What are you guys using to seal seams of buildings? I know WS sells the light block kit for $17 but I’m thinking there are other options that are heat/light proof. I don’t think electrical tape is a good option, was thinking of different sealant materials, foam tape doesn’t seem feasible. What ya got for ideas? Also anyone know of a vendor who might sell corner bracing kits? Thx!
I've never used lights but are you saying that the light seeps through the corners? If so, how about a piece of black cardstock or similar?
If I light the inside of a building, all of the interior walls get a coat of flat black paint. To light just a part of the building which is more prototypical, I build walls / floors / ceilings with styrene around the areas I want to light. On an un-lighted building where the windows align in such a way that the building could be seen through, I place a styrene wall diagonally.
I usually just make a black construction paper liner that fits fairly tight.....for windows I want to have lighted, I cut a hole in the liner. Makes it very simple to only light certain windows, and I find it quicker that trying to paint the interior. For the bottom of the structure, I use window sealant tape......the trick is finding (or trimming) the tape so it doesn't show thru the windows. The tape provides a good light seal, and also helps position the building......I prefer to not glue my buildings down.
This may seem a bit strange, but using silver paint as a primer on the interior walls blocks light bleeding through. I also use Evergreen plastic "ell" in the corners and roof edges to reinforce and provide added light blocking. The silver paint can then be covered with other color paint... or... some printed scale 'interiors'. I discovered this from stripping paint from locomotives. I asked on a forum (Atlas?) The response was the interior and exteriors were 'primed' with silver paint then painted the railroad livery over that. That was a process to prevent the light bulb from causing an external glow through the shell.
I use a mitre sander to ensure the best possible seam as I assemble a building unless it's a tongue and groove joint in which case that type of joint is pretty impervious to light leakage. After the basic structure is assembled I shoot the interior with flat black paint. If the building is already assembled and the seams leak light then either black construction paper or back fill seams with caulk or similar substance then paint from the inside. I use LED lighting so heat is a non issue.
I was testing weather or not I could easily get a brush up in there after it's built to do the flat black paint or silver. I have both. I like the idea of strengthening structures with corner joint braces too - saw that on YouTube. N scale buildings being so small it's hard to section them off I guess unless they are larger factories and the like. I notice that some of these model power structures the plastic is thin enough to let light bleed through.
Ditto here. Silver paint was recommended as better at blocking 'light bleed' than black to me also. Might have been on the old Atlas forum also. If I recall correctly, it has as something to do with the pigment qualities.
I have a RC rock crawler that I paint my own clear lexan body. (Note that RC lexan clear bodies are painted on the inside so the colors are reversed.) Translucent orange -> silver -> black Surprisingly you cannot see the black layer. I'll try to post a picture tomorrow.
Every plastic structure I have done have to be painted inside or outside to prevent light bleeding through the panels. Wood and resin cast tend to be less susceptible to that problem with resin typically being a thicker cast/panels than injection molded styrene. Still I paint everything for looks with the only exception of some wood where I want the raw timber look. Also plastic kits tend to change color over time especially if in sunlight so best to paint those up to protect them long term.
