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Recently I've started creating a scratch built Zone Mortalis board. I've got 1 Tile done, but a conversation on another forum got me interested in putting lights on the walls.

Listening to a crap ton of podcasts over the years I remember an episode of one of them(can't remember which podcast sadly) where they talked about using a Model Railroad special effects product to create dynamic light effects on buildings( i.e. Fire effects, gun shot flares, etc...).

What I'm really hoping for is to find a product that allows me to manipulate the color and shut off times of each LED light. So that I could create Red Alert, Low Light, or Stuttering light effects. Preferably one I can connect/control from a computer.

Does anyone know of a product that does this?

If you want a hardcore solution, look into Arduino. It's a common DIY programmable microcontroller that can run leds etc. However, it takes some programming in C language to write the program - not super difficult but takes a moment to look into the examples. You plug the board into a computer via USB to input the program, the board will then run the program automatically when it gets power from a battery or from a wall wart.

Arduino Uno is the most common beginner board style, but for smaller applications you would probably want Arduino Nano V3. Both work the same, but smaller board means a bit less input/output pins. Note that it's open source ware, so you can find a lot cheaper chinese clone boards, running the same components etc., for a few bucks each on eBay.

There's also Poweredplay for lighting effects.

It has the advantage that you don't need to learn how to solder OR how to code. 2 things that generally appeal to gamers. :p

Sounds like a job for an Arduino

Also you should mount the lights in these



would look kick ass.

im sure there are guides for programing ardunios.

 chromedog wrote:
There's also Poweredplay for lighting effects.

It has the advantage that you don't need to learn how to solder OR how to code. 2 things that generally appeal to gamers. :p

I'm generally good on programming, but yeah I don't want to have to solder. I promised I wouldn't after watching Halt and Catchfire.