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"What Lights Do I Need For..."

3/25/2014

26 Comments

 
2021 Update: Since this post was originally published, we have launched our online User Forum.  Many customers have shared their approaches for lighting their models-- you can check them out and contribute to the conversation by clicking here.

Here at Brickstuff, we often get questions along the lines of, "I just bought <x> LEGO set, and I'm wondering what lights I need to go with it.  Can you help?"

OF COURSE we can help-- we love connecting with our customers and hearing about all the awesome things they are creating!  So if you have a question about any of our products, don't hesitate to reach out and ask.

Since we often do get the same question, however, we thought it might be helpful to publish this blog post with some of the most common advice we provide.

When considering which lights you need for a given model, the most important factor to consider is: what overall effect are you hoping to achieve?  By this we don't mean lighting effect, but rather the approach you plan to take to the lighting process as a whole.  Here it is important to decide whether your goal is to add basic lighting (for example, adding general, broad light to one or more buildings), or whether you're aiming for something more detailed (for example, lighting each individual lamp in a house, headlight on a vehicle, or laser on a space ship).

If your goal is to add a large amount of general light to relatively large spaces (such as the interior of a building), your best bet is to use our Light Strips.  We offer these in packs of 2 and also in a 9-pack starter kit.  As a general rule of thumb, you'll need three Light Strips per floor of a Modular Building-sized structure (use fewer per floor if you have a smaller building, more if you have a larger building).  You can connect the Light Strips end to end, so you can expand your lighting installation or add more light at any time.  We have published an online guide that provides more ideas for using our Light Strips to light Modular Buildings (you can use these same techniques to light non-buildings as well).

If your goal is to create detail lighting (lighting individual lamps, engines, headlights, laser cannons, etc.), then our Pico Light Boards are the right solution.  As with the Light Strips, we offer these in packs of 2 and also in a starter kit.

So, to summarize: there is no one "right" way to light your creations.  Depending on the type of effect you are seeking, you will benefit from using either our Light Strips or our Pico Light Boards (or both, if you want to light both general areas and detailed spaces).  For models like Technic models, space ships, and the like, you will probably want to use the Pico Light Boards.

No matter your approach or what you're hoping to light up, the easiest way to get started is to use one of our starter kits-- these include everything you'll need to be up and running quickly, and since everything in the Brickstuff system is modular, you can easily expand or adjust your installation (or your approach) at any time.

We hope this information has been helpful.  If you have additional specific questions, we'd be happy to help!  Just send us a note via our Contact page and we'll be in touch.



26 Comments
Scarlett link
8/22/2014 09:27:15 am

I got the Lego parisian restaurant in January and love the thought of having lights in there. Could u guys tell me what lights I need? Thanks

Reply
Erica
8/27/2014 08:17:45 am

I am currently lighting the PR and am writing the guidelines for the fabulous people at Brickstuff. If you want the interior of the PR to have the atmosphere of a well lit warehouse, use the light strips. However, if you want the romantic atmosphere that French restaurants usually have, I recommend using individual light boards. I started with the light strips and quickly changed my mind as the interior became as intimate as a well lit factory.
Depending on what items you want to light you will be looking at using up to 23 or 24 lights. I'm lighting all the lamps, fire features, stoves, and providing accent lighting and ending up with 23 light boards.
The PR guidelines should be posted to the Brickstuff website in September.

Reply
Vivienne Barick
11/24/2016 08:54:07 pm

hi,
I am a newbie of lego lighting system. Therefore I need your help.
My just turned 3 years old girl had chosen this set and is building this set by herself right now. She is already a lego building expert. Once she finished building it, I would need to put in the lights for this Christmas. I would love to put in 23 light boards as you recommended as I myself is very enthusiastic about romantic atmosphere lighting, that is why I have installed 100 over halogen lights in my small condo to create different atmosphere, even though constantly hearing people nagging at me and "suggesting" me to change to energy saving light bulb to save on electricity bill. I can't find your PR guidelines on the website. Could you send me a link? Thank you very much in advance.

Vivienne Barwick from Singapore

Reply
Brickstuff
11/27/2016 01:31:10 am

Hello, thank you for your comment. You mention your daughter is building a LEGO set-- can you tell us which set? You mention PR guidelines-- we don't really have any formal guidelines, but we do ship to Singapore, so you can place your order directly on our site. Please use the Contact form on our site if you have any additional questions or if we can be of additional assistance. Thank you again!

dewy
6/12/2015 06:10:40 am

I was also wondering what lights should go with the lego brand
but instead it would be the moble crane MK II
would be nice to know soon because of WWB 2015
email me at [email protected]
thanks

Reply
Michael
11/1/2016 01:05:45 am

Just wondering how your lighting turned out for the MKII, I want to fully light mine up as well and am looking for help/ideas if you are willing to share.

Reply
Brickstuff
11/1/2016 04:15:03 pm

Hi Michael, as with the Volvo kit, we do have the parts in stock to sell a kit to you for the MKII if interested. The deluxe kit has two of our rotating beacons-- let us know if you'd like that one or the basic kit with strobes. Please contact us through our website for more info, and thanks again!

Aoe
12/27/2015 02:01:34 pm

Hi, please advise if I want to light the general modular set of Parisian restaurant and the individual lighting, what is the best solution for me? I'm know nothing about wiring and electronics hence would there be a step by step guide?

Reply
Frank Rodriguez
5/26/2016 11:13:20 am

Finished the Millennium Falcon Ultimate Collectors edition, from spare parts and a few purchases. Took forever!! It looks amazing but with lights!! It would be beyond great. What sets would you guys recommend for this?

Reply
Brickstuff link
5/26/2016 12:21:18 pm

Hi Frank, thank you for your question. We do have a rough draft PDF lighting diagram for the UCS Falcon. You can download it here: http://bit.ly/ucsfalcon. Let us know if this helps, or if you have any additional questions. Thank you for your interest in our products!

Reply
Oliver
10/22/2016 03:37:56 pm

What's up Brickstuff?,

I'm currently building the Lego Disney Castle, and I stumbled upon a review done on the Lego website by a person named "Heffay", who did an awesome job with the lighting. I was wondering if you guys can help me out because I would like to do the same thing. Here is the link to the person's review along with photos. Any help would be great, thanks!

https://shop.lego.com/en-US/The-Disney-Castle-71040

Reply
Brickstuff link
10/24/2016 09:28:42 am

Hi Oliver, thank you for posting your question. We are working on a kit for the beautiful Disney Castle. We'll send you a direct e-mail with some questions to learn more about what you're looking for in the set. Thanks again for your interest in our products!

Reply
KC
11/6/2016 07:49:16 pm

Hi Brickstuff!

Would love to have an update with regards to the lighting kit for Disney Castle as well! Thank you very much!

Chris
11/8/2016 09:11:45 am

Hi, I sent an email a few weeks ago regarding lights for the Disney castle. Can I install lights after the castle is assembled or do I have to wait on assembly until I get the lights? Do you know when the light kit will be available for sale?

Thanks!

Keith
11/29/2016 01:53:03 pm

I too am interested in a light kit for the Disney Castle. I would want to light up the outside with different colored lights as shown in the Lego review by "Heffay" as well as light the interior rooms.

Michael
11/1/2016 01:03:34 am

Question, I am trying to light the Volvo 42030. I want to light up all the lights on this. Will warm lights work under the amber and red studs to make them look their respective colors, or do I need to buy the correct colors for each colors light (I.E. red tail lights, amber marker lights)?

Reply
Brickstuff
11/1/2016 04:13:24 pm

Hi Michael, thanks for your question. We have a kit for this setup-- it's not on our public site, because we make them in small quantities (someday if we make the kit in higher volumes we'll put it on the main site for sale). We can still sell you one if you're interested. Would you like the version with our rotating beacon or just the small rounded light that comes with the kit? Please send us a note through our website and we can provide more details. Thank you again!

Reply
Sam
1/11/2017 07:05:46 am

Hi,
I am looking to light 2 x modular builds - Cinema as per one of your customers with the cinema board on the exterior lit up and the Brick Bank. In addition to, London Tower Bridge and Big Ben. Please can you advise what is necessary?

Reply
Brickstuff link
1/23/2017 07:42:35 pm

Hi Sam, thanks for your question. We've moved most of these discussions to our new user forum: http://forum.brickstuff.com/category/what-lights-do-i-use-for-x-lego-set. We have a quick guide for the Palace Cinema and we'll soon have a marquee set for the outside. As for the Brick Bank, either our Pico LED Starter kit or Light Strip starter kit will work (we don't have a specific kit for the Brick Bank, but our starter kits will work with most of the Modulars).

Reply
Candace Chu
1/22/2017 10:49:12 pm

I would like to get lights installed for my Disney castle...is there any kit for sale? Would love to get a reply

Reply
Brickstuff link
1/23/2017 07:43:43 pm

Hi Candace, thank you for your post. We have a discussion thread on our user forum that talks about the light kit we're developing for the Disney Castle:

http://forum.brickstuff.com/t/18mz5b/light-up-disney-castle

Reply
Tony
3/4/2017 08:10:13 pm

I am looking to light the lego taj mahal and would like some advice as to wants to purchase and where to place the lights

Reply
Brickstuff link
3/6/2017 06:48:10 pm

Hi Tony, thanks for your question. We don't have that set ourselves, but one of our customers lit his and posted the results in our online user forum here: http://forum.brickstuff.com/t/36640d/taj-mahal. You might try posting a question there to ask him how he did it and if he could share the parts list and steps he used.

Reply
Mona Stephanie Benedetto link
6/4/2017 08:01:12 pm

Hello. I would like very much to have that led green light set for my LEGO Monster City. The Haunted House. Would you happen to have anything like this? Please let me know. Thank you.

Reply
Rob Klingberg link
6/7/2017 12:22:36 pm

Hello, thank you for your question. We are working on a truly unique lighting (and sound) kit for the Haunted House. If you want to keep an eye on our User Forum (http://forum.brickstuff.com) we will be sharing news there as it gets closer to launch.

Reply
Mona Stephanie Benedetto
6/7/2017 12:58:05 pm

Thank you SO much Rob for responding to my question! I appreciate it! I am really looking forward to seeing that lighting AND sound kit you guys are working on for the Lego haunted house set! SO excited! Sound! Wowie Zowie! Thank you VERY much for the link, so I can keep an eye on your newest invention! I greatly appreciate all of your time and help! 😁😘👍✌👌💞🌼🍀


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