Is lighting for model buildings difficult to install?

There are a couple of manufacturers of building lighting out there that claim their products are easy to install. But can a layman do it?

Well, there are laymans, and then there are laymans. But for the average Joe, installation is no problem whatsoever, and generally speaking, if you can follow simple instructions, you will be more than capable of installing lighting in your model buildings.

To give you an idea of the process involved, Train-Tech's 'Home & Shop Lighting' controller comes as a little control module that requires no soldering thanks to its screw terminals. The unit can control up to 16 LEDs and also has circuitry built-in allowing it to be operated by either a DCC or analogue power supply, so all you have to do is connect your LEDs to the unit, and off you go. You don't even have to worry about resistors as it's all done for you. This particular product also has the added benefit of special effects. The controller will automatically turn the lighting on and off periodically to represent life inside the building.

Other brands offering easy lighting solutions (such as Woodland Scenics' Just Plug) seem to follow the same strategic thinking. Although a lot of modellers could easily rig up their own lighting, there are many who desire a neater or more convenient solution, and products offering easy lighting solutions certainly do what they claim on the box.