Looking for a 1/24 light strip

[Texasbuilder]

So I have been looking for a light bar like the  one in the picture or something similar for my 1/24 scale Meng f-350. I would be glad if anyone could point me in right direction on where to buy one or build it. Thanks in advance for any help any could provide.

Edited August 17, 2015 by Texasbuilder

[Petetrucker07]

I'd say your gonna end up scratching one up. It doesn't look hard at all.

[disabled modeler]

You might be able to find a clear taillight lens from a car kit to use for the light lens...maybe something else from a Ghost Buster kit too???

[Texasbuilder]

I found this http://www.rpphobby.com/product_p/GEA1195.htm but almost $50 for a 3 inch light bar?! I guess I'll have to build one so any suggestions base on that one?

[mikemodeler]

I found this http://www.rpphobby.com/product_p/GEA1195.htm but almost $50 for a 3 inch light bar?! I guess I'll have to build one so any suggestions base on that one?

That is a 1/10th scale light bar that would probably look cartoonish on the Meng F350. I don't have mine in front of me, but if I had to guess it would be rather large compared to the rest of the model.

Your best bet would be to scratchbuild one, shouldn't be that hard/

[explorer2770]

So, the Rough Country straight bar comes in a 50" length by 3.45" depth by 3" height, which would be 2.08" by 1.44" by 1.25" in 1/24 scale.  An easy way to make this would be to cut a strip of 0.125" square strip styrene (or .125" by .158") to 5.3 cm.  Paint the bar black, then print this image on glossy paper (height should be 0.125").

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/explorer2770/bar1_zps5omekjfb.png

Cut out bar face image and glue to the styrene.  Then, either cut a strip of clear acetate, mylar, or Dura-Lar to cover the face or use a clear epoxy to give the smooth glass look to the face of the bar.  Then, use some aluminum or sheet styrene to make the mounting brackets.

A curved bar can be made in the same way, just heat the strip styrene in hot water and bend it to the shape you want.

[Petetrucker07]

It seems super easy. The hardest part would be getting the curve right. Find whatever size to scale to 3 inch by inch and a half styrene and I would think "plate" style mounting out of .01 or .015 styrene sheet. That's how I would start.

[Texasbuilder]

I more thinking of one with lights. I have already wired up a police truck before so I know the the basics of it. I know it would be a lot more complicated, but I think I'm up for the challenge.

[Texasbuilder]

So I was thinking I could use more 1.8mm LEDs or use less 5mm LEDs. Do you guys have any preference?

[hooknladderno1]

So, the Rough Country straight bar comes in a 50" length by 3.45" depth by 3" height, which would be 2.08" by 1.44" by 1.25" in 1/24 scale.  An easy way to make this would be to cut a strip of 0.125" square strip styrene (or .125" by .158") to 5.3 cm.  Paint the bar black, then print this image on glossy paper (height should be 0.125").

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/explorer2770/bar1_zps5omekjfb.png

Cut out bar face image and glue to the styrene.  Then, either cut a strip of clear acetate, mylar, or Dura-Lar to cover the face or use a clear epoxy to give the smooth glass look to the face of the bar.  Then, use some aluminum or sheet styrene to make the mounting brackets.

A curved bar can be made in the same way, just heat the strip styrene in hot water and bend it to the shape you want.

Here is an example of what Brandon referred to above.  Don't mind the cut out paper gaphics.  Easiest way I know to "mock up" graphics instead of wasting decal film and ink.

 

 

David

[Aaronw]

So I was thinking I could use more 1.8mm LEDs or use less 5mm LEDs. Do you guys have any preference?

So you want it to actually light up? I have no experience with working lights on a model but...

It looks like the 1-1 has approximately 1x1" squares (50" lightbar with approximately 100 LEDs in 2 layers), so even those 1.8mm LEDs are about 1.8" in 1/25 scale. I bet if you look around you could find something out there with 1x1mm squares, maybe some kind of packing material, small disposable fruit baskets etc. You could put that in front of the LEDs with clear plastic for a lens to give the impression of the lens, and maybe use some C channel from Plastruct for the body of the bar and a place for the LEDs.  

[peteski]

If you want to light it up (while trying to make it look in-scale) you would need to use SMD (Surface Mount Devices) LEDs.  You can get them as small as size 0402 (0.040" x 0.020").  Or larger, like 0603 (0.060" x 0.030"). They also come in larger sizes lime 0805 or 1206 or even larger.  But wiring/soldering a 100 of them will not be an easy task.

 

Here is a photo showing various SMD LED sizes.  The scale is in millimeters so you can see how large a 5mm LED would be in comparison.

[1930fordpickup]

Looks like you are going to need the small one on the left. 0402 

 

Edited August 20, 2015 by 1930fordpickup