Nighttime aircraft scene.

[seadude]

Has anyone ever attempted a nighttime scene on an aircraft carrier, LHD amphib ship, or other model? I found the following pic and it has got me intrigued to do a possible future nighttime diorama scene. But I'm wondering: Do all or most rotor tips on V-22's and/or other helicopters light up or not? What makes the rotor tips light up like that?
I'd like to try and re-create that same effect, but am not exactly sure how. One idea I had was to cut clear acrylic discs for the spinning rotors, then paint the edge of the disc in glow-in-the-dark paint. Would that work or not? Does Testors, Tamiya, or other model paint makers make glow in the dark paint? Any other suggestions for how I can replicate this effect?
http://media.defense.gov/2014/Oct/04/2001104166/-1/-1/0/588242-T-PQG77-322.jpg

[lenny100]

It's the static showing up on night vision equipment that makes them glow you cannot see it with the mk1 eyeball although the do catch the navigation lights when they are turned up bright

[Captain Canada]

Link won't open for me, but that's defo an idea I'd like to know more about !

[seadude]

Link won't open for me, but that's defo an idea I'd like to know more about !

http://navaltoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Image-of-the-Day-MV-22-Osprey-Displays-Static-Lights.jpg

[Old Wombat]

To get the effect I think you'd need to use fluorescent paint for the lights & rotor tips (your clear disc with painted rim should work, especially if you're not too careful with your cutting & painting, & can motorise them) & a dual light source; one a dim green, the other an old "black" light/UV light.

[Dizzyfugu]

The Magix Movie Maker software offers a night vision/low light amplification filter - actually intended for film sequences, but also applicable to pictures:

(Fang of the Sun) Dougram +++ 1:72 Abitate F44D "Desertgunner" (Doyu-sha kit, Revell re-boxing; modified for arctic use) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 "Ackwisch" walking tank (inspired by Patlabor & Gundam, based on a Merkava tank) - IR footage by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Besides, if you build such a scene as a static diorama, I think you will need a complete box in order to control the light conditions. Flourescent paint will be helpful, too, as well as UV light - black light lamps have become affordable, but getting the light conditions right be be even more challenging than creating the kit and diorama itself.