1/48 Japanese UV cabin lights (set of 12) ASK 3D Print

1/48 UV cockpit lights for Japanese WWII aircraft - 3D printed detail set. Producer Art Scale Kit Distribution, cat. no. 200-A48036

High quality 3D printing. This kit can be applied to 1/48 scale models of Japanese WWII aircraft.

UV lamps were used in the cockpits of some WWII Japanese aircraft, as well as other nationalities, to illuminate the instrument panel.

Here is why this technology was used:

• Lighting with luminescent dials: many instruments in aircraft of the time had dials and indicators painted with luminescent paint. This paint often contained radium or other phosphorescent substances that glowed faintly in the dark.
• Increasing visibility at night: The UV light from the lamp caused these luminescent materials to glow brighter, improving the visibility of the instruments to the pilot in night conditions or poor visibility.
• Preservation of night vision: Unlike conventional incandescent lamps, which produce a broad spectrum of visible light and can dazzle or interfere with the eyes' adaptation to darkness, UV light primarily excited the luminescent materials. This achieved instrument illumination without significantly affecting the pilot's night vision.
• Alternative to direct illumination: UV lighting provided an alternative to small bulbs placed directly next to each instrument, which could be more difficult to install and maintain.

It is important to note that this technology was not exclusively Japanese and was also used in other countries' aircraft during World War II. Over time and with the development of new technologies, other methods of cockpit lighting, such as integrated lighting elements in the instruments themselves, were adopted.