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Electronics / Fiber Optics

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AModelMan	Electronics / Fiber Optics	Lead	[-]
Posts: 257 (10/05/07 10:24:56) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I figured Los Angeles would have fiber optics coming out of its ears considering the type of work going on in town, but oddly enough, no! Scott gave me a couple names to try here, but those shops were out of business or completely stopped carrying any. I've tried model and train shops to no avail, though they usually have pre-made objects -such as train paraphenalia, but not a raw supply of FO. Searching on the net, I get Digital FO for stereos and computers, or spools of cable that are kilometers long for hundreds of dollars! I finally found one hobby shop in Illinois (I'm at work now so don't have the link handy) that sells 100' spools and foot/yard lengths at long last in the $10-$30 range. I have yet to order any. I expect that I would get several foot-lengths in different diameters to see what is what, then buy some spools of what I likely need. I have a dozen kits that are waiting on me to get the FO going, and once I've got some, I could start that pipeline up and knock them off at long last! My question here is: What kind of issues have you all found when working with the stuff? How is cutting? Aligning the FO to the bulb to get proper dispersion? Using lenses in the mix to amp the light or get more strands per bulb, etc... Any and all notes, thoughts, musings, links you have on this subject will be immensely useful! Thanks very, very much! -Tom
Paulbo	Re: Electronics / Fiber Optics	#1	[-]
Posts: 213 (10/05/07 10:50:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	With FO you really don't need to "ramp up" your lighting - the fibers will pick up the light you put into them very well. The easiest way to light them is to get them into the model where you want them, then bundle the other end together tightly and trim them all to the same length. Now, make a little box about the size of your bundle and stick the bulb in one end and FO bundle in the other. All set. A quick note: when installing the FO in the model, leave them sticking out a bit (1/16" ish) then paint the model - don't mask the FO. When finishing is completely DONE (primer, paint, accent, weathering, decals, clear coat, etc.) snip off the FO flush to the model surface (make sure you've got snips that will do a flush cut). Voila! Paulbo -- Pod@ParaGrafix.com
Paulbo	Re: Electronics / Fiber Optics	#2	[-]
Posts: 213 (10/08/07 07:33:02) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	One other thing about FO - plastic FO is easier to work with than glass (IMHO), but do some tests first to make sure the adhesive you use to hold them in place actually sticks to the plastic and doesn't affect the lighting properties. Paulbo -- Pod@ParaGrafix.com
AModelMan	Re: Electronics / Fiber Optics	#3	[-]
Posts: 257 (10/08/07 08:55:12) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I was told never to use model or CA glue as those would eat the fiber... And that Elmer's worked fine to attach FO to model. While white glue may bond an FO bundle together, I doubt it would attach to model plastic or resin. Maybe rubber cement would work better? I've heard that others use flame to give the FO end a 'bloom' and bond the FO to model- that method seems a bit random to me... -tom
Paulbo	Re: Electronics / Fiber Optics	#4	[-]
Posts: 213 (10/08/07 10:00:31) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I made the CA mistake early on - made the FO very brittle and they snapped of. Major pain. Hadn't heard about flaming the end for a bloom, but had heard of using a soldering gun or heated up knife though haven't had a need for that type of end. In my pod, for the communications lights and a few other locations where overlays aren't an option, I've filled the holes with Kristal Kleer and am backing them up with LightSheet. It gives as good a glow for the small areas I'm working with. I'm planning on using the same technique with my PL Refit ... if I ever finish up the bloody pod Paulbo -- Pod@ParaGrafix.com
starmanmm	Re: Electronics / Fiber Optics	#5	[-]
Posts: 144 (10/15/07 15:49:34) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I have bloom them out. They work by hold them close to either a flame or hear source (not too close or they wether up). I have experimented with them and found that you can almost control the size of the bloom by how long you keep it to the heat source. As far as securing it... I have used phenoseal (takes a little time to dry) but will use a hot glue gun (the small version not the standard size one) to secure it. A little dab should do it and also not damage the fo in the process.
Darth Paul	Re: Electronics / Fiber Optics	#6	[-]
Posts: 5 (10/16/07 16:03:37) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I have had some success using JB weld 5 min epoxy on the plastic FO. Juat a dab on the interior after the strand is in place. I limit myself to a specific section at a time so I don't bump the strands while drying.

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