Posted by Dwayne Horton on May 03, 1998 at 09:51:39 in lex-ts2-20.iglou.com:
In Reply to: Re: grain of rice lights for promenade deck ceiling... posted by Dwayne Horton on May 03, 1998 at 01:03:52:
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: : : I recently bought the AMT fiber optic kit and have opted to use the tiny, clear, incandescent, grain of rice lights commonly sold in model railroad hobby shops for my Titanic model.
: : : I did some research on old photographs and couldn't find much to support exactly where the lights are placed. As I write this it occurs to me to see the movie again.
: : : I notice from Ken Marschall's paintings that the ceiling lights are spaced about every other window (for the huge square windows on the aft half of that long white superstructure). It takes about 27 of the small light bulbs for the full length of each of the port and starboard A deck promenade ceillings.
: : : These particular "miniatronics" lights only run for 500 hours, so this may be a major downfall. Would YOU want to use lights that are only good for 500 hours?
: : : They sure look good in my experimenting I have done so far. I am not used to seeing models where someone has gone through such trouble and am very pleased with the results. I can see why some of the other websites sell the 1/350 model fully assembled for 3 or 4 thousand dollars- seriously. This thing can take on a life of its own!
: : : I read from my American Cinematographer magazine a couple months ago and saw a diagram of the promenade deck as lighted for the movie. It says that they used 3 times as many lighting "practicals" as the real ship had. The diagram is very interesting and appears as the only foldout in that issue.
: : : I am using the original number of roughly 27 little lights for each of the port and starboard ceilings (instead of the number that appears in the movie). If you add the (now that I think about it) 8 or so extra lights per port and starboard side ( for the darker recesses in the meandering, unusally shaped A deck walls, the number actually approaches 35 lights per side.
: : : At $10 for 10 lights, I don't want to run up too crazy of a bill. I am already at 27x2=54 lights and that doesn't include those at the fore and aft ends of the upper and lower A and B decks, the navigating bridge lights, running lights (p and s), or the masthead lights.
: : : The lights I bought are the 1.5 volt (string 4 together to get to 6 volts) 30ma, 1.2 mm diameter style. They are available at the website listed below. model # 18-C03-10.
: : : Miniatronics (located in Deer Park, NY) also sells grain of rice lights that are good for 10,000 hours but at higher voltages.
: : : Can anyone advise me on the higher voltages? I have only bought 10 lights for a total of $10 so far, so if it WILL be possible to use the higher voltages somehow, I could use my 10 lights in an area of the ship that will be easier to replace the bulbs if they ever burn out. Thanks in advance!
: : : Here's their website:
: : : http://www.miniatronics.com/spotlt.html
: : I recently purchased some tiny lights as well. They're from Miniatronics Corp. Model # 18-001-10 is a 1.5V 15mA 1.2mm dia. radial type light. Part # 18-075-10 is a 1.5V 15mA .75mm dia. axial type light. Both are very small. The axial .75mm light looks like nothing more than unshielded wire with a microscopic glass center. These would be great illumination for the 1st class promenade ceiling and other related backlit areas.
: : If you're trying to fully light your Titanic model, see your local hobby store or model train store. They come in 10 packs and range in price from $9 to $15. A great finishing touch to your masterpiece.
: : Good luck everybody,
: : Jesse
: I would be sorely tempted to use yellow LEDs instead. Sure, they are yellow, not white...but I suspect the old light bulbs probably ran yellower than a modern bulb. By the way...if you MUST use mini bulbs, try running them a volt or so "low" of what they are listed as. They run dimmer, not always a bad thing, as we are modelling a ship, not a casino...but they last MUCH longer.
And just 10 minutes ago I learned, via the Cultvman modelling digest on the Net, that they now make WHITE LED's so ignore my previous posting from last night...and if anyone finds a source, post it here!