Advice on lighting

[Cloud Warrior]

Very nice set up Mr Echo. That is in effect what I want. I'd like each shelf to look well lit during the darker hours and more importantly for each figure to get definition from the light.Colour changing just tops it off.
Reading up it seems LED are the only real option due to light,heat,power etc.
Geil as always thanks. I may be not able to order the recommended lights but I do have more pictures to give more ideas for the flat in general. I really hate having the old main light in the middle of the room on so small lamps are a must for me. If I could get some affordable lighting hidden behind my big TV or a book case or two that would be great.

Hopefully I will hear back about the cheap dioders for one case and then I can put my dim Xmas lights in my less importantly filled deltof. If not I will yet again have to resume the ebay UK search for some affordable strips.

Down the line I may get brave and get a nice bit of kit amongst the sets recommended. Would e nice to have a set of lights that are good and bright but let me alter the colours. I can see it being a nice relaxing addition or just to set the mood of the cabinet.
Further down the line a case full of predators with red lighting would be nice. Could always change it to a purple when I am attempting to "entertain" a lady friend.

 

[Cloud Warrior]

Well I got confirmation and I have given into peer pressure . I now have a set of dioder strips on there way.
I just want to finish this case now so I can enjoy everything and start to save for the next thing without worrying about unfinished projects.
Ultimately as this is the case where the money has been spent on each figure I felt I needed a sure thing when it came to the lighting. I needed the recommended setup as I didn't want to spend only to feel it was a lackluster effect for my pride of collection.

I do have my other deltof that is currently filled with smaller and less expensive NECA, Mcfarlane and Play Arts figures. I think when the books are balanced this will be the case where I take the risk in getting something a little different lighting wise. Be it a huge LED rope, colour changers etc. May sound petty and strange sweating over prices around $70 but for me a man of so little I have to make every penny make a difference.
I have got a good bit of information and help here, that I hope will slick so I can make the next set of lighting needs a lot less stressful in researching. Thanks for the help everyone, especially you Geil.

Edit - I have also been thinking of getting some sticky mirrors to add to the internal top and bottom of the case to reflect light. Has anyone done before and have input on this please ?.
Also does anyone in the UK know where to get such a thing. Years ago as I kid I remember so many friends places having 4 sticky back mirrored tiles in the bathroom in a diamond shape. Just cant find them. I picture them as something that should be in a pound shop etc but no luck.

 

[Y4NK33 PL4N3T]

Well I got confirmation and I have given into peer pressure . I now have a set of dioder strips on there way.
I just want to finish this case now so I can enjoy everything and start to save for the next thing without worrying about unfinished projects.
Ultimately as this is the case where the money has been spent on each figure I felt I needed a sure thing when it came to the lighting. I needed the recommended setup as I didn't want to spend only to feel it was a lackluster effect for my pride of collection.

I do have my other deltof that is currently filled with smaller and less expensive NECA, Mcfarlane and Play Arts figures. I think when the books are balanced this will be the case where I take the risk in getting something a little different lighting wise. Be it a huge LED rope, colour changers etc. May sound petty and strange sweating over prices around $70 but for me a man of so little I have to make every penny make a difference.
I have got a good bit of information and help here, that I hope will slick so I can make the next set of lighting needs a lot less stressful in researching. Thanks for the help everyone, especially you Geil.

Edit - I have also been thinking of getting some sticky mirrors to add to the internal top and bottom of the case to reflect light. Has anyone done before and have input on this please ?.
Also does anyone in the UK know where to get such a thing. Years ago as I kid I remember so many friends places having 4 sticky back mirrored tiles in the bathroom in a diamond shape. Just cant find them. I picture them as something that should be in a pound shop etc but no luck.

What about heavy duty 2 sided tape by 3M or Scotch to secure a mirror?

 

[Cloud Warrior]

Would be a case of needing to still find a suitable thin mirror in the UK, but still a good option.
I also thought of the "mirrored" card paper you can get on ebay but was unsure of the effectiveness.

If I can find a cheap, thin but size fitting mirror the double sided tape is a good go to place.

 

[Geil]

You should be able to find mirror back acrylic panels at the likes of Home Depot. The panels are thin enough to slice and break to why ever size you want with cheap tools. The edge may not be as smooth but a but of sanding should take care of it.

WHEN and when I find time I was going to see if I can bend these and make reflective quarterrounds kind of pieces so I an tape some led strips in it to direct the light better and conceal the LEDs themselves from the onlookers which IMO make it look even better

 

[Y4NK33 PL4N3T]

You should be able to find mirror back acrylic panels at the likes of Home Depot. The panels are thin enough to slice and break to why ever size you want with cheap tools. The edge may not be as smooth but a but of sanding should take care of it.

WHEN and when I find time I was going to see if I can bend these and make reflective quarterrounds kind of pieces so I an tape some led strips in it to direct the light better and conceal the LEDs themselves from the onlookers which IMO make it look even better

Mirror back acrylic panels? AWESOME! Calling home depot first thing tomorrow lol thanks

 

[Cloud Warrior]

For what its worth I got some craft card from a shop that is mirrored but with a sort of glitter effect. Just need to figure out how to make it permanently stay in a sort of C shape around the LED strip to both reflect the light and to hide the lights.

I thought this would be a good way to see the effect before possibly spending more on proper mirrors only for them to look bad.

 

[Y4NK33 PL4N3T]

@ Geil - I went to my local Home Depot and asked for mirrored acrylic panels and they looked at me like I had 3 heads

I explained to 2 different employees that I was looking for a cheap alternative to a mirror that measures 20.5 w x 27.5 L but they had nothing for this application.

Even the mirror section of the Home Depot had nothing close to what I need so I'm currently out of ideas and stuck

I tried a Michael's craft shop but they weren't of use either

Please help!

 

[Geil]

actually at my homedepot the mirrored acrylic was in the same shelve as regular acrylic. so yeah it won;t be in the mirror section and oddly I remember it being in the door section as these acrylic panels are usually used to fix exterior storm doors. I will double check next time I visit a HD

 

[Cloud Warrior]

Cant wait to see how this turns out for you guys. I love your cases Geil. If I had the space, money and the collection I would totally go for that style.

I plan to empty out the case in a day or two and see how this craft paper turns out. Still cant think of an way to both bounce the light around more and to keep the strips concealed while making it look a little professional.

 

[Geil]

there is another way to do it. You can get chrome or aluminum finish metal trims at HD that come in all sort of shape and sizes. The L and U crosssection ones would be most appropriate so you can mount the strip in the trim and then mount the whole thing into the case. I bought a few types as I intend to use them for my custom self so I can hide some CFL lights on the edge of my acrylic shelves. I got some transparent but frosted laminate form HD as well and going to cover my acrylic shelves so the whole thing will act as a light box.... not sure how it will turn out but someday when I get to this project.......

 

[Y4NK33 PL4N3T]

I ended up being referred to a local glass place a few towns over, and they'll be able to do my custom mirror for $30 I just went with 1/8 inch & will use 3M Heavy Duty 2 sided tape to hold it up. Should have it Monday or Tuesday latest, I'll post a pic when it's up in the Hulkbuster display

 

[Geil]

thats a deal!

 

[Cloud Warrior]

Can wait Y4NK33 PL4N3T. Got my dioders up now but just need the light to bounce around a little as most shelves have 5 figures in a V shape. The back row is a little in the dark.

Its still 100% better than my Christmas lights set up. But they where good for lighting it a bit while I (Geil) put some time into looking up on alternates.

 

[civiclx]

Can wait Y4NK33 PL4N3T. Got my dioders up now but just need the light to bounce around a little as most shelves have 5 figures in a V shape. The back row is a little in the dark.

Its still 100% better than my Christmas lights set up. But they where good for lighting it a bit while I (Geil) put some time into looking up on alternates.

pictures Mr

 

[turtle]

I did this to mine with the LED strips from IKEA:

]

 

[seanh5134]

I did this to mine with the LED strips from IKEA:

]

Great idea with the positioning of the lights, any chance of some photos of them in a darkened room or at night?

 

[Geil]

Ohhhhhh exactly what I envisioned and proposed just recently! Only thing is due to the height of the preds the setup may benefit from shifting the lights further to the top of each leek so the heads get a good portion of the lights. Otherwise fantastic!!


:

 

[turtle]

Great idea with the positioning of the lights, any chance of some photos of them in a darkened room or at night?

Thanks. Really bright setup. Here are the pics in a dark room:

Ohhhhhh exactly what I envisioned and proposed just recently! Only thing is due to the height of the preds the setup may benefit from shifting the lights further to the top of each leek so the heads get a good portion of the lights. Otherwise fantastic!!


:

Thanks Geil. No need to shift the lights up since I moved the preds out (see above pics). When I got this done back in 2009, I wanted it to be as uniform as possible, so I kept the LED in the same spot relative to the shelves. Moving it further up will also expose more white wire.

 

[Geil]

oh crap now that is a display!!!!!