Valance lighting problem

[gdelmoro]

So I finally got the electrical, plumbing and plaster work done in my new train room. The Valance you see below matches the outside contour of the Layout.  Looked good to me.

Next is the installation of the LED Ligting behind the valance.  No problems with that except for that peninsula on the right. The supports needed to make the valance ridged are creating and unexpected problem.

Wherever you stand on either side of the peninsula you clearly see the support structure.  If I add LED Strip lights they too will be visible.

The part of the Layout I’m talking about is the walk around peninsula.

Any ideas?

[mbinsewi]

You were thinking you could hide it?  It looks like it's made from masonite, that flops around, and needs support.

Just paint everything the same color as the ceiling.

Any other way of doing what your doing, and hiding everything, would include building an enclosed soffit structure, like whats above kitchen cabinets, with it's own drop ceiling, to hide lights and the support structure.

You could still do that, but that's up to you.  Better now, than after you start benchwork.

Mike.

[doctorwayne]

Mike's suggestion to paint the supports is a good one, but if you or your guests are operating trains, I doubt that many will be inspecting the details of the ceiling.  If the layout is also visually interesting, that's where eyes will be focussed.

My layout is partially double-decked, and the lower level's valance, to hide the fluorescent light fixtures, is fairly deep.  Since that area is operated from a rolling office chair, it works well to direct light onto the layout and to not draw the operator's eyes to the lighting source...

...however, taking photos of the lower level, especially when the camera is on the layout, often reveals elements not in harmony with the intended image...

The upper level, and the single-level area are lit with fluorescent fixtures above the drop ceiling, and while the plastic covers do limit somewhat the amount of light, it's mostly adequate for the situation.
I do intend to replace some of the fluorescent fixtures on the single level with LED mini-pot lights installed in the ceiling tiles, placing them close to the front edge of the layout.  It looks as if putting them on 4' centres should provide even dispersion of the light, and their placement will be unaffected by the pipes and ducts above the drop ceiling. 
While they would likely benefit from a valance to direct all of the light onto the layout and none into the aisle area, I probably won't bother with that option.

Wayne

[gdelmoro]

Yeah, enclosing the soffit is not something I can do by myself but that was my first thought. I think ill paint everything flat black then run the LED’s in U-Channel to block both sides but allow light straight down.

Thanks Mike thjat’s my objective to draw the eye elseware. Well, we’ll see how it goes.

[riogrande5761]

Wayne, your layout example is not a very good comparison to the OP's situation.  His valence is on the ceiling so it's easy to see the supports.  Your ceiling doesn't have valences and where you do, they are lower down where you can't easily see the supports because they are so low, you'd likely have to bend down to see them, which is good and avoids the problem the OP is showing.

 

To the OP, do you really need valences? 

One thing Wayne's photo's do illustrate is that a valence may not be needed on the ceiling.    They aren't necessarily mandetory.  That is your solution - remove them and install lighting in/on the ceiling that be over the main parts of the layout.  I suggest mounting flat panel LED lights strategically for good coverage.

[rrinker]

 The difference compared to other layouts you may have seen pictured is that typically there is a viewblock and/or even a full height backdrop down the center (or offset of necessary) of a penninsula, separating the sides from one another, so that someone standing ont he right side of it can;t see the valence supports and lights on the right side, and vice-versa. For the penninsula to be one big open area, there isn;t much you cna do about this. As long as the lights on the far side don't shine in the eyes of someone working on the near side, I think Wayne is right, it will tend to disappear as people focus on the trains and scenery and not the stuff around it - get immersed in the illusion, as it were.

                                 --Randy

 

[lifeontheranch]

If you are ambitious you can install drop ceiling lighting panels. Hides everything but lets light through. Additional installation pics at: http://www.lkorailroad.com/layout-lighting-panels-part-ii/

 

[mbinsewi]

lifeontheranch

If you are ambitious you can install drop ceiling lighting panels. Hides everything but lets light through.

Looks good.  That's what I was talking about in my reply. Enclose the island valance, with a drop ceiling and hidden lights.

Mike.

[gdelmoro]

lifeontheranch

If you are ambitious you can install drop ceiling lighting panels. Hides everything but lets light through. Additional installation pics at: http://www.lkorailroad.com/layout-lighting-panels-part-ii/

 

 

Thanks Alan I was thinking about something like that except I didn’t think of the Drop ceiling. Since the Led’s Will be in “U” Channels they could mount under the ceiling and still be behind the valance if I leave space. Problem is I don’t know if there is a way to curve the edges of the drop ceiling support brackets.

I don’t want to remove the valance, a divider in the center of the peninsula is an option and also leaving it (just painting it black) as suggested is also an option.  Hmmmm, what to do, what to do?

[lifeontheranch]

Use TrimTex for the curved wall rails.

https://www.trim-tex.com/products/overview/commercial-beads/acoustical-ceiling-beads/flex-grid-angle/

[BroadwayLion]

Who shot Liberty Valance?