Mini lights: I don't know much about fiber optics, but Michael's has (had?) a battery pack that took 2 AA batteries and ran 10 itty-bitty lights (grain of wheat?), each on a separate wire. It even has a switch to turn the lights on and off. I think they were intended for wedding bouquets, but I used mine last year to make luminaires.

Not an original idea; I saw it in the Miniature Gazette. I cut squares of 1/8 " balsa about 3/4 inch - which was a bit large - and poked a hole in the center of each one. I cut strips of lunch bag 1-1/4 x 4 to go around the block. (This was a bit long and had to be trimmed.) I folded the paper under 1/4 inch on the long edge before I began glueing, then wrapped it around the block, so it sat up to resemble a small paper bag. I then stuck the bulbs up into the bags from the bottom and there I was! When I set it up next year, I will make a little groove on the bottom of the wood to accept the wire and put a bit of masking tape to hold it in place.

The battery back went under the porch steps, and the wires got hidden in the bushes and 'snow'.

Dani

To solder wire to tape: If it is the bare tape, then just put a little solder paste on the end of one wire and touch it to the tape and apply solder with the soldering iron (less than 30W), and do the same with the other half of the wire to the other side of the tape. It is not really necessary to use soldering paste but it does make the solder flow more easily. Use electronic solder and ordinary soldering paste (not plumber's solder or paste). If the tape has a plastic covering then scrape away the plastic wherever you wish to solder.

June

Regarding other ways to wire, we have used automotive dash board lights (they are 12 volt) behind various cornices or valances. They draw more current, so use a big transformer or a few lights. They give lovely indirect lighting. The sockets for them can probably be found in an electronics store of some kind. Take a bulb with you. Some people use the 7 watt night lights (they are 110 volt) but I find them way too bright and way too hot for dollhouse use. All waxed pictures will slowly slip to the floor!

Barbara Jones

Star Light: When I want a starry sky for my fairy scenes I use t-shirt lights! Cut a piece of cardboard to size of box, paint it the shade of blue you want and while the paint is still wet cover it with flocking. At your local fabric store in the t-shirt section they sell a strip of twinkling lights (clear or colored) powered by a small battery pack. Each of the 12 lights is on a separate wire. Poke a tiny hole in the cardboard and poke the tip of the bulb thru -12 times. The wires and battery pack are hidden behind the cardboard sky. This gives beautiful results as anyone who took my mother nature class can tell you.

Sue Thwaite

Night Sky: Has anyone suggested using 'blackout' material, used to line curtains to stop any light coming through curtains? In the UK this can be bought from most shops selling curtain fabric, and it lets no light through at all. Usually sold in white and cream, it could be painted dark blue or black, then pierced to make pinholes for the light to come through.

Helen Cottrell

Ott Lights: Several of the large office supply chains carry the Ott Lights, everything from floor models to table models but be sure that the one that you get says TRUE COLOR on it ... the bulb is a "U" shape, not a straight shape. When they were first introduced the company did not differentiate between the Task Lights and the True Color Lights with the result that many people bought the wrong one thinking they were getting one that would help them see colors at night. There are still some of the original unmarked lights on store shelves so look carefully before you purchase. I have a True Color Light and love it for night work and for that extra bit of light to chase away those annoying shadows that can make doing a small project very difficult.

Sammy Smith

Ott Light: If you want just the task light, Office Depot carries them for I think, $39.00 If you want the true color light, checkout Hofcraft at http://www.hofcraft.com they are the cheapest I could find at $59.00 For an explanation of the difference between the lights go to http://www.stitchers-paradise.com I recently saw the one with the magnifying glass at the A.C.Moore store for $99, so other craft stores may carry them also.

Rose Stout

Light on a cord with a plug: I happened to have two plastic "candles", (the kind with a small, night-light bulb at the end, that you plug-in and place in the window at Christmas time.) I never actually used them as candles in my window, so I removed the plastic parts and left just the bulb and the plug. I needed to thread the cord through a small hole, so I cut the plug off the end, and after threading the cord, I replaced the plug with one I bought at the hardware store for $1.59. I needed the light for a background light for my Nativity set, and for the total cost of $2.59, (including the original cost of the candle which I bought at the dollar store a couple years ago), Voila`!

Maggie

Night Light for lighting: I suggest you make your own. Go to the hardware store. Buy an extension cord the length you would like the cord to be, and they sell sockets for the 7w. nightlight bulbs that you can add to the extension cord yourself. The back end of the socket unscrews, you lay the cord across it like they show you, and screw the back end back on. Then you have a 7 w. bulb for backlighting a room box.

Barb Jones

Light on a cord: There are replacement ones for the Christmas village houses, available at some craft stores and where Dept. 56 is sold. Cir-Kit also makes ones for lighting a miniature room, which might be what you want. It comes with a screw-in holder to hold the bulb. Any mini shop can get it for you.

Beth

Night Lights: Question: The kits I am getting are enclosed on all four sides and opens at the top with a clear acrylic lid. Does anyone know if those bulbs would heat up too much for an enclosed area?

Well, assuming you use a 7 watt bulb, you will generate about 25btu of heat. The question is, how fast can your enclosure dissipate this heat. To calculate that, you need to know the materials of the box, the size of each side of the box, and the ambient temperature surrounding the box. It would also be good to know if there is any air movement around the box. Somewhat involved, but basically the same method you use to determine the size furnace (or air conditioner) you need.

As an empirical method, put a night lite in the box along with a thermometer and see how hot it gets.

Night Lights: Question: The kits I am getting are enclosed on all four sides and opens at the top with a clear acrylic lid. Does anyone know if those bulbs would heat up too much for an enclosed area?

Well, assuming you use a 7 watt bulb, you will generate about 25btu of heat. The question is, how fast can your enclosure dissipate this heat. To calculate that, you need to know the materials of the box, the size of each side of the box, and the ambient temperature surrounding the box. It would also be good to know if there is any air movement around the box. Somewhat involved, but basically the same method you use to determine the size furnace (or air conditioner) you need.

As an empirical method, put a night lite in the box along with a thermometer and see how hot it gets.

Tom Berkner

Lighting: I built Brooke Tucker's double staircase room and the general illumination was from two night-light-type bulbs at the top front edge of the room. The heat was enough that it charred the ceiling wallpaper and eventually shorted out the lights. I still haven't repaired the damage but plan to replace them with those Auralight strips available through Dee's. Lots of light and the bulbs are shielded better.

Dottie in Tucson

Yes, the Auralights from Dee's Delights are a strip of lights that comes in different lengths (My favorites are the brass ones that are about 5/8" x 5/8"x 10"). Inside this brass box are about 6 bulbs that make light all along the ten inch length to illuminate the roombox. They use 110 power, not a transformer. They don't get as hot in an enclosed space as the night-lights do. They also have a sticky strip that fastens to one side of the box shape and then to the ceiling or wherever you stick it. I'm not sure what other lengths are available as this is the only size I use, but I do know these are the shortest and they come in silver, white, and black as well as the brass.

Dottie

Lighthouses: As I was looking at the micro-Mark catalog I noticed an electronic beacon --a brilliant idea for your lighthouse model. Instead of just flashing, it ramps up the intensity of the lamp to a brilliant burst, then lets it slowly die off, ...just like a rotating beam of light. comes with a plug-in transformer. It is item #82106 and is $19.95 probably plus shipping. It says one can order on-line: www.micromark.com. I love their catalog. A great variety of tools for small things.

Barbara Campbell

Auralights: Just a quick note. If anyone needs Auralights from Dee's, you local store might order from them or if you don't have a local store email below. They are good lighting strips.

Ann L. Hunt

Look on my web site under "Toms Tips" for advice on wiring, shingling, siding, what order to do things, etc. http://www.dollhouse-miniatures.com

Tom Berkner

Lighting Option: I saw a sales circular today for Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, and they are advertising a 36" cable light for $14.97.  It was pictured as lighting the way down an outdoor staircase, and was is described as flexible, elegant illumination for any indirect lighting use.  I wonder if this can be adaptable to mini use.  I was thinking of running it around a roombox or inside of a dollhouse.  Has anyone seen these?  Apparently, you can plug up to 150 feet of this stuff into a 110 volt household outlet, so one length of 36 inches must be very low voltage and fairly cool to the touch.

Anita Myers

Wiring on Foamcore: The Cir-Kit booklet warns against using tape on Foamcore unless you use wood blocks under the junctions and outlets. I would guess you could hollow out the foam and insert a piece of wood in the spots where you plan to put the brads. IMO it would be easier to just use the round wire than to go through all that -- you can solder the points on the outlets and fluorette holders right to the wire.

Rose

Outdoor lighting: The showcase bulb for the fluorette is a super bright 200 ma compared to the  regular fluorette of 180 ma. If you want a subdued light, use a 16 volt bulb. It works off the same transformer as the 12 volt but draws less current so is not as bright, plus it lasts longer. If you have enough lights you may want to try using the Houseworks Lighting Control Panel which has the option of putting in diodes for dimming one or more of the lights.

Rose

CIR-KIT Bulbs - Cir-Kit makes a 'Spotlight' bulb which is approximately 3 times the amps of their regular bulbs. I've used them in my Brooke Tucker box outside the windows to simulate sunlight and was really pleased with the results. They come with a swivel, metal attachment which can be screwed, nailed or even super-glued to your structure and point the light where you want it.

Laura