Hall of Fame Dan has been back in touch – this time he shares his HO scale lighting tips:
“Al, this post is about evening or night lighting.
I am not trying to start a controversy. For those of us who have been around for a long time, it was Grain-of- Wheat (or Rice) bulbs. Today it is LED lighting. I am sure some of it is my age, 83, but the softer look of the G-O-W bulbs sets the night mood better.
In the era I model, 1958 to 1960 most of the small western towns did not have street lights. Just what ever spilled out of windows lit your way.
To me the white LEDs are just too bright and you lose the softer and redder look I associate with evenings.
On my layout I can turn out the overhead lighting and create night. I do not do this for visitors. My aisles are not designed for very low lighting. So, I rely on photos.
Thanks,
Dan”
A big thanks to Dan, you can see more of his posts in the Hall of Fame.
Please do leave a comment below – I’d love to know your thoughts on this one.
If it’s more lighting posts you are after, try these:
Matthew explains LED lighting.
And if you want to ogle at some amazing lighting which is beyond most of us, there’s Fred’s stunning N scale:
That’s all for this time folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the store.
They are great fun to make and great value too.
Excellent, except that the small parade of shops has got no signs.
I certainly agree about the light color. Most white LEDs are a blue-white. This was not the color of lighting back before fluorescent, LED, or halogen-type light-emitting sources. Lights had a softer, yellower glow then. Not the same as, but approaching the glow of candles, which are very yellow. Great work on the lighting mood. Having interiors to light up sure makes it interesting. Rob
I agree that white LEDs are not suitable for earlier dated layouts, however, there are LEDs that have the ‘golden’ look. I use them in my older style passenger cars for the ‘right’ look.
Dan’s perspective on the type of lighting is true. It is subjective and could be relevant for the era for every layout. Dan has nailed it for me. Adding the interiors and the lighting used, highlights all of the details and truly brings each building to life. Great job, Dan.
I totally agree. I like to model late 1800s to early 1900s, and use the GOW lights throughout my layout. The LEDs just don’t fit the period.
I agree 100%. I still use G-o-W bulbs because I bought a load in the past. I see that they are still advertised and available in various colours including warm white. But I don’t know what their actual colour is like..