I was surfing Youtube and stumbled onto this video about LED filaments. I didn't know these things exist. They're basically an LED strip with about 28 very tiny LEDs encased in a flexible material, but the effect is that of a continuous glowing tube. In the larger scales they would be good for simulating fluorescent bulbs. They would also be good for illuminating signs. They sell for about a dollar each.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/LED-filament-chip-1W-for-bulb-light-13mA-74-8v-112LM-W-warm-cool-white-Light/1862140831.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_XiunR-cAQ
Steve S
Hi Steve:
Interesting little devices. They would certainly work well for making signs. The circuitry required to run them is a bit more complex than just attaching a resistor but its not something that a typical hobbiest with some basic electronic knowledge couldn't do. The clock in the video was running off of 12 volts even though the LED tubes require 75 volts so getting the right power wouldn't require anything that's not already on most layouts.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!