The Holy Grail of Scenecraft - A Lighting Guide!

[guest1328]

After many years (yes I mean that!!) I finally managed to win a Diesel Fuel Point for my layout from EvilBay....all be it now for Tormouth instead of Hammingwell.....

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Very impressed...

....Even better now the I've put the batteries in the bottom and the lights work.

I thought I should probably do a write up on how I made this, however I forgot to take pictures I'm afraid....

Parts required are :-

0603 Yellow SMD (I used yellow as I remember them being this dirty cheap strip light colour in Hornsey as a kid!)
2 Small strands of wire
1 resistor
3 tie wraps
1mm thick Fibre Optic
1 x 1mm Drill bit
320 Grit sandpaper

Drill through the ends of the tie wraps with the 1mm bit as centrally as possible. This is the end where you would put the loop through to secure it (the thick piece).

Cut the parts out as shown in diagram.  Now you have three mounting clips.

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Paint the parts any colour you wish...

Sand the fibre optic with 320 grit sand paper (this allows the light to bleed out the sides)

Solder your wires to the SMD, then glue the SMD (I used Rocket 16 Second Glue) to one side of one of your mounting clips ensuring the SMD is central to the hole. 

IMPORTANT let it dry thoroughly first as cynoacrylic eats Fibre Optics !   

Measure the correct Fibre Optic Length you require and cut the end dead straight so that it will fit tightly against the SMD

Push the fibre optic carefully into the end with the SMD on until it touches up to the LED.

Slide on the central holder and then the end one.

Glue the holders to the roof of the Fueling point extremely carefully, ensuring no glue touches the fibre optic.

Push the wires through a suitably drilled hole in the base and solder on resistor.

Connect to 9V battery and test.

Result should be similar to the photo in picture post #1

**Of course this way of making strip lights can also be used in other applications maybe for platform lighting depot lights etc and I'm sure has been done before**

[scottmitchell74]

Nice! It's beautiful.

[Mustermark]

Well done Only Me! It looks great all lit up.

I have been wanting one of those for ages, but at the prices they go for I figured i will get some plasticard, a squeezy washing up liquid bottle and some sticky back plastic, and make do with something homemade.

[Chris in Prague]

After many years (yes I mean that!!) I finally managed to win a Diesel Fuel Point for my layout from EvilBay....all be it now for Tormouth instead of Hammingwell.....

Oh dear, I'm probably one of those who bid against you as, last year, I successfully bid for one (missing the oil drum, easy to replace) for my future diesel servicing depot at Penmayne. It's a nice model but your addition of lighting transforms it into an excellent one. Many thanks for the detailed guide.