Under Layout Accent lighting, am I crazy

I like it, although I don't see the need for the red.  Under table lighting is at least good to have when you are cleaning.

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Dennis

I would like to commend you for your great display that you have built. Underneath the display looks great and very neat, also clutter free and well organized. I would love to see the effect of the lights in a dark setting firsthand.

I have used LED rope lights under a display before. But I used them to provide light while we worked underneath the display. But that display was a great deal larger 20' x 44' and very complex under the display and we put a skirt all the way around the outside of the display.

I have also used LED lights to enhance the background of my TV against a wall and with those I can change the color of the lights. And you now have me wondering about which other colors of lights would look good underneath. I would bet blue would good under there too. 

I think that it looks rather nice, but where the heck do you keep all of your boxes or trains that you're not running at the time?   I probably should install something like that on my layout just to be able to see the hundreds of boxes stored on movable shelves down there.

Paul Fischer

It looks great!I thought about using rope lighting to illuminate areas of my layout that are set back from the main viewing point.I have experimented with using two different colored light sets in different locations.It seems to blend the shadows together giving it a realistic look.

i use the rope leds for my layout lighting

Hey, bro'!  You're ready for the next step! Show the 'hood what youse all about, man!

http://www.ledunderbody.com/le...body-light-kits.aspx

BTW,  Nice layout lighting.  I'd borrow the idea, but my wife would be mortified were I to 'celebrate' the junk!

Interesting!  I had a rope light under my previous layout - but that was for accessing the storage.   I had not thought about lighting for the effect.  My present layout is clear underneath.  I'll give this a try for fun.   -Ken

Have used underlayout rope lighting for about 10 years under my last two layouts.  Its very easy to install with inch & a quater holes drilled in the midle of cross braces, just string it through the holes and plug it in.  Great for wiring & finding stuff.  I like the way litegide has it around the edge a nice effect.  Maybe I'll try that when I finish wiring, and run the rope lights around the edge.   

I saw these at the Ikea store yesterday. They are LED's that you can choose between 7 different colors or have them sequence thru the colors. Also available in rope lights.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80192378/

franktrain

Another good argument for making the layout high up - you can dance under there. "staying alive, staying alive" 

I think this is a wonderful idea. I drag around a trouble light with me under the benchwork which is a real pain in the neck. I wish I had thought of this a long time ago when I did most of the wiring.

That looks great, job job well done.

I've been wanting to do that for a long time, I just haven't had the time to do it.

Alex

I'm impressed too! The area under my layout has never looked as neat and clutter free as that.

Jim

WHAT, NO DISCO BALL?!?!?!  That is pretty nice.  You just may have started a trend.

Rick

Liteguide24, I too think you hit on a simple, but very cleaver use of new technology. I took a look at my layout and think it will look better with this type of accent lighting. As some others have pointed out, I also use my under layout are for storage, but the effect should be the same plus the benefit of having light for the times I need to work under the layout.

Great idea!

Charlie

I used the rope lighting a long time ago to light trains on shelves under the layout. I cantilevered the layout over the display shelves. The lights give the layout a very nice floating effect. There was some rope leftover and it works nicely to light underneath for work. The next step is too repaint that beige color to green and landscape the layout.

I have used BLUE tree lights behind my backdrops for "night" lighting. Red is good too. The new LED rope lights will be an improvement.

I have always enjoyed playing with various colored flood lights with reostats, even in my teens. Just like being on stage on broadway. Flickering filament lights, sinulated fire lights, buble lights....yes lighting can be used for great effects.

Paul Goodness

Hi guys, thanks!

I was asked to post some pictures of the layout.  I built it a while ago and it took me about 9 months to build it but that's only because I was fortunate enough to have an expert (Dewey Trogdon) gracefully coach me through it.  Without Dewey I would have never been able to accomplish this.  I still have to read the email notes to remember some of the wiring technique.  It's compact but it's fun.

Here is a video link (on different post we were discussing how many trains can run on a z750, which in this case controls upper power district, 4 trains no problem...

All Trains in Action Video

Here is a slideshow of some more if you have time and wanted to check it out, there is like 96 pictures in this album so you might want to choose "options - then fast"  Slideshow

Here are some pictures.

Great Job!! I've been using Christmas tree lights under my layout for years. Currently I'm using four one-hundred light strings. I agree that this type of lighting brings one's trainroom to life. I enjoy turning all room lights off and enjoy my "special effects". It gives the impression that the layout is floating. One again, what a great job!!

That's a great-looking layout, and the best under-layout lighting that I've seen! Those rope lights are an excellent idea to use around a layout.

And one of the tidiest floors I have ever seen under a layout.

Thanks Ace! They have regular rope lights and then the UL Listed LED lights which are brighter, have less heat and last longer.  Although they do cost more.  I considered the blue and heck if they have another sale I may elect for a blue string too.  I think the carpet floor softens the light a bit it and probably does change the strings reflectivity.  I have a little in-line switch that allows me to shut either (red / white) color off, which changes the "special effect" altogether, I'm glad I did both colors.  I put the white string on top to soften the bright white color with the red glow but still put out the light.  As Happy Pappy, FG and others said it gives it the floating effect.