self induced damage?

[jackabina]

hi all,
i'm looking to build a couple of display units to display my collection properly :mrgreen:
i am however unsure what type of lighting to use.
i understand from reading advice many of you guys have given that natural sunlight will affect the colour of the bubble etc.
is it the same with spot's, led's etc? what would you use?
they will be about 1 meter wide and 1.5 meters tall each.

 

[Joe]

Depends if you are planning on having the lights on constantly? Light will do some damage over time sure but it all depends on the amount of time the light gets to the toys, a couple of hours of natural light or your display lights per day won't turn them into dust don't worry, just don't overdo it.

Personally I wouldn't bother with spotlights and stuff in your display cabinet, I think it can look the nuts but at the same time it's extra work fitting them, extra money on the leccy bill and extra worry when you have got them on and beaming down on your figures.

 

[jackabina]

cheers joe.
i am only going to have them on a couple of hours in the evening maybe.
they will be low voltage spots, only running across the top (i think), as i plan to use glass shelving?
i didn't know whether the artificial light would have the same affect as natural

 

[Lee77]

Don't use halogen spotlights mate. They kick out a lot of heat. Get some led strip. It's normally self adhesive and it's thin so it hides in the cabinet pretty well. Led gives out no heat and it's cheap to run.
Its pretty easy to do but let us know if you need any advice, I'm an electrician for my sins!

 

[Joe]

Sounds like Lee has you covered!

 

[jackabina]

top man. thanks for the advice lee.
would it be alot of work having them wired into a spur?
can you get colour changing led's :twisted:

neil

 

[Lee77]

No it's simple mate. Cable from spur to your led controller/transformer and then out to your led lights. You can't really go wrong.
All the bits probably come in a kit with a drawing but if you get stuck I'll do you a drawing and pm it to you.
As for colour changing, you just need to make sure the led and the controller are colour changing ones rather than white. You normally get a remote control with these. Tbh they get on your tits after a while and most people leave them white but it's nice to have the option.

 

[jackabina]

brilliant lee, cheers mate.
can't wait to get started now. just need to decide what to display now.

 

[Grant_C]

Use natural fire. It gives a real authentic ewok celebration feel to it.

 

[jackabina]

granted, but the glass shelves would be a bugger to keep clean.

 

[Imperial nut]

I find the glow from a few burning lograys or wickets usually lights the stormies something pretty.