Rocky Mountian Lights: Christmas

Plans for 2008 are here

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:04:09 GMT

Announcing!!!

PHASE 4

The next addition for 2008

In my 3rd car garage I am adding an animated santa scene Diarama.

The scene is modeled after this Picture (with no elves)

The scene is made up of Gemmy 5' and 4' animated dancing singing Santa and Mrs claus

the backdrop is made of a painters canvas it will have a fire place and a 6' tree.

It will be controlled my my Light O Rama cmb16dc 16 channel dc computer contoller board

It will then be hooked into the remaining comuter controllers.

I have been picking up peices and materials for this display since 2004.

I have all the materials necessary to complete the project.

the scene will be encase in a plexiglass front

TRAIN BUILD UPDATE

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 05:20:52 GMT

Train build update

I have most of the parts to begin building the frame and powerplant for the train engine

enclosed is pictures of parts so far.

4 36" 3/4" Tube steel

2 of the 3 large casters that will be used for the axels of the train

8 2" casters for rail runners

4 5" casters to e used as axels for 2 cars

and a wiring harness from a powewheels motor.

just need to find a good welder who can weld the frame together

will keep you posted

ANNOUNCING!! this years additions to the display

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 17:31:57 GMT

ANNOUNCING!!!
THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO THE DISPLAY

(provided i do not runout of $$)

THE TRAIN!! A homemade (no plans) built ,real running ,THOMAS THE TANK CHRISTMAS TRAIN!!

1 to 2 more Light O Rama CTB-16D compter control boards. This will bring the channel count to 64 to 80 channels

Adding stobe features to the display to add magic

MORE WIRE

Need about 1000 ft of SPT-2 zip wire and ends for the channels that will be added.

Need a 1000 ft spool of C7 wire for the house and the train track

MORE LED'S (this is a Lower priority)

IF Time allows...

The working ice skating pond.

A interactive Santa and Mrs Santa that will go into a scene in the 3rd car garage. WIll see if i get this one done in 07!

For the 4th of July Display..

Sync the display to patriotic music

create working lighted fireworks

an IWO-JIMA Cutout with a real 48 star flag!

For the 911 display...

A huge twin towers cut out

2 spotlight rememberance

For Halloween

THE GREAT PUMPKIN PATCH!!

complete with Linus, Charlie brown, Sally, Lucy and Snoopy.

this is the list. will probably not get it all done but will do my best and keep you posted

The season is over so much for a GOOD one!

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 06:14:31 GMT

WOW what a season a very Interesting one to say the least. The lights were on the music synched the show was awesome. We had a lot of visitors come and everyone who watched the display really loved it and then the season was abruptly ended by the CHRISTMAS BLIZZARD OF 2006!!

We got 32 inches of snow that shut down the Metro Denver area for 3 days and the stuff keeps coming ! Every weekend we get more. There was one period in the week where i could actually get the display down.

NEW TO THE BLOG!!

I have added video clips to the blog. HOWEVER this is not the best video clips. I really wanted to redo these clips but the weather was not co-operative. So with HOA deadlines approaching I added what I shot and will hope for a better year next year.

also added are links to my favorite 365 christmas music internet radio sites. ENJOY!!

In February I will post my plans for 2007 and will begin to post my projects as we build them.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! the lighting season has begun!

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 19:28:23 GMT

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The HOUSE is done the computers are sync'ed and the show is about to start

The house looks awesome! the lights are all working and the computers are working I have some tweaking to do before the big Show begins on Saturday. For now you can get sneak peeks when you drive by. The story of the Nativity is loaded and running on my LOR boards. and it looks awesome. the fm transmitter is puumping christmas music. I made this cool sign to announce the Fm simulcast to music on frequncey 93.7fm.

The total amps on the house is THREE!!! yes THREE!! last year it was ten. WOW what a difference LED's make!

this year I added 2 more reindeer to the santa on the roof. I still have 3 songs to sync to music and then we go all out.

here are completed pics of the display fully lit.

more to come

Merry Christmas

WOW time is Flying

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 02:46:00 GMT

Time Flys when your having fun!!

Well somethings are coming together. and some are NOT!!

As I had said before In previous blogs that I was working on getting some coro plast. it came this week and there is a lot to do i need to get it prepped and ready to cut and paint. I pulled out my overhead projector this week and began looking for pics for cutouts unfortunatley I probably WON't get to them this year either. but will see.

The Light O Rama board i bought is just about done. I need to pick up a few more cords and get them installed on the board. At this time the motorized projects wont happen for 06 but Definatley for 07. the music sequences are coming along nicely but will begin the seqencing in LOR next week at this time that is the plan. I have scaled back drastically from last year but will be some what light on decorations. Things just dont always come together as they seem. but i am still working on a few. will post more later

back on track

Sat, 16 Sep 2006 04:09:23 GMT

With the 9-11 memorial now packed away, it's on to Christmas. I found the track Believe...In Holiday Magic and was able to rip it to mp3. I am so happy because this track was to be the beginning and ending narrations to my compter controlled show. Already I took the track downloaded it to audacity and have begun to make the track that will be loaded into light o rama. Thanks to Terry Dyke of Planet Christmas for helping me with my first audio projects in audacity the turned out great!

I have been working on 2 motorized ideas. 1st the train and 2nd the ice skating pond both will be run on DC motors that have 350w 24V scooter motors. The ice skating pond will be controlled by a transformer from an HO scale train set. the train however is a challenge. The motor will run off a deep cycle marine battery which will make it DC to DC so I have to find a way to controll the DC current to slow the train. more to come on these 2 projects.

Today my transparency printer paper arrived from Banks School Supply. I will begin printing off some of my picutres to begin to make my cutouts this year. I am still working to find a cheeper supply of coroguated plastic. Last week I finished striping the pvc pipe for my hand made lolipops. Today I picked up the colored celephane wrap for the lolipop pieces. Tomorrow I will pick up a 4x8 sheet of styrofoam board and begin to make the sucker parts of the lolipops and insert white lights inside them.

I am still looking for small artificial trees in any size. Soon the resale shops should have that kindof stuff out so i can get that done.

will update you again soon.

The Designing for Christmas 06 Begins.

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 23:24:02 GMT

Well Its finally August. Today begins the beginning of preparations for Christmas. With just over 3 months left until the display turns on, the extensive work begins. I started looking for just the right music for the display and the right narratives to go with the display. I have decided to use the narrative opening from Disneylands Holiday fireworks display ITS AWESOME!! I also have secured the rights to use the christmas story narrative from the charlie brown christmas. This year we will plug in a narrative from Nat King Cole to promote TOYS FOR TOTS! and the Childrens Hospital of Denver.

A dissapointment has happened for this season. I won't be able to complete the train this year due to some unforseen financial issues. I will continue to develop the plan in an attempt to build it for christmas 2007.

With a lot of the blow molds sold my yard may look a little bare this year. I am still looking for christmas coloring books so that I can begin to make wood and coroplast cutouts in time for the season. The pressure is on to get it just right.
I have been given a lot of coroguated plastic which I will use to make cutouts and turn my home into a gingerbread house theme. and will work to make this season Awesome.

The Mega Flagpole tree is getting a design touch up so that it is easier to unassemble and store. I am also looking at resale shops to find used artificial trees. I will be using the trees in my display instaed of wierfram trees. I like the natural holiday tree look better and uses less lights. 3 and 6 ft trees are what I will be looking for

I have just recieved my shipment of 500 ft of 16ga spt-2 wire and will be using the wire to channelize my new lighted candy canes. and I have a buch of globe ornament for my ash tree which will also be hooked to LOR control.

the plans are now in the work and it looks to be an exciting CHRISTMAS 2006 GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!

The largest gathering of christmas lighting enthusiasts

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:55:07 GMT

PLANET CHRISTMAS has announced the location of the LARGEST gathering of christmas lighting enthusiasts.

PLANET CHRISTMAS LIGHTS UP SYMPOSIUM (PLUS) 2007

Will be held in GATLINBURG TN.

Trust me, If you decide to go you won't be sorry. The best ideas are shared here. Some of the coolest tips and tricks will be shared from some of the best hobbists around. Topics include computer animation, wireframe construction, repairing blowmolds, sequencing music in your display and much much MORE!!

ALSO!!

Some of the best vendors from around the US come to show you the latest decorating stuff vendors like Light O Rama, Animated lighting, Buy Inflatables.com. Christmas Done Bright. Action Lighting, and many more.

AND
There will be the bi-annual Silent Aution. A banquet, the GO-cart race, AND MORE

Registration begins SEPT 1st. To register goto www.plus2007.com

Christmas ideas for 2006

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 02:44:55 GMT

Well It's March 20th 2006: The plans for the display this year is GRASSROOTS! I have decided to go back to home made displays I have sold alot of my blowmolds and am working on selling off the WALMART look and mking it all original.

this years changes

* I am adding 32 more channels or LOR (Light O Rama) computer controlls.

* I am amking a real train that runs around the front yard It will be powered with powerwheels gearboxes

* I have purchased an overhead projector and am making my own wood cutouts.

* I am working to create a Gingerbread type decor on the house.

* I am adding mp3 controll and sync the display to music.

This is just a few of the many ideas that i am working on for Christmas.

Beginning Monday I will begin to Share these ideas in more depth so return again.