We have converted most of our home's lights to LED in either 3000k or 5000k. They are all dimmable but we have no dimmers, I had no idea they had a problem with dimming or were different than other lighting in that way?

What about 1 of your light circuits with 5000k for day and one with say 2700k or 3000k for your night lighting and switch back and forth on the circuits for the different day/night lighting. Of course I have no idea if the 2700-3000k's will dim any better that the others, but might provide a softer lighting?

I only have the 2 tube 4' fluorescent lights in the basement for my train area, no LED's, no dimmers. I'm not ready for night operations there yet. The LED dimming is something to think about for my setup in the future as well, I suppose.

We used 30+ CFL's at 5000k, 23 watt, dimmable, and couldn't be happier. Why would you want a spot light? I tried those on my switching layout, but the light is focused on 1 small spot. The flood lights work out much better, whether it's a CFL or an LED.

2 circuits is plenty but if you want to create night, day, and sunsets, that's a bit more complicated. $20-$30 for a dimmable CFL or LED is the normal price range...dimmable causing the increase from a standard CFL or LED, but well worth the extra expense up front. 

I just purchased several dimmable CFL floods for $9 each at Home Depot.  The CFL's are still priced better than LED's.

I've switched entirely to LEDs.  In the train room I have 16 10w BAR30 (700 lumens) dimmable bulbs in my 28' x 14' trainroom which I purchased at Sam's Club.  They were about $12 to $13 each. 

The total light output is 11,200 lumens which is equal to 10 100w incandescent bulbs. I used track lighting system to position the lights about the room.  What is nice is that they all fit sole available circuit!  The lack of heat is very noticeable. 

You can find light changing LED bulbs.  Do a search on google/Amazon for "color changing LED bulbs."  It appears that you can remotely select from a 16-color pallet.  The wattages are low but for night scenes that is okay.  Prices are $10 and up.

Jan

Perhaps you can do both. There are 4' LED tubes available to replace the fluorescents.

They require that you gut the fixtures of the ballasts and only use the twist contacts. The bulbs have the voltage regulators built in. These are not inexpensive, but may, after all factors are considered, be a cost effective improvement. Utilizing the existing wiring, fixtures, switches and such could be a significant cost savings

Then you could install the track lighting for accent areas in the warmer colors or mixed colors, allowing you to turn off the 4' circuits and light with the tracks for effect.

Also, consider that the best CFL's or LED's do not emit 100% of the temperature that they are listed. 83-89% is about the best performance that I have seen.

eBay sellers have the rolls of tape leds and combinations of colors with controllers and power supplies at affordable prices that could be used to create scenic lighting effects.

It's cool that one can consider lighting as design element for the layout today at affordable and energy efficient prices. It was once only museum type layouts that could employ lighting in the presentation.

I have the tracks and dimmable floods CFL's at 5000k now. Train budget is going for trains as the lights are acceptable and LED's can wait.

Well, if cost was not a concern, these would be the bomb. But at $850. a pop, it's not a likely solution.

Chauvet COLORado Batten  72 Tour

COLORado™ Batten 72 Tour is a market leading batten-style wash light powered by 72 calibrated red, green, blue, white and amber LEDs and with five dimming curves to facilitate its incorporation into an older, traditional rig. The incorporation of white and amber LEDs affords superb color rendering and a vast palette of soft pastels to saturated hues. Integrated trunnions accommodate clamps for vertical or horizontal hanging.
Features:

• DMX channels: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, or 15
• Multiple Operating Modes
• Five distinct dimming curves
• Additional power output: max 6 units @ 120 V 
• LED display with lock-out feature 
• NEUTRIK® powerCON® power input and output connector
• 3-pin and 5-pin DMX input and output connectors
• Adjustable feet double as hanging bracket
• Color calibration

Specifications:

• DMX connectors: 3-pin & 5-pin
• Source: 72 (1 W) LEDs, 50,000 hours
• Configuration: 18 red (350 mA), 18 green (350 mA), 18 blue (350 mA), 9 white (350 mA), 9 amber (350 mA)
• Installed Optic(s): 30°
• Beam angle: 30°
• Field angle: 39.6°
• Lux: 669 @ 5 m
• AC Voltage Range: 100~240 V, 50/60 Hz (auto-ranging)
• Power Consumption 120 V, 60 Hz: 87 W, 1.43 A (operating)
• Power Consumption 230 V, 50 Hz: 87 W, 0.78 A (operating)
• Power Connection: Edison plug to Neutrik® powerCON®
• Power Input: Neutrik® powerCON®, Power Output: Neutrik® powerCON®
• Power linking: 6 units @ 120 V / 11 units @ 230 V
• Dimensions: 2.9 x 38.9 x 6.1 in (74 x 989 x 156 mm)
• Weight: 9.8 lbs (4.4 kg)
• Power Connection: NEUTRIK® powerCON® power input and output connector
• Control Connection: 3-pin and 5-pin DMX input and output connectors
• Certification: CE, ETLc
• Environment: IP20, dry location
• Optics: 15°

You could use the strips of LED tricolor lights. I have used these to edge light cast glass decorative walls. they include a control to generate any color you want. They are available in 12 or 24 volt styles. Most good lighting stores will have a display that you can use to see the color range. Unfortunately the price for the number of linear feet needed to archive a sunset effect in a large room would be high.

Great information, I did not know they had LED replacements for the 4' T12 tubes. That's definitely some to look into for my basement. Maybe the prices will come down by the time I get around to upgrading.

For general illumination, I switched out our fluorescent fixtures for Utilitech (big box store house brand) 48" LED 40w fixtures, 4000ºK, NOT dimmable, 3200 lumens, 35,000 hours, $70 each.  These provide great color temp for when I am working on the layout.

For running trains, the 48" fixtures are turned off, and I have a second circuit with 18 (and need to add about 8 more) American DJ stage can fixtures ($30/pair online).  They come with cheap Chinese lamps, which I trashed immediately and replaced with 8PAR20 Lighting Science Definity dimmable LED 3000ºK 550 lumen floods ($17 each online).  The stage cans are black, so they disappear into the dark ceiling and all are on a dimmer - for night scenes, or evening scenes, can insert photographic lighting gels for any color that I wish.

I previously used Apple Hue Phillips LEDs - their color change capabilities are very nice for nite or sunrise/sunset, but they are $60 _each_ and are just too dim for my tastes.