Flame Generators

One addition to Seymour Lights for 2010 are flame generators.  Eight of these will be placed at key spots in the display this year.  They are dmx operated and work on propane, just like a gas grill.  Before I put them away in storage, I had to have a little bit of fun with them.

Allow me to present... The Firecracker Suite
http://www.vimeo.com/8753775

Some welding on 2010 projects

I took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather today to get some work done on some projects for the 2010 show.

Since I am replacing the lights on my 25' steel z-tree, it seemed like a good time to make a couple of changes to the second section from the top.  When I originally built the tree, I used the shelf near the top for snow machines... this year I am going to put a Chauvet Q-Scan 250 there to shine gobos, etc. on the house... so I had to drop the shelf down to add another 10" of headroom.

While I was at it, I added ladder standoffs on each side.  At least once or twice a year I need to fix some lights, etc. and it's always a hassle trying to avoid breaking bulbs, etc.  Plus, I have some new LED color changing balls  that I am going to put on the tree this year. Now, I'll be able to put the ladder on these standoffs..

I also got the three frames for my fans completed.

I borrowed the idea I saw on the Planet Christmas forums of adding wheels to the frames to make them a bit easier to move around and store.  Plus, they will protect the lights when stored by placing them on the inside.

I managed to get a couple of coats of WalMart green spray paint on everything before the rains forecast for tonight.

The cords keep on coming ... ugh

Well, I got the pile of short cords all packed neatly away into four tubs. Now it's on to the heavier, power distribution, cords. I managed to get them all moved in out of the yard before they get covered with snow and hopefully I can get them stored away into tubs tomorrow night.

Cords, Cords, Cords

Well, the tear down and storage continues here at Seymour Lights. Since it has been so cold, I had to drag the cords inside the garage and let them warm up so they would be pliable enough to wind up and store. The smaller cords are now wound up and in their tubs. Now on to the power distribution cords which are the larger gauge.

We started out with this pile:
Now, after about six hours of work, they are all stored neatly in their tubs:
All ready to go to the storage shed:

Getting Ready for 2010!

Well, it took 9 cities and 12 stores, but I found the lights I need for next season's remodeling of the display. I got most of them at half price.

Those LED color changing globes are really cool, I have 36 of them for the big tree, as well as six present to go under the tree!

I also got started on the frames for the fan lights that will be part of the replacement for the Bellagio Fountain display.. I will post more about those as I get more work done on them.










Here is a picture of the first completed half-frame and the spines bent for the other five.

First time I have ever paid full price

Well, I have never paid full price for lights since I started this madness, but this year the stores are bare. I have been to over 15 stores where there are no lights left whatsoever. So when another Christmas nut tipped me off that the Scottsburg WalMart still had solid color minis on the shelf I jumped on it.




It's frustrating, though. Here's what I got for the same amount of money December 26, 2007.

Playing Around with Colorine

I am still considering switching my display to all LED lights for next season. However, I like to be prepared.

Since the stores are completely bare of lights this season and there will be no half price deals to be had, I am looking at ways to maintain lights and make ones I have on hand work where I will be needing them. Next season I plan to replace the standard light strings along the roofline of the house with icicle lights. I have not had any luck finding colored icicle (other than multi) lights around, so I am going to have to make my own. I was trying to avoid changing out bulbs with other strings, but it looks as though I may end up having to do just that.

I found a product made by Rosco (the leading supplier of theatrical lighting supplies) called Colorine. It's a product you can use to dip lights (up to 25 watts) into to change the color. The product itself is great, dries fast, super durable. The problem is I am not finding the colors to be a good match for factory mini light colors.

The examples you see are using 7607 Emerald Green, 7604 Moonlight Blue, 7602 Ruby Red and 7615 Canary Yellow. (The green and blue just won't work. I have ordered a pint of Cardinal Red and will see if that's a closer match to factory red mini light paint) You can match up the Colorine colors with the Rosco color chart here.

The only one that turned out well, is the yellow. It's a near perfect match to factory yellow mini lights, if not a slightly nicer hue. This will work.


I will show the other colors below. In each case the lights I dipped with the colorine are on the left and the factory mini lights are on the right. As you can see, just not good matches. I am especially disappointed with blue as those are the ones always needing recolored.






All things considered, not a success. Oh well, on to the alternative; switching out hundreds 0f bulbs.