I’m getting ready to start building the Queen Mary 2, and I would like to do some extra detailing…lighting, deck chairs, water for the pools etc… It seems that fiber optic lights would be the best way to go, however I never worked with them before. If anyone knows of books or websites that explains the basics of how to do fiber optic lighting (how to run them, what size to use, what light bulbs you need, and power supply) that would be a big help. I think Gold Metal Models makes a 350 scale detail set for the Titanic, would that be too big for a 400 scale ship? Any ideas or input would be great.
I believe that there is info on lighting a passenger ship in one or both of these sites.
As far as the PE details the use of 1:350 scale details on a 1:400 ship will result in them appearing 12.5% too large [(400-350)/400]. As a matter of personal preference I try to not mix scale differences greater than 10%. The choice is yours.
However, Toms Modelworks does make some 1:400 scale Titanic details …
Well, I’ve never been on Titanic (now that would be something) nor the QM2 (yeah, maybe if I win the Euromillions) but I don’t think you could use those deckchairs for the QM2, I figure those will be a lot more modern style.
Of course, at that scale you really need a magnifier to see them anyway.
Nahhhhhhh, 1/400 scale is HUGE … compared to 1/700 scale, or those really insane guys who build ships in 1/1200 scale and even smaller.
Seriously, though, I think mixing scales at that degree is going to make the photoetch a dominant part of the model rather than a nice complement, because it is probably going to make peopel scratch their heads and try to figure out what’s “wrong” about it. But then again, it’s your model, so if you think it’ll look good, go for it!
I would go to railway (railroad for our American cousins) modelling sites/books. I used to do railway modelling, and fibre optics, and general electrical things, are old hat over there.