Thinking ahead to HO scale interior structure lighting and outdoor lights such as exterior building lights, billboards, streetlights, etc. I don't see much conversation regarding fiber optics versus mini bulbs. I have no experience with either so I am open to comment for preferences and suggestions. I am planning to run AC power on one lighting circuit for nighttime effects, track lighting separately, such as signals, switches, etc. I will be using Digitrax DCC for track. Any ideas or suggestions greatly appreciated.
Fiber optics don't emit enough light to be useful for building interiors or as area lighting. For something like a street light it would be visible only if you could see the end of the fiber.
They make some really small LEDs these days. I would use them for outside lights, and regular 3 or 5 mm LEDs for interior lights. It may be worth experimenting a little to see if you can work with the smaller LEDs and what light they put out.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.