for it and with 5-7 Bucks per sheet it´s not very expansive.

That´s how it looks at my runabout:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh28 ... CF0247.jpg

It´s absolutely recommendable for many lighting purposes.

[Scott Hasty]

I'm not a big EL fan as it get's hot (the inverter), can squeal to just audible levels so the dogs howl and has a smaller life-span than LEDS. I use LED's and Fiber fill for an even lighting for several apps:

LED strip:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/s_ ... tstrip.jpg

Prior to trimming:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/s_hasty/Test.jpg

Scottie

[DLMatthys]

A year or so ago a SSM member posted his NX-01 glow blue Nacelle FX by inserting 5 mm Blue LEDs at both the ends of white drinking straws.

The straws were laid out flat and fixed together side by side with plastic strip and epoxy. The best brightness of the viewing angle of the LEDs glowed down the pipe so to speak quite even. Brilliant!

Though I am a big fan of EL Lamps. I am inclined to use this idea. I have started on the 1/350 NX that will use my modified Waddell Warp board. Nano .5x1mm sized LEDs for spot lights on the exterior.

BTW the caster of my office chair ran over a hull side panel part...Crushed it! Anybody have a scrapper kit? Side panel part #58

[wellnow1101]

So far I have used all of the ideas sugested. I have not had that great of a success with them. The VooDoo FX kit uses the "straw" principle for the nacelles but as I said it just does not have the correct look. It is very uneven in appearance. However, the rest of that kit is "excellent"! I would recommend it for anyone who is looking for quality and a thoroughly thought out lighting kit (with the exception of the power connector. Too big for my taste. I am making my own).

I have ordered 10 of the 2" sections and luckily I have a 20watt transformer to eliminate the inherrent flicker from under utilization of the factory transformer for this system. I know there will be some uneveness in the output but I have devised an angled mirror setup to wash the inside of the nacelle area with reflected light at the proper angle to compensate for this.

I am planning on doing an article of this "conversion" for SM as soon as I get the LED's and finish a project for my wife. She comes first or I don't get to work without interuption! Lol... Married life! I will have plenty of pictures before, durring and after and I will list the compoents. I am excited about this turn of events because I have been so depressed at my efforts up to this date. I am perfectionist when it comes to modelling. If it ain't right... I just sit tight, until I figure a way to "make it so".

[Sparky]

What is the cost on those strip LEDS? I think those will be expensive comparatively, as the LEDs they use are high power ultra bright LEDs.

http://www.kc6sye.com/images/images_09_ ... strips.jpg

http://www.kc6sye.com/images/images_09_ ... n_reel.jpg

[Scott Hasty]

What is the cost on those strip LEDS? I think those will be expensive comparatively, as the LEDs they use are high power ultra bright LEDs.

http://www.kc6sye.com/images/images_09_ ... strips.jpg

http://www.kc6sye.com/images/images_09_ ... n_reel.jpg

Do you mean the ones in my post?

Scottie

[Sparky]

Both the ones in your post and

these new ones from WAC,
http://www.waclighting.com/data/arti_im ... edtape.pdf
they look expensive as they seem to be sealed and have all the extra splicing pieces that make for easy install into different home lighting situations.

[Scott Hasty]

Both the ones in your post and

these new ones from WAC,
http://www.waclighting.com/data/arti_im ... edtape.pdf
they look expensive as they seem to be sealed and have all the extra splicing pieces that make for easy install into different home lighting situations.

Actually those were prototypes I was going to put on the market as a kit. I got tied down with a film shoot then a haunt build and it kinda went away. My initial SWAG at the cost was $15.00 for the pair, kitted and $25.00 built.

They're bendy too...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/s_hasty/Bendy.jpg

[Sparky]

Ah yes i think i saw some at a club a while ago:
http://www.kc6sye.com/images/images_02_ ... dstrip.jpg

http://www.kc6sye.com/techmages_2_11_06.html

Will these go into production for the store?


More back on to the original topic:
One thing to consider is using LED strip lighting, any source, as a side edge light to a piece of acrylic. I'm not sure what one would have to do to get good light emission from this. Sanding with fine grit etc. I have a little sales-ad for some company doing this now for hand-held device back lights. I'll try to find a web link. But I already tired to get info on samples and small sales batches from them. . . they weren't interested.

[Scott Hasty]

Yep, those are the ones. I can't, for the life of me, remember who I sent them to, but I know it was for testing. I know John told me they are always interested in new products, but other things surfaced, I shelved the strips and stayed busy.

After November 1, I should be able to start some work on something if there is an interest...

Scottie

[wellnow1101]

Well, for the WAC stuff the cost is not too bad. I get it at cost of course. I paid $4.50 ea for the 2" sections and $.50ea for the end kits. The 2' extra lead cost me $1.95. I made a mistake and only ordered 1 when I need 2. So, I will have to order another one. I find the cost relative for me. I have tried several of the available lighting kits as I said before. I think this will be the solution I have been looking for.

You can expect to pay around an additional 30% for these things from any electrical supply that Reps the WAC line. Of course that is subjective considering it can vary from salesperson to salesperson and any realtionship you may have with him/her. I of course am an inside salesman for my company. I entered my order on Monday and it was in my hands on Weds!

Anyway, for my NX01, I have devised a simple mirror system to spread the light output evenly. These LED components from WAC are extremely flexible and bright and lend themselves perfectly for what I plan to use them for. I will begin work with them, hopefully this weekend. I'll post some photos as soon as i can.

[Madman Lighting]

Uneven LED lighting in engine nacelles? Nah.

I did mine with just two LEDs. One in front, other in back, facing each other down the length of the nacelle. Put some mirrored mylar film over the entire interior and wrap a little strip of the stuff around the body of the LED to force the light to shine down the length of the nacelle.

Did the bussard collector with just one LED. Mirror the inside, and face the led backwards with a little wire support. It should be in the center of the collector, light facing inwards. All the light gets reflected back and looks great.

Go read Sci-Fi Fantasy #4 to see how I did it or buy my BIG kit, there's a reprint of the entire article there.

-John C.

[phantom_phantic309]

I plan on using a similar item in three lighted kits. The AMT Reliant, Runabout and the big PL Enterprise refit.
Theyre great and really easy to use. Never fancied using complicted circuits in my models, and I can get these over and around the E's shuttle bay with no hassle!

[kitty]

My favorite solution for the nacelles still is 2 bright white leds, 1 at each end of a sidelight fibreoptic with a blue transparent foil around it.
No high frequency convertor needed and even spread of the light.
And i can keep the voltage at 4.5-5 volts.
Also i think the nacelles shouldn't give off a blinding light, just a nice deep blue color