Hello, I am looking to light up a model for a game I play and have never tried to do this before. I am looking for some resources and any advice you all might have so that my first shot at this comes out ok, because I'm sure if it does, I'll want to start lighting all my models. :)

I have read a few of the other threads in here, and found some great links to other places that I've started looking at also. What I'd want sounds pretty simple, I want 2 small flashing yellow lights on the top of a model, if they actually alternate that would be perfect, but as long as they both flash it will work. And it has to be run from a small battery, like the little quarter-ish size button cells. I went to a local model train shop to see what they had, and they had a small selection of LEDs and incandescent bulbs, but nothing that was setup to flash already, and the only thing the guy working would tell me was that there was no way I could run them from a battery and I'd need to plug them in (which I was 100% sure wasn't true).

So, what I am looking for help with is mostly what items I need to get. I am not afraid of soldering, or learning how to make a circuit, but I have been having difficulty with websites I've seen because I don't know how to read the technical diagrams they draw, is there anywhere to get a 'key' to what all the symbols are?

Also, I haven't seen any really tiny LEDs, I think 3mm is the smallest I've seen, are there smaller? At the model train store there were 1.2mm incandescent bulbs that would be the perfect size, but I am not sure what the difference between using those and LEDs would mean to me. If there aren't smaller LEDs and they are the best option, I can always run fiber from the light so its a smaller point at the surface.

Anyway, I hope this wasn't too rambling. This is my first project, so I may not even be asking the right questions, if any clarification is needed let me know. Any help in this, or in finding the right resources is greatly appreciated!


Thanks
graill

I'm surprised by their response. Train shops usually have lots of flashing LEDs for crossing signs etc. The size of the LEDs you're looking for might be a problem, but your best bet is to order an LED kit from one of the many vendors online. What you're looking for is an Astable Oscilator circuit. Here are a couple of examples:

http://www.apogeekits.com/flashing_leds_kit.htm

http://www.hobbytron.com/vmk102.html

http://store.qkits.com/moreinfo.cfm/MK102

http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=C3287

Probably the easiest way to achieve the look you're going for is to get some clear (white) LEDs and paint them transparent yellow.

Rob
Iwata Padawan

Unique-leds carries 1.8mm leds (not surface mounted).

To state the fairly obvious, never try anything too complicated for a first lighting project.

Is this the kind of diagram you mean?
http://www.tpub.com/content/draftsman/14040/img/14040_157_1.jpg

Searching for 'wiring diagrams' will get you on your way. But, just as you don't need to read music to jam some tunes, so too you don't need to know the symbols to burn your house down. You do need to know some math sometimes though. :(

There are micro-led's out there that are microns across instead of millimeters, but I can't remember their name. Fiber optics is a good default otherwise.

Radio shack is a huge waste of cash. Look for electronics, computer shops, even 'permanent flea market' places can have better selection and prices. Otw, ebay is another default source. I get my leds from a guy in China. example: 100 white 5mm 17k mcd, w/ resistors for $10 shipped can't be beat. Go to Radio shack or your train shop and pay dollars each.

For example, this guy sells 100pc+resistors for $9 shipped: http://stores.ebay.com/sureelectronics3

For the same price, you can get 2 or 3 leds from radio shack. At that rate, you can burn 90% of the Chinese seller's and still have 3-5x more than a local purchase. And for $10, ain't that worth a gamble? Imo, of course. ;)

...

Instead of going into another round of fresh builds, I'm gonna concentrate on 5 or so kits that need wiring over the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for my vids. I'll start by covering some of the basics as I know them -such as soldering resistors to leds, heat shrink, bundling leds to fiber optics and so on.

www.youtube.com/user/modelmantom

I'll be posting builds here too.
Good luck with yours!

These guys have pre-made kits designed to model cars, trains and RC.
AND they answer the phone....

http://www.ramrcandramtrack.com/index.html

Steve

I think surface mount LED's (sometimes referred to as SMD LEDs) are the only thing you'll find smaller than 3mm. Check out post 29 in this thread (http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=238399) for an example. ooo ooo check out post 35 too (http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showpost.php?p=2705954&postcount=35)! Those things are tiny. Dunno teslabe's background but he must've been a jeweler in a previous life. Stringing fiber optic strands is the only way to go for those of us that are all thumbs. Just butt the end of a jacketed fiber optic cable to a bright LED and join with shrink tubing (or electrical tape) and remove the jacket farther down to route individual strands. Dunno if there is room in your application for this.

Also on learning a bit about electronics, there was a commercial website that had a great tutorial. Unfortunately they (iguana labs) are no longer in business, but their tutorial was saved on scribd by some kind person. Check out this link:
iguana labs tutorial on Scribd. (http://www.scribd.com/doc/6576883/Iguana-Labs-Tutorial-All-Kit-Details)

I'd pick up some kits and get familiar with basic components and what effects you can expect from them before investing in a bunch of different stuff. Here is another link for some nice hobby kits: All Electronics. (http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/category/305/Kits/1.html) Their flashers run off 9V batteries so this may be too big for your application. You can hide the batteries and boards in a display base and run wire (or fiber) to the model though...

And don't forget this forum's sponsor VOODOOFX for excellently designed lighting effects.

Here are a couple other electro-educational links I dug up.

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutorials.php
http://www.opencircuits.com/Main_Page

I think surface mount LED's (sometimes referred to as SMD LEDs) are the only thing you'll find smaller than 3mm. Check out post 29 in this thread (http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=238399) for an example. ooo ooo check out post 35 too (http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showpost.php?p=2705954&postcount=35)! Those things are tiny. Dunno teslabe's background but he must've been a jeweler in a previous life.

I'm an Electronic's Engineer and always love making tiny circuits for my builds.
For me half the fun is seeing if I can fit alot in a little package.:rolleyes: right now I am working on an R/C mod for one of my Chariot kits, now that will be alot of electronics in a very tight space. The larger of the two SMD LEDs are the ones I used for the spot/fog light for my first Chariot build. I think there is a way for others to look at the photos I've posted so far.:wave:

I think that teslabe understands why I use microcontrollers so much. You can get some very complicated controls in a single chip that way.

I think that teslabe understands why I use microcontrollers so much. You can get some very complicated controls in a single chip that way.

Micros are the best......:thumbsup: You just need to make sure you add a transistor to each port if you plan to drive more then one LED. Most micro's
ports are good for only 25ma, that's one LED. Here is a mod I did on a nice
little circuit I got off EBay.

I'm hoping you guys might have some time to create some How-To's for us aspirants. Video works best, but detailed writing works too.:thumbsup: