Search found 27 matches

by swhite228
Tue Nov 19, 2019 2:38 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Any experience with EL wire?
Replies: 6
Views: 20575

Re: Any experience with EL wire?

El - Light Sheet Has a few issues you need to understand and factor in a model build, and as most things there are goo and bad to consider: The good: It is thin, flexible, and ca be cut to length of shape. It runs cool so you don't really need to worry about it melting your models. The bad: It can b...
by swhite228
Fri Sep 21, 2018 9:09 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Cheap LED Strip Lighting @ Wallyworld!
Replies: 7
Views: 28890

Re: Cheap LED Strip Lighting @ Wallyworld!

My question is, how do you seperate and wire them for specific use? I know to cut at specific spots so as not to destroy the lights, but each segment is set up for red, green and blue. Most led strip connectors i’ve seen are set up for single light tyoe leds. See the cut pads marked Comm +, R,G,B t...
by swhite228
Wed Jul 25, 2018 1:02 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Bendable EL Wire
Replies: 12
Views: 36478

Re: Bendable EL Wire

side glow fiber optics anyone? https://thefiberopticstore.com/solid-core-side-glow/ Funny you mentioned side glow fiber optics. I just made a neon sign for a building out of fiber optics, I used regular fiber but used an Exacto #11 blade to scrape the outside cladding off the fiber side facing out....
by swhite228
Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:42 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Bendable EL Wire
Replies: 12
Views: 36478

Re: Bendable EL Wire

EL wire is high voltage, it can be cut to length, and isn't very bright. El wire is simply a copper wire coated with phosphorus with a thin wire wrapped around it, clad with a plastic cover to protect it from the elements. It is the wire version of light sheet or as they are called electro luminance...
by swhite228
Sat Jun 23, 2018 3:45 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: UV Reflective Paints
Replies: 7
Views: 27183

Re: UV Reflective Paints

I've used the fluorescent/glow-in-the-dark lacquers by Gaia Notes. I believe it is the UV-reflective element of the paint that forms very hard clumps on the bottom of the bottles which need to be stirred very well in order for the paints to work properly. They glow in the dark, but they aren't like...
by swhite228
Sun Apr 01, 2018 12:33 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Reducing LED Brightness?
Replies: 12
Views: 37338

Re: Reducing LED Brightness?

Simple solution...go to the local theater supply house and pick up a sheet of neutral density theater gel. From Lee Filters web page: http://lowel.tiffen.com/edu/light_controls/gels.html Neutral Density (ND). Grey in appearance, they reduce the output of a light in progressive steps from 1/2 of a le...
by swhite228
Thu Mar 08, 2018 5:56 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Has Anyone Heard of "Gallery Glass?"
Replies: 6
Views: 21283

Re: Has Anyone Heard of "Gallery Glass?"

Gallery Glass is also sold under the Martha Stewart brand name.
by swhite228
Thu Mar 08, 2018 5:55 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Magnetic energy conductors
Replies: 8
Views: 26473

Re: Magnetic energy conductors

What I want to do is have a model with a rather flat underside be magnetically attached to a base, so that the power will transfer through the plastic without contacting metal points. A switch can turn it on and off, and the model can still be removable from its base. I think user Ultron was tellin...
by swhite228
Tue Oct 17, 2017 2:04 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Has Anyone Heard of "Gallery Glass?"
Replies: 6
Views: 21283

Re: Has Anyone Heard of "Gallery Glass?"

I use it to custom color white LEDs.
by swhite228
Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:31 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Light defusing?
Replies: 23
Views: 36026

Go to your local dollar store and look for the electronic candles with the color changing base. The material used to make the candle is great for defusing the led light. Place a strip over the leds, then if needed put a strip over the engine openings, You will find for the dollar you get a nice larg...
by swhite228
Fri Oct 14, 2016 2:22 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: How to cut rectangle micro windows?
Replies: 7
Views: 16603

I use the eye of larger carpet needles to make those type of windows.
Simply heat the eye in a candle flame and push it through the plastic.
Sand the area around the window and your good to go.
by swhite228
Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:38 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Where Can I Buy Lamp Oil Locally?
Replies: 9
Views: 17752

We used WD-40 to remove stickers.

It's fast and removes most all paper stickers and the glue from them.
by swhite228
Mon May 27, 2013 2:15 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Anyone ever glue Lighting gels to plastic?
Replies: 4
Views: 12489

You got what I call pre-cuts. If you got them from a theater supply store ask them for a swatch book for Rosco or Lee Filters ( both are made by Rosco), or for the brand you got. The book gives you usually a 1 in. x 4 in. sample of every color made in that line as well as specialty gels that will cu...
by swhite228
Sun May 26, 2013 11:30 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Anyone ever glue Lighting gels to plastic?
Replies: 4
Views: 12489

It depends on the type of gel. Real gel material which can still be found if you look hard enough is akin to dried Jello and over time it fades. It also dries and becomes brittle in time. Most "gel" are made with a polyester base or in some cases Mylar so you should be able to use regular ...
by swhite228
Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:08 am
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: is this any good for a first vac chamber?
Replies: 2
Views: 5876

To cut the time a vacuum pump would take you could use a portable air tank to replace the pump to the vac chamber. Theaters used the takns from old water heaters to power their vacuum formers so it should work here as well. Simply draw a vacuum in the tank then close the valve. Attach the tank to th...
by swhite228
Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:35 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: EL Tape Question
Replies: 5
Views: 6327

I have also been searching for this. It would be really useful to be able to cut a strip for a nacelle and wire it straight into the same 6v supply I use for the rest of the model without needing an inverter. I am still using LEDs and still unable to produce a really uniform glow with straws, styre...
by swhite228
Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:21 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Has anyone tried Solid Core Side Glow fiber optics?
Replies: 3
Views: 3460

Re: Has anyone tried Solid Core Side Glow fiber optics?

I was just checking out the fiber optic store and saw it. Would PVC tubing give a similar result? http://www.thefiberopticstore.com/purchase/SCSG/SGS-Fiber.htm No. The tube would be about as effective as sticking an led in the end of a straw-bright at the led with the light falling off rapidly the ...
by swhite228
Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:36 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Side Lighting Fibre Optic Cable
Replies: 10
Views: 16554

My understanding is side lit fiber requires higher power LED's like Luxeon Star. I'm told they do need to be heat sunk for heat dissipation. If so, probably not the best for the interior of a model... True if your lighting long lengths or using the fiber to replace neon tube in signs. For short mod...
by swhite228
Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:19 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Side Lighting Fibre Optic Cable
Replies: 10
Views: 16554

I think he is talking about the side lighting fiber optics. If so you would need to have a light source at each end of the fiber to get it bright enough to use as a light (it would be better than a straw with a led at each end). You could round the end and get light shining out the end but the side ...
by swhite228
Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:42 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Making clear plastic frosted
Replies: 9
Views: 6944

Cheap hairspray!

If you don't like the look it washes off with water, you can also use it to seal the weathering done with pastels, and remove magic marker from most surfaces.

If you get the purple Aussie can stuff ( the ones with the Kangaroo in the comercial) it even has a nice grape scent.
by swhite228
Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:12 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Looking for Small Files
Replies: 7
Views: 5283

You could try using a dental burr as a file .
by swhite228
Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:02 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Galaxy Quest Vox lighting plasma transparencies
Replies: 2
Views: 2607

The hero prop used a small lumiglass display kinda like the ones you see at Spencer Gifts or outside dance clubs, not a transparency. The one Redshirt used with his vox kit was a photoshop of the real disks displays. That is what was given to VoodoFx to use in their kit. You can Google "plasma ...
by swhite228
Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:43 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Grinding/Sanding larger bulbs?
Replies: 8
Views: 6560

Ok, new question...These have a flat top to them, which when shone directly on stuff, they give off a dark spot, and a bright ring. I'm assuming it's because they're not dome shaped. Dose the flat top have a cone shape in it? If so the led uses the cone to reflect light out the sides of the led. Yo...
by swhite228
Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:36 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Galaxy Quest Nebulizer
Replies: 13
Views: 10596

I don't know... The original prop probably used this very same disk, because they wouldn't build something like that just for the props. They'd buy the disk from a retailer and adapt into their prop. The disk has a circuit board and a battery holder, as well as a casing/bezel, right? What if you di...
by swhite228
Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:34 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Computer Controlled Milling Machine
Replies: 8
Views: 6231

the anwswer is yes. It's called the Carvewright. Another question I can't find an answer to: Will these machines work with other mediums other than wood? Will they work with soft stone, plastic or resin? The Carveright and the Craftsman are both Carveright machines with Sears not paying for updated...
by swhite228
Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:58 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: White LEDs with a warm yellowish glow
Replies: 6
Views: 7218

Re: White LEDs with a warm yellowish glow

IThis would be ideal for say... spotlights on a certian refit, or any interior lighting applicatin. The one thing that always bothered me about lighting with white LEDs, was that it always looked like you were lighting with white LEDs. Studio models, and real aircraft, ships, etc... almost always h...
by swhite228
Tue Feb 06, 2007 4:16 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Tips for making tiny rectangular "windows"?
Replies: 10
Views: 10001

It's a little late but... I use carpet needles stuch in dowl rods to do the holes. Push the needles into the dowl point first leaving the eye uncovered. Heat the needle over a candle until just hot enough to melt the plastic and press through the kit where the window is needed. Finish with sand pape...