Rokket,
I like the idea of using the led's for fixtures - some sort of brass for the frames around them and it might work well.
As for the brightness, I have an electronics store a block away that might have resistors. The only reason I was going to use the grain-of-wheat bulbs is because I have a pile of them hanging around.
While not an officially stated goal of this project - nor is it a gospel mandate, I am curious to see how well I can build this thing - as inexpensively and creatively as possible.
While it is fine to throw wads of yen, dollars, ducquates, pesos and money in general at a model project, I think people forget that it is not always about that.
So far, my highest cost has been the Evergreen "L" girders (about $30.00), and a few bottles of liquid weld ($4.00 ea) and a few bottles of paint.
The sheet styrene I bought in bulk at a printing house for about 10.00 - that was a 4 foot x 8 foot sheet of .015" Not a bad buy!
My torpedo tubes were going to cost me $20.00 if I made them of brass, but only cost me $3.00 in wood. They will look fine, but I may go with aluminum tubing for the next one so I can show open tubes.
I have learned a lot so far, scrapped a fair share, rolled up my sleeves and gone back in, fighting... I have figured out things I never would have thought I could figure out with this beast - and she is just getting started! I also have a growing list of things I will change for the better on the next one - things like making at least one out of every few frames out of aluminum or brass, just to reduce the plastic flex. I have fixtures and jigs worked out, and my drawings are coming along. I am even giving thought to learning to do castings. I need several pieces of plumbing that are not available in 1:35 - and what better way than to cast them.
The image that got me started on this build is at
http://www.u-35.com/photo/Bau1.jpg. Something in my mind looked at the photos of the bare ribs and I said - "Hey - I can do that!".
I am having fun with the build, and I am having loads of fun learning from all of you fine folk.
Thanks everyone for all the encouragement.
The model I am gearing up to build is U-35 after Admiral Graf Spee cut her to shreds... I want to build her in dry dock, with her working deck and conning tower carved up.
What a boat!
Cheers Mates!
Christopher