I recently spent some time looking thru Tim Horton's (BCR 570) layout website. www.bcrdawsonsub.ca He used LED light strips to light the decks of his layout. It's very low-profile, uses much less energy than conventional bulbs, produces much less heat, and can be connected end-to-end. Warm white seems to give the best daylight-like light, about 3000-3500K. What amount of lumens is necessary to get good strong lighting without overpowering the layout? What I'm curious of is anyone else using LED lighting? You can dim them, and they only need a 12V power supply. Even the Euro crowd can use them, as many power supplies are multi-voltage. Has anyone experimented with LEDs in various colors to simulate first and last light? I would very much like to try this, even for my HCD layout.
I just did a copy and paste of your question to Tim Horton, we both belong to the same informal MRR'ing club on the North Shore in North Vancouver, if he replies I will send you his response.
don't know if you have some place picked out to source them, but http://www.ledtronics.com/products.aspx?page=10&from=menubar#1,-1 this place was pretty helpfull with some questions about another lighting project i had
Here's is Tim's response, will post further if he sends on the data: "Rick: I do not remember the amount of lumens but Greg did record it with a light meter during the testing phase. Next time he comes over I will get him to bring it with him and I can find out for you. Greg has experimented with using blue LED lights to simulate moonlight. Tim"
In Railroad Model Craftsman Jan.2012 p.51 is an one-page article about LED layout lighting by George Gibson. He does not go into much detail regarding lumens, but he used surface-mount LED lighting strips in a "...color correct for daylight". He states that he orders them by the reel, complete wirh wireless dimmer and adhesive backing. He does not state his source, but a quick Google search for "LED ribbon" found enough online dealerships with reasonable prices. ($9 for 30ft for example...) So it looks like our lighting woes are going to end - no more incandescents, lightbulbs and so on.... have fun Michael PS: I'm not affiliated with the author of the article, nor with MRC in any way (except buying their issues on my IPad), when I read this read I remembered that I'd read something about LED lights - and surprise - I even found it again!)
There was also a short article in the N Gauge Journal a few issues back that cited an Ikea strip light package with product number: Ledberg #901.920.71
