Here we see the Dumluk mine permanently "buttered" into place in the mountain with lightweight foam spackle (an amazing and very forgiving medium). Just to recap, the small "grain of wheat" light bulbs that were originally planned to light the Dumluk Mine and other structured proved to be too unreliable as far as longevity and ease of replacement. So I decided to replace all lighting with modern high powered Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The switch out was relatively painless and the new LEDs do not get hot, draw very little power, and will last longer than I will on this planet. The only shortcomings that I had to address with the new LEDs was... (Article continues here)
On Building Mountains...
Here we see the Dumluk mine permanently "buttered" into place in the mountain with lightweight foam spackle (an amazing and very forgiving medium). Just to recap, the small "grain of wheat" light bulbs that were originally planned to light the Dumluk Mine and other structured proved to be too unreliable as far as longevity and ease of replacement. So I decided to replace all lighting with modern high powered Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The switch out was relatively painless and the new LEDs do not get hot, draw very little power, and will last longer than I will on this planet. The only shortcomings that I had to address with the new LEDs was... (Article continues here)
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LEDs
LEDs may be the way to go. However, to this point I have not seen a LED that was the color I wanted. I have used them for point light (like traffic lights) where you don't need or want light to be cast on to a scene.
The trick to long life in a grain of wheat type bulb is not running them at full voltage. I have some 12 volt bulbs I bought surplus for a couple of cents each that I ran at 9 volts. This makes a nice yellow glow.
Imagine a World without Burnt Out Bulbs...
Desert Rat, you're right about the LED color issues, but as I mention in the article, I have had a lot of success color correcting LEDs with small dabs everyday of craft paints (water-based translucent colors). What started out as a village of eerie alien green light pouring out of every window like some Stephen king film, was easily transformed into the warm hearth-like glow of good' ol incandescents. I also found the unidirectional nature of LEDs simply rectified with a paper towel "lampshade" a deal-maker.
I'll take a 100,000 hour LED over a grain of wheat bulb which may burn out in 1000 hours or (more likely with my luck) tomorrow. LOL! Viva la LEDs!
PS. I will be posting photos of the LEDs in action shortly... stay tuned...