layout accent lighting

For reference, here is the beam and location of it. That light is the only one over the whole layout so you can imagine how dark it is

I think track lighting would work very well here. Assuming the length is 12 - 14 ft.(counting the ceiling tiles), 2 or 3 tracks mounted on the layout side of the the beam would do the trick. The lights can be easily focused on the layout, and won't be shining in your eyes. There are track connectors so that you can do a continuous run and hook them all together. Also, they have an end for the final termination that is a cord that can be plugged into an outlet. If you want to dim the lights, buy an inline dimmer switch and plug the track lites into it and then into an outlet. Check the wattage rating of the dimmer and don't exceed it. Most of the inline dimmers are rated at 300 watts, which is ample. Just total up your bulb wattages and don't go over the dimmer rating. All of these parts are available at your local home center. Of course, the track lites can be wired directly into a wall switch if you prefer. Alot more work.

The advantage of the track lighting is that you can move them wherever you need to balance out your lighting, and you can mix lamp holder styles and lamp types if you want. I used some quartz halogen bulbs at first, and they concentrated a lot of light in a small area and created bright spots on the layout which was not desirable for me. They also get very hot and put off a lot of heat around the area where they are mounted. I tried regular incandescent bulbs. They worked okay but since they didn't direct the light in a beam, I had to use higher wattage bulbs & they lit the entire room up. Also, because of their size, they stuck out of the medium size lamp holders and created bright spots overhead that was distracting. I don't know whether the CFL bulbs will dim, something to keep in mind, but there are several styles and they even have some mounted inside a reflector flood housing (pricey). I came back to just the medium sized 35 to 45 watt reflector floods in a medium sized can style holder. They gave a more even light across the layout. They can be dimmed without a problem, to a nice sunset glow. The reflector floods are relatively cheap, and get the extended life ones and you will get many years out of them.

And if you want some blue lighting for night time scenes, you can always mount a separate strip below or above the other tracks and load a few holders with small wattage blue incandescent "party bulbs". I've seen blue CFLs that would work (pricey), because you won't need to dim them. I have a track for blue bulbs on my layout, and it really looks good for night time scenes.

If you know how to run a drill and screwdriver, you shouldn't have any problem installing the tracks and wire. Just make sure that when you attach the lamp holders, you twist the side with two contacts into the track side that has the two power slots. The other side only has one. The lamp holders will almost go in the other way, but you can damage the tab housing trying to get it back out. I just used a marker and put a small dot on the side of the rail that has the two rails so I could see it from down below.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do. I'm sure other members will have some good ideas as well.

Mike

Thanks for the detailed reply. Sounds like the track lighting is a winner. My layout is 6x18. I think I will give the miniature flood lights a try, sounds like they will give me the best even lighting

Well I went to home depot and got 3 sets of track light kits. Got them installed this afternoon. I went with the incandesant 45 watt floods over the 50 watt halogen floods basedon price. The 45's were on sale today 3 for 10 bucks and the 50's were 8 bucks each....... I may upgrade later on for a brighter light.

Overall I am quite pleased. It was a simple install, literaly plug and play. The layout looks totaly different now.

We've seen the 'before' pix, how about an 'after' pix, thanks. Russ

A view of the lights-


No camera flash, just the lights on.


Again, no flash, just the lights.


Its getting a bit smokey now, been running the trains for a while.