James River Branch: Dot's Diner

Dot's Diner, Part 3 of 3: Lighting and Effects

Diners are bright, busy places, usually with more in the way of lighting effects than most any other typical business. Miller Engineering was clever and wise to provide a lighting kit for the diner, because it really helps to bring it to life. However, as is my nature, I cannot leave well enough alone, even when my intention was to build it more or less stock.

It started with the neon DINER sign. To improve its appearance, I cut the letters off of the non-illuminated etched metal version to extract the base, and bonded it to the electroluminescent part. The portion of the sign that's inside the diner had to be sealed with black paint in order to prevent flooding the entrance with pink light.

Another improvement was to change its color. I felt that the hot pink of the letters when the sign was off and viewed in normal light did not seem realistic, so I applied a coat of Tamiya Transparent Red paint, which not only gave it a more realistic color, but also a nice plastic-like sheen. I did not anticipate this would do much to alter its color when illuminated, and it didn't (nor was I concerned); it just went from a pale, slightly bluish-pink to a pale, slightly purplish-pink. I also spent quite a bit of time painstakingly applying black paint with a #000 brush to all of the edges of the letters, which blocked the pale blue "light leaks" and enhanced the sign's realism. That was time well spent.

Then came the interior lighting. This did not get off to a good start, since the ceiling light as supplied was not the right size or shape: it wouldn't fit until nearly a third of the panel was cut off, by which time almost half the ceiling was no longer illuminated. Fortunately I had Miller Engineering's electroluminescent "experimenter's kit" on hand, which had connectors flush with the edge, allowing me to make a panel that illuminated nearly the entire ceiling area. At one point the diner was located such that it was possible to peer into the building at an angle that the ceiling was visible, so I added an etched bass part (an N scale industrial ladder safety cage, of all things) to simulate lighting fixtures in a suspended ceiling.

The work invested in the lighting eventually paid off big-time, in my opinion. Photos of the effects provide only a rough idea of their impact; the interior lighting is especially interesting to see in person. My only regret is that the EL panels will degrade over time, eventually becoming too dim to see. This will take years of occasional use, but it will happen nonetheless.

Miller Engineering's illumination kit for the diner is a really great idea.

The base is removed from the metal sign and attached to the lighted sign.

After installing the sign on the roof, it's test-fit on the building.

The sign is electrically tested while the roof is in position on the building.

The lighted sign color was improved by applying transparent red paint.

The ingredients for a fluorescent lighting fixture effect are assembled.

Peering through the window of the diner at night produces an interesting view!