 | We've all got our display cabinets at home, and some of us are lucky to have some pretty epic natural lighting while most of us just turn on a light or make do - WELL BROTHERS AND SISTERS - lurk in the dark no longer, let your miniatures see the light courtesy of our Norse brethren from IKEA. We've been looking at lighting options for the display cases here for a while now, even considering one of the expensive integrated lighting options from a shop fitter - but today we saw the light (literally) and just had to share it, because it's simple, cheap and effective! |
"But seriously, how dramatic can a cheap lighting option be?" Well - this effective...
On the left is the natural lighting I have for one of the display cabinets here. On the right is the lighting after installing a set of DIODER LED 4-piece lighting strip from IKEA.
  | The initial set up looks a bit messy, with four LED strips extending from a power hub - not totally what I was after, but doable. Then as I looked over the instructions I saw that one of the options (middle) was to make a string of them via short flexible connectors. This could then make a square shape, almost exactly the size of the display case roof!  Be warned though, using these short flexible connectors is tight and it's easy to bend the very delicate metal that makes the connection. I accidentally bent the little metal prongs and had to use a chopstick to bend them back down and then hold them down as I slid the flexible connector cable over them. This may be a design flaw, but it only happened with one of the four LED strings. Suffice to say, have something on hand if this does happen. Gently gently! There are four cables that connect back to the power hub. With this single strand method with the small flexible connectors for each strip, you will only need to use one of those cables so it reduces the need for all those cables and mess. Attaching the strips to the roof of the display box is very easy with either screws and brackets (top left) or just little sticky strips (bottom left). The sticky strips were fine and held firmly. They are the perfect width too, so no cutting or trying to fit them in. We connected it all up, then applied the strips before sticking it to the roof, just to get the spacing right. |
... and there you have it!
Like most IKEA products, there is a power button on the cable so you don['t have to turn it on and off at the wall all the time. The cables are also quite long; from switch to power hub is 1.5 m, and from power hub to lighting strips is 2.5 m - enough for most rooms, that's for sure!
Like most IKEA products, there is a power button on the cable so you don['t have to turn it on and off at the wall all the time. The cables are also quite long; from switch to power hub is 1.5 m, and from power hub to lighting strips is 2.5 m - enough for most rooms, that's for sure!
The DIODER LED 4-piece lighting strip is $49.95 in Australia, so would vary depending on your region, but well worth the time and money!
There are other DIODER systems, one with an LED light changer to go from white light (bit too blue) all the way up to reds which could be really awesome if you want to do some terrain lighting. There is also a flexible strip version if you have a round display case or want to do something tricky.
If you prefer a spotlight rather than a strip, there is also a four light set or a single light set.
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So to wrap it all up - well with the money PLUS it's very simple to install with great results.
(BTW, for those following the War Hounds Project on this site, this is where I'm at with the force!)
There are other DIODER systems, one with an LED light changer to go from white light (bit too blue) all the way up to reds which could be really awesome if you want to do some terrain lighting. There is also a flexible strip version if you have a round display case or want to do something tricky.
If you prefer a spotlight rather than a strip, there is also a four light set or a single light set.
-
So to wrap it all up - well with the money PLUS it's very simple to install with great results.
(BTW, for those following the War Hounds Project on this site, this is where I'm at with the force!)
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