Improving LED bulb's Lighting Effect

Here is a great way to make those harsh LED bulbs much more like real in-room lighting. Notice the bulb on the left it directionally pointing upwards out the tip of the bulb (you can see the "crescent" reflected on the background). The bulb on the right is a bulb exactly like the bulb on the left except it was sanded with sandpaper all around. By scratching the surface (don't forget the top of the dome) you have created a light that disperses the light in a way an ordinary GE frosted bulb would. Looking at the right bulb you cannot distinguish where the plastic dome even is from the background. These are not glass grain of wheat bulbs, they are LEDs inside a plastic dome. You can find them inexpensively on ebay WITH the resistor already soldered in place. The light in this demonstration is a "bright white" bulb and its 5mm. My preference is the 3mm "warm white" that looks like the incandescent bulbs you use in your desk lamps at home. Both have their uses, the bright white makes for good florescent lighting. You can also paint them red, amber, blue, green, etc. If anyone wants me to photograph the smaller warm light I would be happy to. This just showed up on the camera better. I'm finding that the more I am willing to get in and try different lighting the more fun it has become and a whole lot LESS intimidating.
Most of you may have already known this but I just thought I'd share
Karin Snyder

Great tip Karin. Thanks for sharing.

Good job, Karin. Great post, thanks for taking the time. You're on a wonderful adventure of discovery. BTW, I achieve about the same effect by painting the LED with white model paint. Diffuses the light and also tones down the intensity a bit.

Yes, sanding a led will bring a better glow to the surrounding. Great idea Karin to bring that up. A LED can also be reduce or shaped with a lathe or a file, making sure you don't go too far. Here's an example I did for the gyro light on the top of a BR-400 (never finished it, was started 15 years ago) it is N scale.



Hey by the way Karin, were's your secret project revelation? Was it suppose to be out last Friday?

Hey Ben,
I'll answer for Karin as she's still sawing logs while I am up early........our secret project is still under development, but like any worthwhile project, has a few bumps in the road. I.E......we are still working on design. No promise as to when it will be finished.

Remember, good things take time and we want it to be good indeed......

Sorry, I can't say more than that. Either we get it right, or we don't get it at all.
After all, you wouldn't want something that was "also ran" would you?

Either we get this right, or we don't do it at all. After all Ben, you of all people know how hard it is to design something and do it right so that you are proud of it and know it will please the discerning Z community.

This Z scale sure is a challenge......

Loren