More options for LED layout lighting

Within the few years that I have been experimenting with lighting my layout with LED's, many more products have become available and prices have been falling.  A19 or medium base screw in bulbs are now available in a full range of wattage equivalents and color temperatures.

I recently purchased these A19 or medium base, 40 watt equivalent, warm bright bulbs on amazon for about $3.00 each along with some sockets that have a mounting bracket for another $3.00 each.

As I have been building the layout I have realized that in many areas I do not need as much vertical clearance as I had thought and can allow for a taller lighting valance.

Here is how I am mounting these lights above the layout under the cabinets.  After some experimentation I came up with a spacing of 16 inches for an even level of lighting.   Strips of 2 inch wide plywood were mounted under the cabinets that have plywood brackets mounted every 16 inches.

So far I have put up 11 bulbs under the cabinets along the longest wall.  Shown in this photo is the area above the work bench.  A valance made from tempered hard board (Masonite) can be mounted to the same plywood brackets that the light sockets are mounted to.

Finishing the upper return loop bench work.

The upper return loop bench work has now been finished and installed in it's place on the layout above the Wesso section.  The 3 lighting panels from the last post are installed and the effects of the lighting can be seen in this photo.  Still need to put up a lighting valance.

Here is another view taken from inside the helix.  The LED panels can be seen lined up along the outer edge of the upper loop section.  I am happy with the level of lighting on the Wesso section except that is seems a shade darker in the back of the far corner where the dry creek is. I may need to add a couple more LED modules above that area.

Because the area below the return loop is part of the scene it needed to stay open without supports so I put the supports on top.  The frame of the bench work is also attached to the wall studs.  This makes this section really sturdy.

The cork has been laid but not the track.  It will be some time before the layout is far enough along for trains to run over this section and because it is so sturdy I plan to use this section as a storage shelf for the time being.

This photo shows two of the Anderson Power Pole connectors that will connect lighting panels shown in the last post to the 12 volt DC bus.

In the top of this photo there was a small irregular area where I just mounted a permanent panel with 2 LED panels that are wired directly to the 12 volt DC bus.

First removable LED lighting panels completed

The first three removable LED lighting panels have been completed.  These will be for the upper return loop section with the LED's lighting the Wesso section underneath it.

These are made from 1/4 inch thick plywood with the exposed side being painted with the off white color of the train room trim so as to be more reflective.

This photo shows the smallest of the three panels leaning up against one of my module boxes with some of the details pointed out.

These panels will be held in place by inserting the tongue part in the back then tightening two or three 8-32 thumbscrews into tee nuts that will be part of the module.

The tee nuts and thumbscrews are shown here.  I bought 100 pairs so they will be handy for some other projects I have in mind.

Each of the panels has it's wiring on the back side with an Anderson Power Pole plug that will be used to connect to the 12 volt DC bus on the bench work.

Here is the largest of the 3 panels that will go under the upper return loop section.  This one also has the most LED panels on it.  I have placed these along what will be the front edge and at a slight angle inward toward the back of the module.

The plan now is for there to be removable lighting  panels similar to these under the Carlin section to light the staging yard, and under any section that is over the work benches.

Next step is to get the return loop section mounted so these panels can be installed and the effects of the lighting tested.

First photographic backdrops have arrived

The first 4 photographic backdrops have arrived.  One of these is shown in this photo temporarily set up behind the test layout above the work bench to see how it looks.

These are from Backdrop Junction.  I have two pairs of 6 ft long backdrops that are 14 inches high.  There are two different scenes that connect together and with another two that are the same scenes reversed I will be able to get 24 ft of continuous scene.  First got to get up some more panel.