I currently have the regular light bulbs over my layout and want to install flouresent light fixtures. What is the best type of bulbs used for layouts? At the local Walmart I see they have 25, 35, and 45 watt bulbs and I also see they have "soft light" and other varieties.
Get the ones that don't jitter your eyes, and fade your paint! They are not good for photos either. That is what I have read, and I have some experience with eye jitter from the office lighting. Other guys will give you the right one to get, I use 60w bulbs. ------------------ Watash #982
I have always used flourescent fixtures. Try going to the local HOME DEPOT or other building supply store for different types and sizes of bulbs/fixtures. I go to a local lighting supply store to get high quality units. There are all different types and wattages of bulbs available. Try to find a lighting consultant to explain the different types, and shades to you. I don't use regular light bulbs for two main reasons 1) To much heat given off, this can make a small layout room uncomfortable. 2) Cost to operate, flourescents cost a lot less to use than regular bulbs. Layout lighting is your own choice, do it how the layout looks best to you. ------------------ Let's Go Run Trains MARK
I also use 60W bulbs facing all the same direction so you get correct shadows. ------------------ Paul the 2nd Paul Van Herwegen HO Rappannahock Terminal Railway G Emerald Valley RR http://users.pandora.be/paul.van.herwegen/
I guess it depends on what you want to do with the layout . I have, in the past, always used incandescent light bulbs, arranged in rows above the layout. Incandescents give a better light, similar to daylight, and are easier to photograph the layout under . They are more expensive to operate and do give off alot of heat . My current layout will use florescent simply because they are cheaper to operate, and photolights can be used for photo sessions (or I can pull a module and go into real light for photos ). The problems with these lights are that they don't look much like daylight, fade scenery, and are really bad for your eyes (Watash, I get the eye jitter thing too !). Good luck and Happy Modeling!! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
I wonder why all the Home Depots are out in Indiana?? Its TONY STEWART Land there . there one inVirginia but none in West Virginia, strictly Lowe's. ------------------ Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad "QUALITY at WORK with SAFTEY in MIND"
In my new layout room I have 2 2X4 flouresant fixtures with 4 tubes each. Each fixture is split so I do not have to have all 8 tubes on at once. One switch for 4 tubes and another for the other 4. Room size is 10.5 X 15. These are for working on the layout. When I built the room I wired it for track lighting. Using the low voltage fixtures I can control the amount of heat given off and with dimmers I can control the amount of light to a given area. 4 banks of track lights give me a lot of options to use different fixtures and also colored lenses to change the atmosphere of the room. [This message has been edited by leghome (edited 06 December 2000).]
I have used flourescent lamps in the past but my current MAT is lighted with 40 watt incandescent bulbs. One every two feet and I made my own reflectors out of empty coffee cans. Guess I drink too much coffee There are 9 banks of lights each with a dimmer. The dimmer helps create mood lighting. In the aisle ways I use a number of 60 watt blue lights. When track lighting is turned off then the blue makes the layout look like it is lit by the moon. Incandescent lights sure give much more freedom. My basement tends to be cool so a little heat from the lamps doesn't hurt. ------------------ Robin member #35 Maberly and Tayside
I don't know if any of you have heard of this, but I am curious. I have a double decker benchwork almost complete. Because I am building it in a study, the top deck needs no additional lighting. The bottom deck is almost "good enough" but not quite. I have heard of "tube lighting" but have not seen it. Apparently some one in our city is using it and it is working well. Have any of you seen this kind of lighting, and what is it?
