Light leaks, instrument panel lighting

fsgray · Post by **fsgray** » Fri May 23, 2008 11:44 am

Looking at the 30th Anniv. Revell Viper, the main display is set up for lighting. I figure I'd epoxy a flat top LED (green?) to the back of the clear part, over which the display decal goes. Howver, from behind I'm thinking there would be a light in the nose area. Would this be an issue? Could I just use a bigger than normal resistor to tone down the light? How would it look with the open cockpit bottom?

en'til Zog · Post by **en'til Zog** » Fri May 23, 2008 6:06 pm

Maybe you could paint the LED, and the back of the clear panel, white to reflect the light back into the panel? Or wrap Bare Metal Foil around the LED and panrel back?

HTH

fsgray · Post by **fsgray** » Fri May 23, 2008 7:37 pm

Hmmm, that makes a lot of sense!

Pat Amaral · Post by **Pat Amaral** » Sat May 24, 2008 12:46 am

just get a small length of heat shrink tubing and shrink it around the part of the LED that extends behind the panel. That will also protect your wiring connections so they stay secure as you handle the LED during building. I'd also paint the sides and back of the panel just to be sure that only the front face emits the light.

jwrjr · Post by **jwrjr** » Sat May 24, 2008 10:24 pm

There are no objections to using a larger value resistor. The only place where you can get in trouble is if you use a resistor that is too small.