LED Conversions

[klattu]

Just back from Wally World...
Scooping up as much discounted Halloween stuff we could...
Went thru the just set-up Christmas items,
Wow...LED Christmas lights at Wal-Mart?!
I know were available at special places last year, but now everywhere.
Bulbs have to be on the way out.
Package clames 90% reduction in power consumption!
Price was in line too...large size 40+/- bulbs were $6
They had agreat display, but not all of them were available yet.

I'll be there the day after for clearance prices!

[klattu]

Did away with the center back-up...
Converted it to a tail/brake light.
The markers are LED too.
The large round back-ups have halogen bulbs and are more than enough.

Now need to find a sequencher for that Thunderbird blinkblinkblink

[imeynstein]

Kewl!!! I am wanting to go with the LED's myself!!!

[klattu]

Going to use this thread as a story board on the progress of building the 'Liberator' ...and the reason behind its name.
Many have asked, and info is spread out thru too many threads.
Such a good start with LEDs, will continue from here.
Mostly photos with a few words...will take more than one try,
So hold on, your answers are on the way.
----------------------------------------------------------
During WWII, Dad was a tail gunner in "Worfless" a B-24.
(B-24s are called 'Liberators')
He flew out of Norwich England.
Stationed at Horsham St.Faith AFB
He survived the war, and D-day too.
Knocked out many fuel tanks across the Rhein.
Did not talk about it until right before the end.
Physicaly lost him just a few years ago.

We were tring to think of a name, going thru many names for our 'new to us' 345, like Liberty, Independance, Freedom, anything that explaned our feeling while out on the road or camping.
Did not even think of Liberator till the next day.
It was perfect and things took off after that.
We are going all out with the 'Liberator' WWII bomber, nose art theme.

[klattu]

This was close to the first change made.
Replacing the wood grain stripe with red/white/blue reflective tape.
(Police Equipment - Public Safety Equipment - Police Uniforms : Galls)
Got this idea from our friends at NASA.
Peeled of any that was loose and lightly scrubed the rest.
Cleaned with Windex...then applied tape.






Very bright in your headlights


To do the tire cover I sketched out a pattern by the grid method to scale needed.
That whole section in gold is made up from 2" strips of tape.


I just thought this looked fantastic.
Notice the feathers are not outlined yet.


To compare now and then is night and day.
Red circle in center of star is 3rd brake light too.



And at dusk with lights reflecting

[klattu]

Always admired the units with awnings all the way around.
Worked a few extra weekends...and ordered a full set with replacement main. (boss thinks I always want to work weekends now...NOT)
Get the aluminum strip already attached if you ever replace your main awning.
Made it so easy to swap out.
Amazing at all the options available in Sunbrella.
I went with red/white knowing would have to add blue and stars myself.
This is T-shirt ink, I rolled it on for blue.
Stars are stamped on with some foam cut to shape and dip/stamp/dip/stamp.



(Hold on...I'll get to Wonder Woman in a little while)





Above is our 1st trip.
"TopSail Can Opener 2007"

[klattu]

This was done using 'One Shot' paint for signs.
Very thick and high pigmentation.
Low fading in Sun light...even reds.
What I imagined was a "Miss Uncle Sam"
Something patrioctic and nose arty at same time.
Did not go for WW at all, just turned out as best example.
Is cartoon based instead of 3-D, may change down the road to something more '40s looking (more curves)
Changed her up to be carring a flag, then it hit me to make flag real, instead of painted on.
Tried different sizes...bigger is always better it seems.





Made the flags easy to replace if lost or faded.
I don't go out in public with faded flags.
And now with lettering...


She gets much more attention than I expected...
Many photos taken while driving beside us.
Popular at gas stops with both young and old.
Truckers scare me good when they toot their horns as I go by.

[klattu]

Camping missions completed





Took the wheels down to local truck stop to get polished...
$20 a wheel...I was very pleased with results, and price.




A comparison of before and after...

[ScrapIrony-2]

Hey Ted...GREAT POSTING!!!
We have started the conversion to LED, at Quartzsite, of all places...?
We bought some samples of different LEDs to try them out...there is a company that makes trade out/screw-in floods(bayonet bulbs) for the swivel lamps that are great for reading. They also make a square panel(2-2 1/2 inch-36 bulb)with a 2-3 inch wire strip that is soldered into a conventional screw-in base...'floods' were $15, I believe the square was mid-$20...the square has peel-n-stick backing, and so far I have just let it hang-it's hidden by the wood valance, and provides plenty of light for night light... the company website is at, and I'm sorry you will have to cut-n-paste, is <<www.jclampstand.com>>==PH# 909 986 1193==
The company with the bright sticks(these puppies have 3 LEDs per pod) sells them at $3 per inch(1 pod/per inch), and we bought one stick to try in the bedroom(back), since both our fluorescents went out...the one 12 inch stick is enought to see most stuff, but we put another one on the other side , and it's enough light to do most anything...right now, they're basically on top of the existing, not-working Fluor bulbs(gravity and a small strip of tape) The company that makes these is webbed at <<rvLEDbulb.com>>==PH# 480 898 0081==
We tried putting in strips inside the Thin-lite covers, but LEDs don't do well within a translucent cover(directional light vs diffusion= lost efficiency...I have heard that the Thin-lite covers with the clear matrix do very well, but we're not in a place where these are available, so will have to wait...it makes sense, tho'...
THANKS for the extra time and effort to put out the dialogue and pics of a work in progress...I'll be following this one, probably because we also have the '89 345...see you, next time...
mike

[klattu]

LEDs have come a long way for the better just is the short time I made this thread.
The ones that have yellow squares are so much better.
And if the have a heat sink even brighter.
Superbrites keep updating, but there are many great places to get from now.
Tried some off Ebay that came direct from China...thet are even better.
(I know they probably all come from there)

I'm even converting my boats to LEDs.