Moebius Models Flying Sub 1/32nd Scale


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Just a bit o' light and boxing.
Light Boxing That is.
Not to be confused with shadow boxing.
Tried that once and was KO in the third round...anyways...
Welcome back gang and we on to the lighting thing.
Much insertion of the fiber optic and related nonsense, so, shall we?
To begin with, we'll deal with the FO shoving and so on.
Now of course all holes pre drilled so with all the panels, the FO placed in short lengths through said holes and fixed in with clear epoxy glue.
The larger lights were just clear epoxy glue filled.
When cured the FO was simply trimmed to length from the back.
So let's look at the radio and reactor core panel in order.











And put simply, pretty much the same kinda deal for the other panel FO larking about.
When all that was completed, time for some colouring in so to speak.
Nothing more complex than some toothpicks and Tamiya clear colour's applied to the cured resin and FO ends on the instrument panels.












Just thought i'd mention a wee throwaway tip here.
Clear epoxy glue and in fact almost any 'mix both components before use' glue is wonderful but damn messy stuff.
Usually whatever you'd mix it on would have to be thrown away afterward.
Here's a simple thing for a sort of re-usable mixing plate if you will.
Your best mate here is that wide brown or whatever colour plastic parcel tape and a lump of wood..
Simply take a small strip of tape,
slap it on said timber,
mix happily until you run outta room to mix stuff up on,
peel manky tape off,
dispose and place new strip on timber, repeat.

Nowt earth shattering but may be off use to ya.

Okedoke then onward!
So panels sorted and now for the light source.
in this we'll stick with the radio panel.
So to begin with, thin card stock, foil tape applied to one side, the other left white.
Light blocking and light diffusion in that order.
So the back indent for the radio panel about 3/4" x 1 1/4" or thereabouts.
Now a box needs sides and a bit to put tape on so about an 1/4 of an inch added on all round.

For the metric types out there, 20 x 30mm box footprint needed with additional 4mm for the sides and 4mm tags for the tape fixing.
With me so far?
Splendid!

So the material needed cut from the sheet, scored, cut and folded.
A 3mm hole for a 3mm diffuse white LED punched in one end.
Using foil tape, the box was secured in correct position.









On and in.
One thing here, since this plate has a back part, i.e. the rear bulkhead door, care must be taken with measurements.
the bottom of the light box butts up against this when in position so careful fitting if you use this wee technique.

So, a 3mm diffuse LED wired up, fitted with a resistor for 9v and some heat shrink sleeve for insulation..
Placed in the punched out hole in the light box and epoxy steel applied to fix and secure final light bleed.
The bottom lot covered in foil tape and dry fitted to back bulkhead plate to ensure correct fit.
When all cured, the inevitable light test with a quick scuttle off to somewhere dark to check for light leaks.





That works with not a light leak where it shouldn't be to be found...and few more surprised than yours truly.
Right then, same deal as such with the side instrument panels and the box things at the bottom of the reactor core panel.









Not too damn shabby methinks.
it'll all look a bit more like it should once it's all installed proper onto the deck plate...

Speaking of which...



The leads to the front will be hooked up to the forward exterior lights.
Also a bit of a rethink power wise.
With everything i'll be piling into this, it's going to end up twin 9v rechargeable batteries.
One batt will run the static lighting for interior and exterior.
The other will be for the reactor panel and engine effects.
More on that later gang.

So then, all walls in place, final thing for this update, of course it's the inevitable lighting check...with pics of course.













And just one last look see without lights on and I have to say, i'm somewhat pleased with happenings thus far.
The overall lighting effect will be improved once the rest is in and sorted.





And that's the lot at this time gang.
Next up, flashing thingies of an LED persuasion dontchaknow.
Go easy people!


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