Neon and Burgers!

In a continuation of efforts to push the envelope and innovate I decided to revisit the 1950’s original McDonald’s. What makes a already unique structure more unique? Detailing, weathering, interior, and all the typical processes we go through to make a model into a work of art. What’s the next level? Lighting, animation, sound perhaps. How do you light a neon dressed McDonald’s from the 1950’s in O scale?

I turned to technology and looked into the current innovations in lighting. What about this stuff called electroluminescent wire? What is It? Where can I get enough of it or worse yet the right colors?  Up until recently these lighting systems have been limited to strange colors and hues not seen in reality. I discovered the company that manufactures and the fellow that invented the style or at least in the styles and colors I need for simulation of scale neon.

This stuff is remarkable and easy to use. I had a large custom order made for me to produce this model. Getting used to the terminology was not that difficult such as “inverter” for power supply. Now for the fun part; he recently released .009mm, wow! I mean mechanical pencil lead diameter that is 1:48 scale neon tube!

I have already invested a large amount of time into this heavily modified MTH McDonald’s I bought about 10 years ago so digging back in was a natural. I rehearsed this project for months and finally after $200 in lighting materials were off!

you can bend this wire to 90 degrees without any trouble. The young fellow I placed the order with suggested that if I go to far with the bend a dark spot will occur at the bend but should still work. I didn’t test his theory, I was however able to bend the wire to the angles I needed without difficulty.