Model Railway Overhead Lighting

The importance of overhead lighting on a model railway had never crossed my mind. That was until a customer told me about his experiences. He expressed how he had come across numerous layouts that have exceptional modelling but were let down with proper overhead lighting. This hindered their overall appeal which made viewing them a challenge. His solution was to upgrade his own overhead lighting on his model railway. Upon seeing the before-and-after photos of his layout, I was converted there & then! It was time to upgrade the overhead lighting on my model railway. It's only fitting that we showcase our modelling in the best possible light. So we'll look at some popular methods used as layout display lighting.

What Type of Overhead Lighting is Best for Model Railway Layouts?

The type of display lighting used for layouts varies depending on one's personal preference, budget, and the chosen lighting type. Some people prefer spotlights fitted with normal or halogen bulbs, as seen in the photo below. However, traditional bulbs can now be replaced with LED bulbs, which are a more cost-effective option. It's important to note that while spotlights can provide excellent illumination, they may also create darker shadow areas on the layout due to their rather intense, focused beams of light. Ultimately, the best choice of display lighting will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

Downlights are another type of spotlight used. These are generally seen on home-based layouts for room lighting, however, they can be mounted on an overhead board above the layout. Again, these are now available with LED bulbs making them cheaper to run. Like the spotlights as seen above, depending on how many downlights are used above a layout, you may still get some darker shadow areas. Try to fit them so that there are no darker shadow areas across the layout.

Fluorescent lighting tubes are another favoured option for illuminating layouts. They come in an array of sizes, lengths, wattages, and colour luminance. Moreover, replacement LED versions have now made them more cost-effective, cheaper to run, and more durable. Ian P's layout, featured in the photo at the top of the page, showcases the use of fluorescent lighting tubes. Unlike spotlights, these tubes provide evenly distributed light with minimal shadow spots between each tube.

If you're looking for a permanent lighting solution for a home-based layout, consider installing daylight LED ceiling-mounted light panels. These panels will, if positioned evenly apart will eliminate any shadow areas on your layout. Plus, since they're LED, will use less energy and are more cost-effective in the long run. They can also be mounted in overhead panels above the layout too, with a wider spread of light across the layout that gives a more natural lighting effect.

An example of Daylight LED ceiling-mounted panels installed in a model railway room. Note the more natural-looking lighting effect on the layout section in the foreground.

Strip lighting using SMD LEDs is another recent development that has gained popularity for display illumination of layouts. The prices have significantly dropped over recent years, making them an affordable option. With a vast range of lengths, colour luminance, and brightness, there are also colour-changing options. The colour-changing versions can be used to replicate lighting throughout the day from dawn to dusk. LED strip lighting's small size makes them easy to fit. Generally, they have a self-adhesive backing so no screws are needed for fitting them. They come supplied in reals making them easy to store before use. Additionally, they can be cut and made shorter as required, allowing for fitting them in shorter sections with connecting wires between sections. Moreover, they can be used inside model buildings too!

Another type of LED lighting is the COB LED light strip. It offers all the benefits of standard LED strips and more. With a higher light output per unit area, it provides brighter and more uniform lighting. Its improved thermal management over SMD LED-type lighting allows for higher power and more efficient heat dissipation. Plus, its smaller size makes it ideal for fitting in tight spaces. Additionally, COB LED light strips have better colour rendering, making them an excellent choice for any lighting application. An example of a COB LED lighting strip can be seen below.

The following image below illustrates the light spread from both types of LED strip lighting. Notice how the COB LED located at the bottom of the image below, provides a significantly smoother and more uniform distribution of light. It also has hardly any bright spots in contrast to the SMD LED lighting strip above it.

What colour SMD LED lighting strip would you suggest?

The most popular colours or K lighting temperatures are those that simulate natural daylight. These are rated in the colour temperature range of around 5000K to 6500K. This gives a much more natural daylight look & feel to your layouts. When buying LED strip lighting, check the product specs for its daylight rating and also check that the colour temperature rating is between 5000K to 6500K.

Fitting SMD LED light strips

LED lighting strips are very easy to install thanks due to their self-adhesive backing. You can attach them to the rear side of a front fascia board or front pelmet, or mount them on the underside of an upper-level baseboard, to illuminate a lower-level fiddle yard. Just make sure the area you're sticking them to is clean and free of dust. In hot weather, the adhesive backs may occasionally start to fail due to the heat, particularly in lofts. To avoid this issue, apply suitable glue to the backing of the LED lighting strip before installation.

A simple lighting pelmet for a loft layout

An SMD LED lighting strip is fixed to the rear side of the pelmet

LED lighting strips often come supplied with a transformer, but if not, you'll need to buy one separately. To ensure you get the right transformer for your LED lighting strip, consult with the vendor or use an LED transformer calculator which can be found on the internet.

Model Railway Overhead Lighting Examples

To showcase & demonstrate the effect of the different display lighting, we've included some examples in the images below. The initial image below shows a TMD depot scene with the LED display lighting deactivated, leading to deeper shadows. The source of illumination is the layout room single conventional fluorescent light tube.

Now, in the following photo below, observe & noticed the difference with the overhead SMD LED daylight lighting turned on. The shadows have been much reduced, and the scene now has a more natural lighting appearance.

This example below, modelled and taken by Ian P, shows his layout illuminated by daylight fluorescent tubes. Take note again of the more natural look with the lighting. The scenic details also really stand out more.

To conclude, Kevin Phare has modelled this fantastic scenic example. The scene is illuminated with daylight lighting, resulting in a natural and realistic-looking appearance. The lighting makes the details really pop & stand out.

In conclusion

Is it worth the extra effort to install daylight display lighting for your model railway? Absolutely! As demonstrated & shown in the examples above, it really makes a significant difference not only for viewing the layout but also for taking photos and filming videos. With daylight lighting, you can leave your camera or device flash turned off. Set its white balance setting to either auto or daylight mode. This prevents the camera flash from washing out details and casting harsh shadows across the scene.

Moreover, daylight lighting is much better for your eyes when working on the scene. The costs of daylight LED lighting are now very affordable and cheaper to run too!

See your layout in a different light and showcase it at its best. Fitting overhead display lighting is well worth the time and effort. Take the opportunity to show your modelling at its best with the benefits daylight display lighting provides.

Happy modelling