Hello gentle readers! As part of my ongoing improvements to The Swan Inn interior. prior to it's Christmas makeover, I have been tackling the lights. This should have been fairly easy and straightforward as I had learnt many lessons from wiring up my Georgian House, and wanted to make this project easier to wire up. Tape wire and lamp adaptors were kept to a minimum, and I ran wires in channels routed out in floors, walls and ceilings to the back of the building, wherever this was possible. This did mean removing the large chunky plugs from each lamp, and replacing them with tiny Cir-Kit plugs, which fit into sockets designed to be pushed straight into tape wire. All of this was to be hidden behind The Swan, out of sight.
Well, I say that dolls house lighting systems must have been designed by one of Satan's own Hell Demons, to infuriate and frustrate to the highest degree, any poor sap who thinks it will be easy! Some of the lights worked first time; great! Some worked after some tweaking; OK! Some worked by checking connections and tightening brads etc, but some are refusing to work, even now!!
OK, I have run out of tiny plugs, that is true, as I lost one of the tiny metal pins, and think this last plug was faulty anyway, but even when the plug had been fitted the light wouldn't work! Currently the lights in all the major rooms are working, but the kitchen and landing remain unlit!
Here are some more pictures of the lights that work! There are also bulbs in the fires to make them glow, perfect for cold wintry nights!!!
I don't think you've seen the sitting room from this angle before, with the fireplace. This is where the recovered sofa and armchair will be going.
I agree lighting is a nightmare...but when the lights are working suddenly it all comes to life (hihi, that sounds eerie).
ReplyDeleteI like the room a lot, very light.
What is that above the fireplace? it immediately draw my attention!very nice floor too!
Hugs,
Gee
Hi Gee,
DeleteThanks for your encouragement, I appreciate it!!
The object above the fireplace is called a 'Yard of Ale'. It's a sort of old fashioned drinking game, a person is challenged to drink a whole yard of ale without stopping or putting the glass container down, which is why it has a rounded bottom. It was the original 'binge drinking'!
Regards
Andy xx
There is no question that a session of lighting can contain words made of an assortment of keys from the number row on caps lock but the moment they work...magic!
ReplyDeleteIt all looks lovely.
Hi Christine,
DeleteYes there were one or two colourful words used when I started the lighting, but at the moment I am waiting for some new plugs to arrive, hopefully that will solve the problem, unless a bulb has stopped working of course!!
Andy xx
The mini brass horse metals are great. You even see these in some older Australian pubs.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
DeleteI got those from a lady at the Kensington show in London earlier this year. They were quite common a few years ago, but doubt they are trendy enough for pubs these days!!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has trouble with lighting. The Swan looks so cheery & cozy with the lights on, Andy, and I'm sure you'll manage to get the other bulbs burning, too. I do sympathize, though --I mean, they can put a man on the moon and THIS is how we're supposed to light our dollhouses??? Really???
ReplyDeleteHi John,
DeleteJust got to wait a while before I can get the bulbs working, need some more tiny plugs, and will have to order them. You're right, There has to be a foolproof way of lighting a dolls house somehow!
Nothing reduces me more to a foot-stomping five year old than mini lighting so I feel your pain! Walk away, have a coffee, have a swear but stick with it and you'll make it work - lol!
ReplyDeleteI really like the brick finish in the pub and the little niche for the toby jug. It's all looking really good and I'm keen to see it furnished.
Hi Irene,
DeleteWow! you must have seen me, that's just how I was, having a tantrum about the lighting (but no tiaras!)
Thanks for your comments on the pub, the toby jug just fitted in the little niche, some times these niches were used for proving bread dough, but I think mine is too small!!
Pleased you like it!
Andy xxx
Oh, boy, you all make me shiver with your lighting problems, something I haven't done yet.
ReplyDeleteYour pub looks wonderful and the lights and cheery glow of the fire sure adds character to the whole place. Good luck with those few stubborn lights.
Thanks Elga,
DeleteI hope it looks extra cosy when every thing is finished for Christmas! I'm sure you won't have any trouble with lights when you get to do some, don't worry about it!!
Hi Andy, I am glad you've seen the light :D!!! No, I am kidding: to make miniature lighting working is a bit difficult, but keep on trying and it will work!! I haven't done this job in my canalhouse yet (the house is built over 10 years ago ;)!! Your rooms look very well with this shiny work of you. I love to see some details of a pub, unfortunately I am not familiar with pubs and therefore not an expert ;)! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Ilona
Hello Ilona,
DeleteGood to hear from you, thanks for your encouragement. I hope you like the pub when it's finished! There used to be thousands of pubs across Britain, but many have closed down, however, there are still plenty about at the moment!
Hi Andy
ReplyDeleteSorry Im late.
I love the lights you have chosen, doesn't it add "life" to the place! I love the beams byt the way, and your fireplaces. The pub has real character already!
hugs
Simon
Hi Simon, pleased you like this project, it has been quite fun finding things to put in it, though there is still a lot to find! I'm borrowing things from my other dolls houses to help set the scene for my Christmas project. I like the lights a lot too, I think they work very well in this setting.
DeleteAndy xxx
Hello Andy,
ReplyDeleteIt looks wonderful all lit up. The rooms are so beautiful. you really have done a great job. I can't remember the last time any one had a good experience wiring a miniature project?
Big hug,
Giac
Hi Giac,
DeleteI remember looking at Dewell Manor recently and thinking 'I don't envy Giac if he's going to wire up that huge house!!'
I am sure it's not as difficult as it seems, just that I am inexperienced with it, but even so, it would be great to have a project where all the lights worked together!
Andy xxx
So pleased the electrics are sorted out, dear boy, as I'm booked in at The Swan next weekend for a miniature walking holiday - two yards in two days. WIll I cope? Hope there's some furniture by then. Looks a tad...minimalistic at the moment. I do hope this isn't the new-look image...but I know it isn't (as I've seen it as it was before the Sparks and Chippies set to work) and am confident that all will be Christmas-cosy and gorgeously gemütlich soon. I really do like your glowing coals. If only we were both tiny.
ReplyDeleteD xx
Well, dear one,
DeleteThe lights are not all completely working, however the new bed is far from finished, so if you are going to stay, I think I can only offer you the kitchen floor, as long as you don't go getting in the way!
Andy xxx
Do not know how I understand you, I hate the electrification! It is one of those parts of the construction of a Doll House that gives me more afraid... cheer, I hope you get it!
ReplyDeleteA big hug!
Thanks Pedrete,
DeleteI hope your lighting projects go much better than mine have!!
Hugs
Andy xxx
Hi Andy! I Love to see the lights come on in a Mini House!!!! Your Pub is looking cozier than ever with the coals glowing in the fireplaces!! I can't wait to see the new decor of the sitting room ... so far it looks very elegant!
ReplyDeleteAs for lighting difficulties.... I have not used the tape systems at all so I can't really offer suggestions! My bigger projects are all round wires and little plugs with a transformer .... and the Tree House is just LED kits which run on batteries. The one thing I will say about wires is that I have faith in the "Connections" if you twist the wires together and cover the join in shrink tubes or tape..... I would not know how to test for the tape systems which just seem to have more places for the "connections" to be loose or incomplete. And occasionally the problem is just a broken bulb!!!
Good luck getting it all to work.... the joyful feeling when they go on is just Delightful!!! :)
Hi Betsy,
DeleteThanks for your comments. Hopefully all will be very festive at The Swan very soon (it's getting there slowly!). Annoyingly, it's not the tape wire that is the problem here, I think its the plugs, I have ordered some more, and hopefully once fitted, all will be OK,if not, they aren't essential, and I will have another go later. I think the bulbs are OK, but you might be right there too.
In the mean time I have lots to do to prepare for Christmas, both in miniature and in real life!!
Hugs
Andy xxx
Hi Andy,
ReplyDeletethank you for joining my blog - that gave me the chance to find yours... and I'm glad I came along here! Your fireplace looks fantastic now so it was worth all those swearing and sweating... ;O)
Greetings from Germany
Birgit
Hi Birgit
ReplyDeleteI loved your little bear creations! Thanks for joining my blog too! Pleased you liked the fireplace, the pub it currently undergoing a transformation for Christmas.
Andy xxx
Hi Andy,
ReplyDeletewell I have been hiding under a rock! I have been trying not to spend too much time blogging as i have so much to get done before we leave but I thought I would take a quick peak and I'm so glad I did!!
The Swan looks marvellous and all that hard work with the lighting is worth it in the end. I love the colour scheme you have chosen, it all looks so fresh and those floor boards are amazing. The fire places look so inviting with their warm glow I can't wait to see the furniture in place. It's all looking fab!!
ML Fi xx
Hi Andy, the Swan is looking so cozy with the lights and fires glowing in the fireplaces. I love the decorating and the colours. I have never used the tape system for lighting, only the round wires for 1:12th scale and LEDs for smaller, but I think I'll be trying to replace my round wired lights with LEDs when I can work out how to replace the existing globes with them. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on the Swan. Sandie
ReplyDelete