Mike Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 LED and Fibre Optic Lighting KitsTirydium Models Lighting a model is one of those skills that elude a great many of us, especially those folks like myself that aren't all that au fait with electronics. Sourcing components, creating a layout of cable routing and what to light up, as well as soldering and handling the various components are just some of the issues that can raise a shudder. Lighting kits that are tailored specifically to a particular model are rather interesting, especially when you have all the aforementioned aspects already pondered, chosen and executed, leaving you to just install the assemblies within your model and hook up a 9V PP9 battery.Along comes Tirydium Models, a purposeful mis-spelling of a very famous shuttle from a very famous Sci-Fi franchise, behind which is our very own Madmonk, or Warren as he's known in the real world. Warren is a Sci-Fi buff, and owns a Stormtrooper costume from that same money-spinning franchise, so there's no doubt of his credentials. He has worked to create lighting kits that won't tax the brain-cells, nor the pocket, and his instructions are easy to follow, showing which aspects of the kit you need to amend to make everything work. It removes most of the soldering work from the equation, just needing some connections to be made between the trailing leads and the battery pack after trimming the excess wire away. You will have to drill a few holes, and cut a few notches in some parts, but it has all been planned to be as easy as possible, so you don't have to take out the big saw and risk ruining your kit.The kits consist of various coloured LEDs with resistors chosen to work with the 9v power supply that will soak up and fluctuations in power that could knock out the LEDs if left unprotected. He has also wrapped up some fibre-optics for some of the kits to allow you to add lights to control panels etc., all cut roughly to length with tape and heat-shrink tubing already applied to protect the parts and prevent light leakage. You'll need to paint some of the interior of your chosen model black of course to prevent light leaking through the plastic shell, but that's pretty simple stuff, which shouldn't tax even the novice. There are a growing number of lighting kits available to purchase from Warren's website, and he's let us have two for review, as follows: Kit for Fine Molds X-Wing Fighter 1:72 (LK/SW-01) This set includes four red LEDs for the engines, one green LED for the central console in the cockpit, and one white LED with eight fibre-optics for instrumentation lighting in the cockpit. All the LEDs are pre-soldered with around 12cm of red and black wire, plus a resistor as mentioned above, with heat-shrink tubing around each assembly. Sections of the kit instructions are included with notes to show which parts should be adapted for the kit, most of which involves drilling small holes and cutting out notches. Additional tips are given in the written section of the instructions, all on a single sheet of A4 that is neatly laid out and well written. Kit for Revell/Moebius Battlestar Galactica Viper Mk.VII (LK/BSG-01) This kit is designed for the recent(ish) kit of the re-booted BSG starring Edward James Olmos as Commander Adama, and differs from the above kit, as it uses the more advanced Surface Mount Device (SMD) LEDs, which are more power efficient and able to be more densely packed together than traditional LEDs due to their smaller size. Included in the kit are three blue SMD LEDs for the engines and two for the cockpit at either side of the pilot to give some illumination. Again, a 9v power source is needed, which can either be a PP9 battery, or a DC 9v power supply hooked to the mains.ConclusionThis electrically challenged modeller is very pleased to see well priced and easy to use kits that simplify the process of bringing life to otherwise dark models, turning them from static models into something more entertaining to the eye. Warren has a number of other sets available and in the works, including Sci-Fi kits such as the FM 1:144 Millennium Falcon, and for the aviation buffs, for the 1:32 Revell Hawk, and more recently he's working on one for the 1:48 Hawk from Airfix, which I'm sure could be adapted to fit the Italeri kit with very little extra work.More power to your elbow, Warren! Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonT Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Nice! Thanks for the heads up on this. Now if he can only do a kit for the Revell 1/500 JJ Enterprise and I'll have a couple Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmonk Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Simon, I have the kit, just need to find time to look at the best way to light it but will hopefully be sometime this year!! Cheers, Warren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonT Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Good man! I'll start thinking of ways to smuggle it in to the house without the boss noticing then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonT Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 So Warren, any progress on the JJprise lighting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmonk Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Simon, I'm going to look into it in the new year, Mish has been asking about it so thought I would reserect it over the Christmas hols. Initial thoughts will include twin flash and single flash Nav lights, spinning Bussards, impulse and warp drives, dish and interior lights, might also play with IR remote control. Likely to be around the £80 - £100 though! Cheers, Warren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonT Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 (edited) Hiya Warren, how are you getting on? My son needs this hanging from his ceiling Edited March 1, 2015 by SimonT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmonk Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Hi Simon, Kit is now complete, final price is £75 plus £5 P+P. Will post a video up tomorrow showing the functionality, didn't go with the IR control in the end. Cheers, Warren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonT Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Sounds good, I'll take a butchers at the video when it's up and then I'm sure you'll have another order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmonk Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Simon, Video here. Cheers, Warren 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Cracking job Warren, will save my pennies for this, got jj enterprise plus masks, yet to get photoetch or lights. Will place an order with you soon. All the best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo uk Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 Warren I cant find the into darkness lighting kit on your website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmonk Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Hi Neo, It isn't up there yet, I am finishing off another 5 sets at the moment ready for the Northern Model Show this Sunday, hopefully I will have a couple left over for Smallspace 4 next month, if not I will have to build some more! Cheers, Warren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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