Galaxy Blue Arcade Sign Gets Illuminated

Phetishboy

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Got my sign from IvanTT a couple a weeks ago and finally had some time to assemble and illuminate it. I bought a low voltage transformer, 4 way hub and mini wire harnesses from Menards. Then I soldered 8-8 inch blue LED strands to the low voltage wire leads, 2 or 3 strands per mini harness. I used electrical wire straps to secure it to the back of each sign element. I still have to finish strapping some of the wiring and rig up a system to hang it on the wall, but this is how it looks so far:

Assembled:

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Illuminated:

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Phet,

That sign looks awesome. I'm also in Rick's work que for a couple of arcade signs.
How do you plan on hanging it? Does it come with mounting hardware?



Jim
 
Damn Shawn, that thing looks sweet! I wish I was at the point that I could enjoy coming up with awesome decorations for the arcade. (too many projects at the moment).
I recently had Rick do some custom printing for me, I haven't got the stuff yet but I must say the dude's service is top notch!! I love that UFO!
 
Phet,

That sign looks awesome. I'm also in Rick's work que for a couple of arcade signs.
How do you plan on hanging it? Does it come with mounting hardware?



Jim

Thanks Jim. No mounting hardware, so I'll have to come up with a plan for hanging it on the wall too. Can't be any more complicated than the wiring was.
 
That is fantastic! What a great looking sign when lit. Now when's the party?
 
Damn Shawn, that thing looks sweet! I wish I was at the point that I could enjoy coming up with awesome decorations for the arcade. (too many projects at the moment).
I recently had Rick do some custom printing for me, I haven't got the stuff yet but I must say the dude's service is top notch!! I love that UFO!

You know, the UFO is my favorite part too. I wanted a space-themed sign that felt like it could be hanging outside the Jetson's front door, and I have to say, that mood was elegantly and accurately captured and conveyed. Rick did a beautiful job on the execution.
 
Awesome!

Can you take a pic of the back of the sign so we can see what you did?

Sure. Here's a full overview:

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Transformer is the black box at the bottom with a wire that runs from it to the hub about 6 inches above it. AC cord runs down out of the bottom of the transformer to the wall outlet. Lighting is stapled to the back of each floating element and tied to the voltage cables that meet at the hub, where the 12V is split and dispersed. Here are the LED strands I bought direct from Hong Kong a while back:

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You can see the straps I used to secure them. I removed all of the long strap nails they came with, and replaced them with short screws. The nails woulda poked out the front of the sign.
 
Looks sweet! You can hang it like a picture with a cable and hook using two of the screws as attachment points or something of your own design. I thought I'd leave it up to you as I was not sure what was in your wall or if it was masonary or wood/drywall.
 
I like the backlit blue, but it makes the front stuff hard to see in a darkened room. You gonna put a spotlight on it? Be nice if the front art was blacklight reactive. Make it glow....
 
I like the backlit blue, but it makes the front stuff hard to see in a darkened room. You gonna put a spotlight on it? Be nice if the front art was blacklight reactive. Make it glow....

I do have a spot light that's pointed at the spot on the wall where it's gonna be hung. I am gonna try some different color filters to see which color works the best with the blue LED's. I am still debating adding EL wire to the outside contours.
 
It does. If I were you I would not edge light it with EL wire I think it will lose something. I would definately hit it with a spot.
 
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