Help with HO Scale Helix design

[nolatron]

I don't think those rope lights are bright enough to light up a deck decently. I have a rope light I picked up at lowes, and it's ok to light up very dark areas (like under the helix way in the corner to light up the wiring panels where's the no light), but when you also have ambient room light, I don't think you'll see a big increase in light output to the deck 20" tall from the rope lights. That spool of rope light only puts out 3 watts per foot, where as a 10" T4 fluorescent fixture puts out 6 watt for example

It's certainly worth a try though as everyone's setup is different.

For my layout, I used T4 Fluorescent fixtures with a 6400K (Day-light) bulb:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.saviolighting.com/T4-Slim-Fluorescent-Linkable-Fixture-Set-p/t4.htm">http://www.saviolighting.com/T4-Slim-Fl ... t-p/t4.htm</a><!-- m -->

They come in a variety of sizes and you can daisy chain up to 10 of them. I have one chain on the upper deck, one on the lower deck, and a chain under the layout lightning my workbench. I use a hardware box to turn them on/off:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.saviolighting.com/T4-T5-Hardwire-Box-with-Switch-2-Prong-Unit-p/t45-sb2p.htm">http://www.saviolighting.com/T4-T5-Hard ... 5-sb2p.htm</a><!-- m -->

My recommendation would be the T4 fixtures.

[Trucklover]

I doubt that they would be bright enough for photography, but for photography, just get portable flood lights that can be set up and moved around to get the light where you want it. I doubt if the strip lights you are looking at would be bright enough for decent photography.

I plan on getting some Flood Lights as well, in fact, i already have a couple from when we had a discussion about flood lamps a little while back But im really looking for something that would light up the lower deck. Think Shaun might be onto something in his reply, read a little bit of it, will have to read more now

[Trucklover]

I don't think those rope lights are bright enough to light up a deck decently. I have a rope light I picked up at lowes, and it's ok to light up very dark areas (like under the helix way in the corner to light up the wiring panels where's the no light), but when you also have ambient room light, I don't think you'll see a big increase in light output to the deck 20" tall from the rope lights. That spool of rope light only puts out 3 watts per foot, where as a 10" T4 fluorescent fixture puts out 6 watt for example

It's certainly worth a try though as everyone's setup is different.

For my layout, I used T4 Fluorescent fixtures with a 6400K (Day-light) bulb:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.saviolighting.com/T4-Slim-Fluorescent-Linkable-Fixture-Set-p/t4.htm">http://www.saviolighting.com/T4-Slim-Fl ... t-p/t4.htm</a><!-- m -->

They come in a variety of sizes and you can daisy chain up to 10 of them. I have one chain on the upper deck, one on the lower deck, and a chain under the layout lightning my workbench. I use a hardware box to turn them on/off:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.saviolighting.com/T4-T5-Hardwire-Box-with-Switch-2-Prong-Unit-p/t45-sb2p.htm">http://www.saviolighting.com/T4-T5-Hard ... 5-sb2p.htm</a><!-- m -->

My recommendation would be the T4 fixtures.

You know its funny, i was laying in bed last night thinking of the rope lights and for some reason your layout popped into my head and i remember you have nice lighting and very much what i would like to do. Then i log on this morning and you replied with the info i was hoping you could provide Thanks Shaun, i think ill be going this route with the lighting. Think i might even buy a few of them now, looks like the fixtures are on sale too

One question though, i quickly looked over the link, and i didnt see any mention of them coming with bulbs, did yours come with bulbs or did you buy them separate?

[nolatron]

You know its funny, i was laying in bed last night thinking of the rope lights and for some reason your layout popped into my head and i remember you have nice lighting and very much what i would like to do. Then i log on this morning and you replied with the info i was hoping you could provide Thanks Shaun, i think ill be going this route with the lighting. Think i might even buy a few of them now, looks like the fixtures are on sale too

Psychic connection??

One question though, i quickly looked over the link, and i didnt see any mention of them coming with bulbs, did yours come with bulbs or did you buy them separate?

Yes, they come with the bulb. On the order page you pick a size and bulb and the qty you want of that combination. If you need additional sizes, you just go back to page and pick the new size/bulb combo and add it to the cart.

One thing I have been meaning to try though with rope lights is night time lighting. I picked up a blue rope light from Home Depot probably 2 years ago to test out for lighting up the layout in a dark room as an evening scene. Since rope lights aren't very bright usually, the blue gives you a nice night-time blue tint to the layout. Saw it done in an old magazine article someplace.

Maybe tonight I'll dig out the rope (if I can find it) and see how it looks over the recently terrained area.

[nolatron]

A look at my lighting for those not familiar: