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Control Panels |
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| To be candid... these photos do not do the control panels justice. The color captured by the digital camera is not correct. The Space Place does not require much lighting to achieve the awesome effects. However, I needed to bring in some additional light in order to capture it on film. This tends to water down the illusion. The actual control panels are very rich in color and appear 3D. | |
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There are six separate control panels. Two left, two to the right and two in the center. All of the control panels are illuminated by clean white fluorescent tubes. Because they are grouped in pairs, I was able to use just three lights. |
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| We wired the control panel to a separate circuit. The "crew" can shut down the control panels independent from the other room lights. The only problem is that the fiber optic "stars" are illuminated from the same light. Off goes the control panels, off goes the stars. | |
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I'm very pleased with the level of detail in all the panels. This is a shot of the right side panels. It's hard to see in this photo, but the white 'circle' is actually a moon, and the detail is awesome! You can see dozens of craters. This is important when 'the crew' needs determine the long range sensor readings. |
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Originally I designed the panels to feature 'blinking' buttons. But after designing the prototype (see Control Panels OFF-Stage) and attempting this feature, I realized that this would take a considerable amount of additional time. Perhaps I'll give the control panels an upgrade in phase two. The Space Place was operational from Christmas Eve 1999 through 2006 and the control panels held up wonderfully! The ship was never been lost in the Delta Quadrant! |
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| Click Here to see how The Control Panels were created (Off Stage) | |
