Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

macfrank wrote:You can use the LED series/parallel array wizard to calculate the resistors needed for just about any combination of voltages and LEDs.

And if you want to drop the output of the LED, you can use the calculators on this page

Atlantis

Another choice

http://www.unique-leds.com/index.php?ta ... ct_id=1626

5mm White LEDs 2130mcd MAX (White Milky Diffused lens)

1-4 @ .40 ea/5-9 @ .35 ea/10+ @ .32 ea

Atlantis

Do you have links to photos of this item? I'm not familiar with the term RCS RCS stands for Reaction Control System On the current shuttle, they're the small jets they use for close maneuvering - such as docking at the ISS On the Enterprise, they're the equivalent of "thrusters" - used fo...

Morty Seinfeld wrote:linky no worky

"Not Found"

Sorry, Morty,

Since I posted that, I moved the whole Bussard construction to the main TOS-E build page Here

Atlantis

I agree with Hawk, and being a woodworker of many years, I re-iterate The Minwax is formulated specifically for wood products, I have no idea what it'll do to plastics. For now, stick to the Future At some point I'll take one of my old - not to be rebuilt kits and give it a try. Till I test and repo...

I lay them in clay. Don't seem to have the problem getting the clay out of crevices.

How complex are the parts you're molding? More grooves and indentations will make it a bit more difficult

Atlantis

Thanks for that, the cabinet is 1200 x 600 x 400 (mm - I don't speak imperial :)) Berttt American translation = 4'x2'x1.5' - so a medium size The fuse-lamps might not be enough for that application - the one's I use them in are for my miniatures - case is about 400x200x100mm in size Might want to l...

Hey guys, I have a display cabine that I would like to light up. I was thinking of LED's but I se it is not as easy as grabbing a handful and going crazy. Does anyone have any suggestions of what type of LED's might work for this aplication? Any fixtures I can use to mount them? Also would halogen ...

Sparky wrote:Sorry dude no free power.


That said any configuration that eliminates or reduces the amount of resistors used means you're not wasting energy in the resistor.

Case in point, my Bussard arrangement

24 LED's, all hooked in parallel - 4 sets of 6, ONE resistor for the entire batch

Atlantis

Nice! (guessing based on the measurement of the circle template...) It's not for the 1:1000 scale Enterprise, right? Here's what I really like about this work: You got 12 LEDs in there - the proper number IIRC... (Mine only has 10) Your choice of LEDs - it seems like you chose the right component f...

I took a different route from others

My bussard design - including basic build instructions can be found at my web-site or direct from here -> http://www.citlink.net/~starwinddesign/ ... lector.htm

Let me know what you people think of this one

Atlantis

I did find some 5mm T-1 3/4 White LEDs with a wider viewing angle of 70 degree rather than the regular 20 or 30 degree. I found this better suited for flooding light within the model starships interior. I may cut down the numbers of LEDs needed inside it for effective lighting. 3,6 volts, 30ma curr...

Yes LED will burn out but unless you're planning on running the light on the model continously you may never see them go. An LED correctly biased so that it's running within specs can run continuously for years, if not decades before it burns out. Searching around, I found that the generally accept...

i keep seeing the magic number of "28" of mercury"...i'm not familiar with that so much (i'm a structural engineer) but i do have a better feel for psi... and 28" of mercury is only 14 psi that doesn't seem like much at all would think a good shop vac could pull that.. and if a ...

>Cool links fellas...Got 'em bookmarked. Flat top styles really throw out a wider angle of light more than 30 degrees. - DL

I use the flat-tops for my FO.

Flat-top + FO fibers + Heat-shrink tube = Bright Light to the ends

- Atlantis

Don, While I buy my general electronic parts from Digi-key and Jameco, I purchase all my LED's from Unique. They have a large variety and the prices aren't too bad considering they're mostly high-output (2000 mcd and up) They even have those mini 1.8mm LED's and flat-top at reasonable prices. Why no...

Oh, BTW, I'd use a AA pack rather than a 9v battery to power that thing 9v Batteries have a much shorter lifespan compared to a AA or even a AAA pack Typical 9v rechargable has less than 200 MA - that's 10 hour lifespan for 1 LED Typical AA rechargable has 2000MA or more - that's 100 hour lifespan f...

>I will be using a 9v battery to power them

Ok

R=(9-3.5)/.02 = 275 or 290 ohm - I think that's the next standard - don't have my list in front of me

Atlantis

>Bulb type 3.5v/0.07W >It then says that the transformer supplied is 24v/10.8V output (dont know if that makes any difference ) Well, lets break it down W=V*A A=W/V So .07/3.5 = .02 or 20ma - which is normal for a LED So to calc the resistance needed for the power supply -> LED R=(V1-V2)/A R=(24-3.5...

I'd probably use a cascading 4017 circuit 1st 4017 lights up 9 LED's in sequence, the 10th output starts up the 2nd 4017, which is connected to the same LEDs in reverse sequence So, the 1st 4017 lights them in order of 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, the 2nd 4017 lights them in order of 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 Then th...

Glad I could be of assistance

After trying both Tap and Smooth-On clear resins, and having mixed results even with vacuuming, I'm sticking with the Castin' Craft

Though I'm still sold on Smooth-On for opaque resin

Atlantis

I'm doing the bake after de-molding it

So the sequence would be

Cast
Allow to set for 8-10 hours
De-mold
Bake at 150f for 2 hours

Atlantis

Note that the 'bake' is after it's room-temp curing - which is about 8-10 hours... comes out of my molds a little 'sticky', but the bake takes care of that. Also, if you vary the catalyst amount, you can get results from a softer, toolable cast - close to ABS or Styrene; all the way up to a VERY bri...

I've had good luck with Castin' Crafts clear resin

Takes transparent colors well and sets up nice and hard after a quick (2hr) bake at 150f

Mix is around 8 drops catalyst to 1 oz resin

Can get it at just about any craft store (Michaels, Dick Blick, etc)

Atlantis