Lab with lighted floor

[ender098]

Ok, here is my “how to” on making a lab with a lighted floor. I got this idea a while back and just needed a push to get it going.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest22.jpg

To start with, I needed a floor that would let light pass through it. I used ½ inch plexi glass that I found in the trash. I placed it on cans of condensed milk so I could set the lights under it.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest19.jpg


The problem is it was about 14 too wide. So I was working in a tight space while the lab was up. I first put down my lights (used shop light like you use working on cars) later I got 2 small florescent lights to brighten it up.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest20.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest3.jpg

[ender098]

But now you can see it’s a “glass” floor with over sized lights. To soften and hide the lights, I taped white tissue paper over the plexiglass.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest17.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest18.jpg

Now I had the worry of the tissue paper ripping, so I bought some plastic canvas from Walmart. This is a plastic grid-like thingy people use with yarn to make cool things. It’s about $.99 a sheet in the craft department.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest14.jpg

I taped them together 3x3 to cover about 85% of the Plexiglass.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest16.jpg

[ender098]

The panels that don’t glow on the floor are simply cardboard painted black and placed in areas where I couldn’t cover the plexiglass.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest6.jpg

To make the “Bacta tanks” with the corpses “glow”, I bought some “stick up” lights at Walmart and using a Door knob cutter and my drill, cut holes in the cardboard under the tanks. When I wanted them to glow, I simply slid the tanks aside (their bottoms are the same translucent plastic as the tank!) and turned on the lights, then positioned the tanks over them!

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest13.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest5.jpg

[ender098]

To hide the fact I made this on a desk, I used large pieces of black foam board. I built the raised sections with shoe boxes covered with a folded piece of cardboard painted black!

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest7.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest10.jpg

[ender098]

The Result doesn’t look impressive in the light…..

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest2.jpg

But turn out the garage lights and turn on the lights under the floor and Viola!

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest12.jpg

[ender098]

Here are some Farwell pictures for one of my favorite sets.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest11.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest8.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/ender098/Labtest9.jpg

[ThinkTank]

thats a great setup. Very creative. I would steal the floor idea, but, where the hell am I gonna find condensed milk?

[ender098]

[QUOTE=ThinkTank]thats a great setup. Very creative. I would steal the floor idea, but, where the hell am I gonna find condensed milk?[/QUOTE]

I WAS gonna use canned pears...but I eated them! :(

[troopsofdoom]

Looks awesome. Can't wait to see it used in your next chapter.

[Da Talent]

That is so money Frank. Loved this how-to. thanks.

[Agent Viper]

Flippin Sweet!

[Sonneilon]

Yup. that's how i'd do it. THanks for the how-to!

[guiltridden]

Frank this is a great set thanks for the ideas

[Rambo]

Very clever Frank. Thx for sharing.

[Otto the Otter]

What brand of condenced milk do you recommend? Would it change the effect if I were to use canned baked beans or creamed corn?

Looks cool my friend, your sets are great.

[seyms]

Nicely done! A very, very cool set! Thanks!

[zedhatch]

I like it, very cool

[yorktownjoe]

Excellent ideas and well executed. Nice set without breaking the bank!