Distributing Light

 I have never been happy with the light distribution in these control centers.    The single light in front of the Blacktron logo not only washes the logo out, but does not provide sufficient light for the entire control center.  The change is really not that hard.  I just have to pull the single LED back and then run a new set of wires to the added LED.

Here the wire and LED are removed.

A second LED is prepared to be installed.  Note that both LEDs are mounted on 1 x 1 round tiles.

I went back and installed Technic bricks so that I would have holes to pas the wires through.  The two pictures above show that on either side of the Blacktron Logo.  Also I used 1 x 1 round tiles to hold the wires in place.  As stated previously, the 1 x 1 round tiles leave enough room to pass two 30 gauge wires through the gap.

 This shows the completed wire run and where the LEDs were mounted. 

And the final result at night.  The light distribution is far better.  The detail of the entire control center is visible.  The two LED solution is far superior.  It also allowed me to move the two monitors on the ends out so they can be seen better.

Here it is with the ambient lights on.  Even in this lighting environment, the two LED solution provides the illumination that you would want.  Compare this picture to the one at the top of this blog post.  You can tell this is the better solution.

Lego Exposition - Washington DC

 During part of this road trip to the East, we visited the National Building Museum. At this time they have an exhibition called Brick City.  Here are some of what is on display.

Early LEGO sets.

I really liked this one.  I have been wanting to place a cafeteria/mess hall in the Space Outpost.  While this is a market, I think it will serve as a great inspiration for this detail.  More pictures follow.

The detail in this display is incredible.  

 This is a cut away of the National Building Museum.  The remaining pictures are of that model.

What I find appealing of this model is the office space.  This is another feature I need to improve in the Space Outpost and this will serve as inspiration.

Road Trip

 

Long road trip for the last month.  Drove from Nevada to Virginia, traveled around Virginia and Maryland and then back to Nevada.  A long the way I found multiple Brick Stores (Bricks and Minifigs and similar).  I was able to spend time in three of them and collected quite a few bricks, plus getting some for the grand kids.  Above you can see a portion of the Tan version I found.  It took me almost a week to wash, sort and put away the haul.  

Next on the schedule is Brickpalooza in Roseville CA on Dec 9.  My goal is to fill in one of the angled holes with the rock wall and the start of Blacktron quarters, cafeteria and recreation room.  Additionally I need to update the Space Gun controller such that it is contained in the platform.  Once the area behind it is filled in with the rock wall, there will be no room for the controller.  For this I have been working on upgrading the firmware in the Brick Buddy ONE to be compatible with all the other controllers.  More on this later.

Finally some of the beautiful  places to see in this country.

Southern Utah on State road 25.

Crossing the Colorado River over the far north end of Lake Powell.

These two pictures are of Utah State Route 261 as we descend off Cedar Mesa to Mexican Hat, Utah. Mostly single lane gravel/dirt road.  These two show the best part of the road.

Monument Valley.

Sunrise on the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Somewhere in eastern Tennessee.

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

And the same mill, but from August of 1976.

Somewhere in Western Kansas or Eastern Colorado on US 50.