Would you like electric lighting in your Town sets?

[JINZONINGEN73]

I remember an oooold Lego book my brother had back in the late 70's or early 80's.

It was neat... it told a silent story of a town going about it's daily activities from morning to night.

But it was at the "night" part I got interested.

The minifigs went to sleep in their home, and turned on lights inside.

SO... am I alone? Do you think electrical lighting inside your town (and presumably bleeding over into other themes) would be cool or feasible to have?

I sure do, even to the extent that some of the bulb-bricks be some of those micro, ultraviolet lamps as found in spy pen toys. (Makes a few of the trans colors glow like freaking crazy).

[Siegfried]

I tend to think as a separate set however. Using LEDs would nice as well.

[Landlubber]

Sounds good to me. Actually, we have 50 12v lego lights sitting in a bag ready to be incorporated into the town once decent space is obtained to accomodate the ever expanding collection. I've also got a 9v system in a Pirate ship with working lanterns.

[snefroe]

I remember an oooold Lego book my brother had back in the late 70's or early 80's.

It was neat... it told a silent story of a town going about it's daily activities from morning to night.

But it was at the "night" part I got interested.

The minifigs went to sleep in their home, and turned on lights inside.

don't know that book... |-/ one of the best pages/pictures of Lego i ever saw, was the double page of book 6000, when the starring couple leaves the cinema, take on their air tanks and fly to the other planet with the space cruiser. That all happened at night, when everything was dark, except for the lights in the cinema. that was really great! it set an atmosphere you could never ever duplicate in any daylight scene...

i also like the old light and sound sets. i wouldn't mind having them back in the catalogue, even though the sound would make parents nuts...

[Mr Hobbles]

I'm all for this, as a seperate set though. No sense raising the current price of sets with 9v lighting elements, rather have add on sets like they used to.

I'd be all for a new type of landpost which lit up, and had a wire coming out of the bottom that would plug into a 9v power source with the standard 4 stud connector. How about flourescent lights for the ceiling of buildings?

[UniqueBuilder]

I voted for "Other". I'd like to see the return of the streetlights, preferably sold in seperate packages. *sweet*

I wouldn't like it in cars, though. Too chunky. *wacko* But a mini motor in a tow truck? Ah, yeah baby.. ;-)

[Asuka]

one of the best pages/pictures of Lego i ever saw, was the double page of book 6000, when the starring couple leaves the cinema, take on their air tanks and fly to the other planet with the space cruiser.

Ah, I remember that.... *wub*

Thanks very much for that link, snefroe1! *y*

And yes, some city electric lightning would be very nice for layouts I think....

Would be a cool idea for a special CREATOR line. :'-)

[zeki]

I voted for other...i would like that, but hte price would be too hihg...so everyone could do it at home LED technology makes it possible but very expensive!

[snefroe]

i think the problem is that if you're talking about an electrical system for town substance, like lamp posts,... you need to have extra city substance sets as well, like a set with these lamp posts,... and Lego doesn't want to release that... they'd also have to create an electrical box and wires... That wasn't a problem with the old trains, because trains had these wires anyway...

[Holodoc]

Oh yes! I always loved the 9V electric lights. *wub*

And so does my son:

Two pics of a small disco (for workers? *wacko* ) he built a month ago.

But I also agree to UniqueBuilder: They should be sold in seperate packages. It just would make it too expensive otherwise.

Lights On!

[Minifig Lecturer]

You can light up your lego city for about 5euro if u buy some cheap small Christmas lights. Hiding the wires can be challenging, but with patience and some ingenuity it can be done well.

[Jesper]

I voted for "Other". I'd like to see the return of the streetlights, preferably sold in seperate packages.

I intended to answar like you UniqueBuilder, when I voted "Other", but I'll just quote you.

[captaintau]

Lighting in town sets? Now there's a BRIGHT idea! :-D

Jinzo, in your poll, I suspect the option was meant to be "couldn't care less"?

[highlandcattle]

Lighting in town sets? Now there's a BRIGHT idea! :-D

Jinzo, in your poll, I suspect the option was meant to be "couldn't care less"?

I still have my 12v street lights I would like a new system as long as it is not daft like the new RC trains that eats up batteries

[UniqueBuilder]

Oh yes! I always loved the 9V electric lights. *wub*

And so does my son:

Two pics of a small disco (for workers? *wacko* ) he built a month ago.

But I also agree to UniqueBuilder: They should be sold in seperate packages. It just would make it too expensive otherwise.

Lights On!

Err.. Holdoc? Do you control which websites your son is visiting..? I would have done that.. :'-(

Jump suit fetish ON OFF! :-/

[Darth Tater]

Interesting topic.

I posted on BrickLink awhile back, asking about adding some working lights to my 7900 Heavy Hauler.

[Klaus-Dieter]

I would like electric lightening in my Town sets but only in the manner of street lamps and train station lamps you can buy as extra set. Otherwise the Town sets would become too expensive and wouldn't go with older Town sets. It should also be 9 V lighting for which you needn't always new batteries but for which you can use a 9 V transformers.

Electric signals for the trains would be nice, too.

[casewindu]

Yes, I would really like some kind of lighting in my town. Some people have done it with unofficial LEDs and other things but I find this too difficult and annoying. :-/

[Minifig Lecturer]

I dont know if anyone else saw it on the news, but if industry starts to power devices using "airtricity" (a wireless form of powering) this would be potentially great for Lego fans. Imagine not having the need for batteries in your lego cars and having them powered by the mains via a wireless power. One would save a fortune and realistically make it a practical dream for many.

MORE INFO ON WIRELESS POWERING

[Minish Man]

I like the idea, but definately as separate sets. Brings back memories of the UFO mothership that had fibre optic. A lot of the set's cost went on that, so on the rest of the craft they skimped.

I'd rather they built solid sets full of things, then have electric lights as serparate add-ons.

[Mike F]

I think that it would raise the cost of the set a considerable amount, and it doesn't really matter anyways. And of course, Lego will do it wrong and it will look too detailed and too ugly like market street.

[alex54]

Adding some lights is nice, in additional sets for the cost. LEDs seem to be a good way, or maybe a fibre optic system

[Athos]

I wouldn't mind them in a separate set. Maybe as an add on. I wouldn't like them in the actual model set itself, since that would make them so pricey.

Steve

[PaulC]

(From the poll):

NO! It'd be too chunky to integrate into such small configurations!

Au contraire! I really like the old 9v lighting system. The components all fit with standard Lego and are small enough to do some really neat stuff. I decided to see how small you can go:

Top left: World's smallest light and sound Police Truck. 4 x 12 studs with working headlights, flashing blue lights and siren!

Top right: The on/off switch is accessible at the back.

Bottom left: This is the layout of the components with the truck removed.

Bottom right: Here are all the 9v components used.

My Blue Turbo mod with working table lamps in the first class compartment. They are powered by a 9v battery box in the engine to the right.

Here's one I posted earlier: Light + sounding the modern Fire Truck using just the bricks in that set plus the 9v components pictured.

The 9v system is almost perfect, plus you can run streetlights and building lights off a 9v train controller! Bring back 9v Lego! These photos were originally taken in response to a request by Casewindu for some lighting examples. Sorry they took so long to post!

[Asuka]

He he, even if I sound repetitive, I have to say that this looks very beautiful, PaulC.... :-P

I love that coach, and a fire truck with working lights.... wonderful! *y*