Illuminating marquee with fairy lights

[ras2a]

My marquee looks less than great when lit by the fluorescent strip light I bought.  I assume its due to the lack of a proper diffuser (suppose could use paper).  Anyways, a friend of mine has suggested using some christmas tree lights (to give a softer glow).  My marquee design has a sort of of red/orange flame/nebula thing going on.  The lights in question allow for a good degree of control, with various pulsing effects (fade in/out etc)...could be quite cool!

Just wondering if anyone else has used them anywhere on their cabs?

thanks

Craig

[Ad_Enuff]

My marquee design has a sort of of red/orange flame/nebula thing going on.

[ras2a]

Yeah, gonna test it over the next day or so...will post pics/avi

[Ravage]

Most cabs have a piece of metal or white hardboard behgind the flourescent bulb to disperse, otherwise tin foil would do it.

Having aid that, for the RetroKade proto cab I'm building I'm using cold cathodes
Regards
Rav

[ras2a]

Most cabs have a piece of metal or white hardboard behgind the flourescent bulb to disperse, otherwise tin foil would do it.

Having aid that, for the RetroKade proto cab I'm building I'm using cold cathodes
Regards
Rav

cheers for that.  I'll test out the fairy lights, if it looks crap, I'll try diffusing the strip light, if it still looks crap, I'll look into getting a cold cathode

Craig

[thrash242]

"fairy lights"?

[The Jerk]

LOL.  Fairy lights huh.  I like the Tin Foil idea.  And the cold cathodes are inexpensive now.   Maybe you could go to a school supply/art craft store and find some white plastic instead of using paper.

[ras2a]

Yep 'Fairy lights' - I agree it does sound rather 'limp-wristed', but that's what some folk (here in the UK at least) refer to them as.  Watch this, every UK member will now deny this...lol

Of course I used the term Christmas tree lights as well, to generalise!

Craig

[Witchboard]

I think that would actually look cool if you had flames or something in your marquee.  It would make it look like it's flickering.

[Nannuu]

Try using white lexan instead of clear behind the graphics if you aren't already.  It will look a lot better.  Most sign shops will give or sell really cheap since marquee size is generally scrap.  Otherwise the fairly lights idea could be really really cool.  But it may end up with multiple hot spots as well.

[ras2a]

Thanks for the advice, gonna test out later today (if I get chance).  Other than that, it will be next week now.  I'll post a vid from my digicam of them in action if they look ok!

Craig

[Crowquill]

I think they could work very well depending on what end result you're looking for. You could use them to light specific areas of the marquee brighter or have lights flashing behind one of the graphics. I've seen redemption games that use LOTS of blinking lights behind a graphic effectively. I'm guessing they're done with 12V bulbs, but the christmas tree lights could get a similar effect. If you made a nice "grid" of the lights, I'm sure you could get a pretty consistant light behind the marquee. This is one of those nice things to try that while time-consuming, is pretty cheap.

While the christmas tree lights are an interesting option, I'm guessing working out the fluorescent would be the easiest and most authentic option. For a non-arcade related project I recently bought white plastic panels that are supposed to cover lights in a drop ceiling. They were only about $6 for a panel that was about 2-foot by 3-foot. It was very easy to cut to size. I bought mine at Home Depot but I'm sure any UK DIY center would have something similar.

The only other issue I might see is maintenance. If one of the lights goes out on those strings, it could be quite difficult to track down the bad bulb if the string is snaked around and balled up.

Does anyone know if anyone has ever tried "rope lights?" They're a string of LEDs in a plastic tubing. The LEDs would have a much longer life and generate less heat as well. Of course I'd probably buy at least one extra just in case it does ever go out. Might be worth trying.

[versapak]

Does anyone know if anyone has ever tried "rope lights?" They're a string of LEDs in a plastic tubing. The LEDs would have a much longer life and generate less heat as well. Of course I'd probably buy at least one extra just in case it does ever go out. Might be worth trying.

Unless you were going for a specific look with something like that, I would think it would be easier, cheaper, and better looking to just go with a flourescent light.

[quarterback]

If you made a nice "grid" of the lights, I'm sure you could get a pretty consistant light behind the marquee. This is one of those nice things to try that while time-consuming, is pretty cheap.

If anybody wants to try for a consistant light 'grid', the easiest way is to simply leave the lights in the plastic packaging from inside the box.