This is a steel-related question. I have vague memories of people using LEDs to simulate the pouring of hot metal out of a ladle (sort of a running marquee effect). Unfortunately, I don't recall the details of how this was accomplished. Has anyone done this? Any recommendations as to technique?
Thanks,
George
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Illuminate a rod of plastic/acrylic using an orange LED at one end. If you rough up (sandpaper) the rod, it will light up along the length. This is how LED arm and waist bands used by runners work. You can specifically buy so-called "side-glow" optical fiber by the foot. I figure you only need a few inches (?) so easier to fabricate your own using scrap plastic/acrylic.
I wonder if you can melt semi-translucent orange-red pla filament into a flowing metal shape and have the LED in that? Just a thought.
i have used flashing LEDs inside a forge.
To do a moving molten metal you would need something like Miller Engineering EL panels that simulate moving marque lights,
I don't know what sort of LEDs are needed but I believe the trick is using translucent plastic is the trick. Similar to the clarity of cooled hot glue. The old stamped Lionel passenger cars from the 40s used a strip of translucent plastic across the windows to diffuse the light from a single bulb through the length of the passenger car.
Run 306 had a great article on "Hot Metal in Steel City" by Doug Chiado that features an LED and plastic wrap to simulate molten metal, including a how-to. The pics are pretty convincing.
Mark
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
