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| Starry, starry night. ♪ ♫ - Backscenes - Getting You Started. - Your Model Railway Club | ||||||||||
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MaxSouthOz Admin 
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As my layout is designed to run at night, I found that the standard paper back scenes looked unconvincing. I thought a dark night sky with stars might be the go. I wanted to see how I could use the reflected light from a few (eight), 5000 MCD high intensity LEDs. So I made up a light box out of 3 mm MDF with a LED at the centre, looking through a 5/32" hole, and then made concentric holes around it; also using smaller sized drills.  The thing sat on a background of Alfoil, for extra reflection.  Here are a couple of photos of how the experiment came out.   Emboldened by the results, I created a template based on a single, bright star with smaller ones around it. The top of the lens of the LED, pointing along a row of smaller holes.  The multiplier effect of the obverse and the reverse sides, gave me many options as I rotated the template through 360º. I decided that I wanted areas of black sky between the star groups, so eight groups looked right. I've started to paint the backboard. Brown at the bottom for the loom of the city lights behind, grey for the sky and black with over spray to represent rain in the distance. First I had to prepare the platform which is the base for the scene, by wiring it to take the light boxes.  There is a sub-bus running along the bottom, which can be connected to the DCC system, or to the 12 Volt DC bus. Later I plan to have decoders in the buildings and for the star light boxes, but for now, I'm staying with the DC.  You can see the jacks for the warehouses and the one marked Back Board.  With the holes drilled, the LEDs were connected to their resistors and taped in place with masking tape. That is to hold them secure while the PVA saddles set up.  Test as you go. The power supply is my home made DC train controller. There is a multimeter in parallel to set the Voltage at 12. All good.  Next, the backs of the light boxes were covered with Alfoil to act as a reflector. Very fiddly business.   Then the protective 3 mm MDF backs were tacked on to the walls of the light boxes. I used short track pins which can easily be levered off for repairs. Now, the moment of truth . . .  Not too bad. Let's see how it looks on the layout.  That will do nicely.  ____________________ Max Port Elderley |
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Gary Inactive Member 
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Looks good Max. Does this mean that all your running sessions will be at night ?? Or do you have a 'daylight' backscene as well ? Cheers. Gary. ____________________ ...as a young lad, it was big trains for little boys, now it is little trains for big boys...! http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=12116&forum_id=21 |
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toto Former Member
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Hi Max, Excellent result. Very tranquil looking, it could actually send you to sleep. Does any work actually get done by these workers of yours  Fantastic result. Toto |
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MaxSouthOz Admin
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Thanks, guys. No daytime running, I'm afraid. Shifts start at midnight; shunting ready for the day shift. All will be revealed . . . ____________________ Max Port Elderley |
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col.stephens Full Member
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Very nice Max. Are you going to have a red LED to represent Mars? Terry |
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MaxSouthOz Admin
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Thanks, Terry. You know, that did occur to me - after I'd nailed the backs on. ____________________ Max Port Elderley |
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Brossard Member 
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You are a bleedin' genius. Cracking work and innovative with it.  John ____________________ John |
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MaxSouthOz Admin
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Thanks, John. Most appreciated, coming from you.  ____________________ Max Port Elderley |
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Silver foxx Inactive Member 
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wow that is brill,as you will remember I also run the night shift so you can bet Iwill also pinch that idea,Max you areexcelling yourself  ____________________ my webcam link http://86.19.184.67:8080 |
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SRman Member 
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I like it, Max. Well thought out and well executed to give such a lovely atmospheric feel.
____________________ Jeff Lynn, Amateur layabout, Professional Lurker, Thread hijacker extraordinaire |
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MaxSouthOz Admin
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Thanks, guys. Go for it, Owen. ____________________ Max Port Elderley |
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Spurno Owner/Webmaster. 
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Absolutely brilliant Max.(Pun intended)Is there any reason you didn't use actual star formations? ____________________ Regards Alan Born beside the mighty GWR. |
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MaxSouthOz Admin
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Thanks, Alan. Considering that the layout is based somewhere fictitious in the US, I thought that it was a bit pointless . When I finally get around to making the movie, it should suffice for effect. ____________________ Max Port Elderley |
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sparky Member
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Good one Max. ____________________ reg |
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MaxSouthOz Admin
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Thanks, Reg. ____________________ Max Port Elderley |
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| This is topic ID = 12770 Current time is 04:00 am |
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