With the upper deck and backdrops now in place, Gerry noticed the lighting on the lower deck had changed significantly. Wisely, he decided to compensate for the reduced reach of light from the ceiling fixtures by installing a new light source to the underside of the upper deck. In this episode, you’ll see how Gerry incorporates a simple, streamlined solution to resolve the low light situation. Of course, you’ll also glean other helpful tips and tricks as our host gets his layout construction efforts Back on Track!
Getting to know Gerry
Back on Track host Gerry Leone is just as clever as he is comedic! But even better, he’s a masterful model railroader who’s knowledgeable in numerous areas of the hobby. In his MR Video Plus/Trains.com series Off the Rails, audiences enjoyed learning many of the helpful tips and techniques he used to assemble various layouts over the years. Exclusive Trains.com video highlights much of his previous Bona Vista Railroad HO scale layout, and even examines specific details of his scenery construction in his Spaces to Places series.
With so many of Gerry’s talents at hand, we wouldn’t want any of them to go to waste! You can be sure to find him lending assistance in the construction of several other Trains.com projects, including work on the O scale (1:48) Olympia Logging Co., the HO scale (1:87) Winston-Salem Southbound, and even the N scale (1:160) Canadian Canyons.
If you’re looking to find some of the tools and supplies Gerry uses in his path to modeling success, look no further than KalmbachHobbyStore.com. There, you’ll be able to further examine and directly purchase products he and other notable model railroaders frequently reference in Trains.com videos!
Yet another look at the vast possibilities of lights.
I needed some lights inside some of my buildings. Got a 16′ strip of LED’s with sticky backing. You can seperate 3 and supply your own 12 volts. After lighting nearly all the building on my layout, so were too bright so I added a light diffuser over lights that were too bright. Then had half the roll of lights left over. Had another project for lighting a display with overhead lights. Used about 3 of the 14″ strips for each overhead light. Working in electronics and aircraft for many years, I usually build my own power supplies for lights etc. Since a 16′ strip of lights requires less than 1 amp at 12 volts, a 12volt 1amp transformer is about $6. A bridge rectifier about a buck and a capacitor another couple bucks. A LM350 3 terminal voltage regulator and a variable resistor will get you a great power source for not a lot of money. Only thing left is a box to put it in or space to put the components on a sheet of aluminum.
Noted you left the wires bare. Would you consider suitcase connectors- by 3M ? – or the paint-on insulator material to protect the soldered joints?
I had a circuit installed during design with a box and on/off switch (should change that to a dimmer one day) for LED strip lighting for my lower deck lighting. Works great.
Loving this detailed video series.
Might consider a “List of Materials” or a similar reference to these video pages and Amazon pages for us to save multi pauses and scribbles to find your bits and bobs each time.
Andrew — Yup, I probably should AT LEAST use that liquid electrical tape on those connections. Suitcase connectors would be better. My thinking was/is: unlike wiring that’s under the layout, there’s never any reason to fuss around with the wiring in the valance — there’ll never be any other connections or wiring up there. So once I staple down the wires, there should never be any reason to move them around. Yes, I know: never say never.
Artie — It’s the Circuitron people trying to protect their trademark — to keep it from becoming a “generic term” like Kleenex or Thermos or Super Glue. And I can understand that. Modelers were referring to ALL slow motion switch motors as tortoises. So Tortoise has asked publications to include “by Circuitron” at the earliest mention of the word “Tortoise.” The problem comes on my end of things. It’s totally clumsy to say something like, “And then I installed all the Tortoise by Circuitron switch motors.” So at least to me, it’s become a bit of a low-level joke. Like, “Ok, I’m saying it, but it sounds stupid.”
Thanks for your reply – figured it was something like that with the Circuitron folks.
I think I used a similar lighting plan, 3630 warm white led 15 ft strips. They have an adhesive back that does not hold well. I bought 15 Ft double side tape and then taped the strip to it. They come with end pigtails. I use the same transformer as you have.
Anyone else notice that Gerry’s watch shorts his DCC system giving a “buzz”, when he talks about installing the back drop to the upper deck? 🙂 Been there, done that!
Another great episode!
Gotta ask – is there an inside joke (or something because I notice the folks at MR also do it) – whenever you and others mention Tortoise – there is always a small pause and a “smirk” before saying “by Circuitron” ?
Radio Shack is still around on the internet. A search will find them.
One of the local train stores (Hobby Town) has started selling Radio Shack parts. Not a lot there, but since I’m already there I always look to see if there is anything new. Saves shipping costs sometimes.
My biggest frustration with the new Trains site is that I can not find a way to turn off auto running of the next video you decided I needed to watch. It makes going back to re-watch something or going to the next video in a sequence. Some people may like videos auto starting and that is fine but allow us to turn it off when we wish to view the videos we are looking for!
I had the same frustration. Here’s what I did:
just as the episode is going off, I switch from full screen to windowed; then Previous window on my Browser. That brings me back to the whole list of episodes. Pick one and restart
Here, here or is it hear, hear?
Anyway, I agree. Not a big big boy steam fan so why am I ‘forced’ to those videos?
Simple link to next video in series would be preferred.
Thanks for the detailed commentary and visual of each source and step. You’ve created a thoroughly enjoyable and educational work, with spectacular production values You are a Master Educator as well as a Master Modeler. Please keep it up.