Help and Advice on Custom Lighting

Modeling Subjects Science Fiction
1

I posted this originally in the “Techniques” sub forum and someone suggested it might be helpful to post here as well.

I have never done any custom lighting and would like to include some in some of my Sci-Fi kits (Star Trek, Star Wars, BSG, etc.).

I know that I will I need to match up the LEDs with the correct battery voltage, include resistors, etc., but I am fuzy on the terminology and correct math. Does anyone have any advice on guides or links to sites that explain it well? I have heard that there may be some online tools that will help a novice calculate the correct battery voltage, LED rating, resitors, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

(Edit): I am mostly interested in understanding the electrical math between the LEDs, battery power, resitors, etc.

Thanks

2

There’s lots of great stuff on youtube, it sounds like you want the fundamentals of electronics, that’s what it seems like you’re talking about. You might also want to consider looking into an arduino to control the lights, depending on what you want to do.

3

You might also check out this post

https://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/6/t/192767.aspx

In this versy section. Lots of good links in there

4

This may help in lighting, though about electronics I’m not so sure.

https://finescale.com/rapid

Gary

5

Thanks for the suggestions!

6

Have you checked out Tena Controls? They advertise all sorts of lighting sets for various kits.

7

Thanks for the link. This site may come in handy indeed.

8

I really recomend checking out Evan Designs. I’m using some of their LEDS and power supplies on my 2/3 Studio Scale Galactica. All there stuff is regulated and pretty much plug and play.

https://evandesigns.com/

9

Thanks for the advice!

10

Evan designs is great. I recommend them without reservation, and I’m the rankest of rank amateurs when it comes to lighting models.

Bob