Lighting up Whittingly - and exciting news!

I had mentioned fitting lighting to the buildings when constructing Whittingly. With the visible work done and entry to the Rail200 competition submitted, I thought I should wire them up and make them work.

I attached a AD;DC "buck" voltage regulator under the board, and adjusted the output to give 9vDC, which gives a nice light from the miniature bulbs in the lamps. The wires from the lights had been taped up under the layout. I fitted "choc-block" screw terminals near groups of lights, connected the wires to them, and ran wires back to the regulator. The lights inside buildings and under the canopy are LEDs, the choc-blocks allowed a resistor to be fitted for each. A 12v wall-wart transformer is being used to test the lights, with a temporary socket fitted under the layout, although in due course the lighting will be run off one of my usual 16V AC transformers. 

The effect I think is rather pleasing, the light illuminating some areas and casting other parts into darkness. In this view, perhaps the station canopy lighting is too bright and white, I'll see if I can tone it down a touch, or fit a bigger resistor. 

The wall bracket lights are particularly pleasing, while the inside of the boiler house is deliberately not lit (so you can't see how empty it is!). The weighbridge window doesn't look that bright to the eye. 

The passenger service will be provided by a couple of 6-wheel coaches, which Hornby have usefully provided with their own lighting. These add nicely to the atmosphere!

Yes, that lamp at the end of the platform doesn't work. It got hit several times during construction being in a vulnerable spot (with hindsight, fitting it last would have been better!). It's been superglued back together but of course, the metal structure provides part of the circuit, and superglue doesn't fix that! I have a spare lamp, but replacing it might be tricky. 

Today I received the exciting news that Whittingly Hospital has been chosen as one of the finalists! That means it will be on show at the NEC next month. Having seen some excellent entries that haven't been chosen, I am surprised and delighted.