On the Layout: Royal York Lighting

    I keep working to get noteworthy structures in Toronto to have interior lighting.  I've finally completed my work on the lights inside of the Royal York Hotel.  The Royal York is a kitbash project using two or three Bachman Ambassador hotel kits.  The structure has well over a hundred windows, and I wanted to make sure that viewers couldn't see into a hollow building.  

I found a few patterns of curtains on Ikea's website that I thought would match what may be seen at the Royal York.  I printed these patterns onto transparencies.  I began gluing Woodland Scenics Light Diffusion Film on several windows but ran out.  I wanted to avoid buying more so changed my process.  Instead of the film, I sprayed each transparency with a few coats of Dullcoat after I was sure the ink was fully dried.  The Dullcoat fogged the windows so they wouldn't be so transparent. I actually think the process was much easier and gave the same result.  I also blacked out several random windows to give the appearance of the lights being off in the room.  I just used a glue stick and black cardstock to achieve this.  

Along the way, I also added flags to the York Street just like the prototype.  In this picture, you can also see some of the curtains glued to the plastic windows.  The larger windows don't have curtains, I used the diffusing film on these.

The lights are four LEDs from the Woodland Scenics Just Plug system (just like all the other structures).  Three LEDs were secured to the base, and one is secure about halfway up the center of the building to provide light to the upper floors.  I really like the Just Plug system for ease of wiring and it has the ability to dim or brighten LEDs. 

    The next lighting project will focus on the Old Dominion Building.    ...More to come.