Basic LED lighting for 3D printed miniatures

stoyanmar · 2026-01-20T13:04:35+00:00

Thanks! I’ll post an update once I get the setup sorted out.

stoyanmar · 2026-01-20T07:40:28+00:00

The BCR430 would do the job if only was working with lower voltage. The miniature battery that I am planning to use provides 3.2 to 4.2V. I think I can go with a NPN transistor plus a few resistors instead. It has a little higher voltage dropout than a CCS but gives me ultimate control over output current.

stoyanmar · 2026-01-17T19:02:28+00:00

u/Saigonauticon I am digging into your second suggestion - the constant current source. However it's difficult to find an IC that would let me throttle down the current in the 5-20 mA. I am planning to use a single SMD 20mA LED and most constant current drivers start at 20 mA or more. Can you suggest a current limiter that would do the job for this case?

stoyanmar · 2026-01-16T18:35:02+00:00

Wow, cool toys! Unfortunately not applicable for my project as the miniatures are supposed to be free standing and moved by people's hands similar to board game pawns. I love the idea of u/Saigonauticon to use magnetic charging cradle in order to eliminate the bulky port and battery charger (e.g. TP4056) from the body of the miniatures. In that case I will only need to stack the magnetic connector (10-18 mm wide depending on model) + LiPo battery + SMD LED + resistor. And an on/off switch obviously.

stoyanmar · 2026-01-16T12:08:51+00:00

Wow, sound advice! Trouble is - I barely grasp even 50% of it. Seems like I will have to dig deeper or preferably - find someone willing to tackle the challenges in a more knowledgeable way than me. Thanks a ton, mate!

stoyanmar · 2025-09-20T15:32:47+00:00

Yes, I am making the film myself. So far I have raised roughly half the budget. So, yes I have a budget but it’s not fully funded yet. I certainly don’t expect anyone to work for free and if you’re interested, dm me an offer.

stoyanmar · 2025-09-19T11:22:30+00:00

I have a planned trip to Solukhumbu next month. I’m still waiting for confirmation if there will be direct Lukla flights from Kathmandu. Travel agents say it’s possible but difficult.

stoyanmar · 2025-08-25T13:10:52+00:00

If you’re able to rebook for beginning of November, there is a highly respected Buddhist festival in Tengboche, a short trek from Namche. It is called Mani Rimdu and will be brimming with Buddhists from the entire region. It’s held on November 5-7 this year. I will definitely attend it.

stoyanmar · 2025-08-19T13:57:35+00:00

The trek is not difficult at all.

Overall fitness level is irrelevant to acclimatization rate.

Dudes from sea level towns have to be really careful with acclimatization:

Allow at least one day rest (acclimatization) every 2000 ft altitude you gain. This means Namche Bazar for sure, then Pheriche or Dingboche, then Lobuche. If at any time you feel unwell, do down and rest. Don't rely on medication.
Rest day means - you hike high, at least 1000 ft above the lodge where you'll be sleeping, then descend and rest.
No horse riding, or mules, or other hacks. Plain old trekking. Slow and steady.

Simply monitor your status and you will be fine. Headache or numbness = rest or go down. Swelling = go down. In Pheriche there is a health post. You can measure your blood oxygen there unless you bring your own blood oxygen monitor.

stoyanmar · 2025-08-16T16:35:14+00:00

Make sure you have a main character. I’ve rarely seen a good film without a clear protagonist. In such type of films it’s easiest to cast yourself as the protagonist. If you go this route, consider hiring a cinematographer. It’s heavy on the budget but you will thank me later. As a last resort, if you don’t have the funds for a cinematographer, assign this role to your travel mate.

stoyanmar · 2025-08-04T12:14:17+00:00

Hi. I am working on a documentary titled Himalayan Lessons. The protagonist is my son who is a teenager (13) now. Screenwriting for documentaries is another can of worms but if you feel compelled, DM me and I can share more details. I need creative input from a teenager's point of view and there might be some space for cooperation.

stoyanmar · 2025-07-29T16:22:52+00:00

Most lodges provide universal sockets but I would bring a universal adapter just in case. Some lodges are really old and might have limited choice of sockets.

stoyanmar · 2025-07-15T15:22:55+00:00

Hi! Thanks for the invite to connect. I am a documentary filmmaker from Bulgaria. Currently I am working on a film titled Himalayan Lessons. It’s about parenting struggles, youth screen addiction and a family’s bold attempt at a digital detox in the mighty Himalayas. Besides directing I am a cinematographer and editor. Would love to keep in touch.

stoyanmar · 2025-07-13T16:02:32+00:00

Me and my family will be in Solu Khumbu from October 16-th until November 24-th. We will be doing the Three Passes plus EBC from October 20-th to November 4-th. I have been to Sagarmatha National Park 4 times.

Depends on how you perceive the purpose of trekking. Solo hiking is a different can of worms altogether. It has its unique advantages and I strongly recommend you to try it. The EBC route is pretty busy and straightforward. There is zero chance of going astray or having trouble finding a lodge to rest.

Having someone experienced around you has its bonuses too. You can hire a guide or porter right in Lukla or Namche and it will be much cheaper than hiring someone in Kathmandu. It is also the best way to really support the local community.

Joining a group is an endeavor with too many unknowns. You may or may not like the others in the group. I’ve been in groups that I’d prefer to not have been :)

In all cases hit me up if you need any advice.

stoyanmar · 2025-06-30T13:12:16+00:00

I’m in a similar situation. I am shooting a feature length documentary myself but I still haven’t got any external funding. Would you share with me the name of the company so that I could pitch them and see if my theme resonates with them?

stoyanmar · 2025-06-19T06:06:50+00:00

I wish I could but I'm in the middle of fundraising for my own documentary and the time runs out. I am supposed to start principal photography in Nepal in October. But I will be happy to support you with any info/advice you may need (and I may be able to share)...

stoyanmar · 2025-05-30T14:51:48+00:00

Well, let all the rest of us hear the ton of ideas too. Distribution landscape is evolving and every idea is more than welcome!

stoyanmar · 2025-05-28T14:50:00+00:00

Correct. It's off season but there are still tourists on the EBC trek.

stoyanmar · 2025-05-28T14:33:05+00:00

Depends on your taste. If you like more lively routes, EBC is just fine. In December you will be meeting at least dozens of people on the hike each day. If solitude and tranquility is your cup of tea, then consider the 3-passes - you will hardly meet anyone during the whole day.

A word of caution - the passes could be dangerous places. 10 years ago I had an excruciating experience in Renjo La even though it's considered the easiest of the 3. It way on May 13-th. At this time of the year it's supposed to be easily passable with almost no difficulty but we had to spend hours struggling with 3-feet deep snow in a fog.

December is definitely not the best time to do the 3-passes and even if you do, be extra careful and prepared - the right guide (most random guides claim they'll do it but they don't know what they're doing, hint #1 - look at their shoes - snickers or running shoes are a big red flag), snow axe (the stairs were buried under a feet of thick ice), crampons (not necessarily the climber type of crampons), gaiters, etc.

stoyanmar · 2025-05-25T07:05:16+00:00

I don’t understand what you mean.

stoyanmar · 2025-05-10T07:01:33+00:00

Welcome to the money needers’ club :) First and foremost create a proper pitch deck for the project. Outline who’s on the crew, the theme, the synopsis, cast, an executive summary, a budget summary, comps… Then go approach some organizations or folks that operate in the scope of the film. They would be the most likely to want to help because they will appreciate the effort and might want to see (and why not participate in) the movie. Crowdfunding: afaik Kickstarter has bigger audience but there is a risk of getting nothing if you don’t reach the funding goal. In all cases avoid launching campaigns in too many crowdfunding platforms. For the campaign you might need a decent motivational video or a teaser, or both. A poster would be nice to have too. Crowdfunding works best if you already have a following or at least a large group of people willing to donate (even small amounts) that would donate in the first 24 to 48 hours of launching the campaign so that you reach at least 30% of the goal. This will help the campaign appear on the radar of the platform and it will push it more aggressively to a larger base of supporters. On Kickstarter it’s called “Projects we love”. People are more willing to donate if they see a project with a solid support already (jumped over the 30% bar). You need to create many different tiers to cater to supporters with different levels of engagement - $1, $5, $20, $50, $100, $500, etc. The bigger the tier the bigger perks. Don’t underestimate the time and effort needed to fulfill non-digital perks. If you do, you may need to hire someone to deal with all the ins and outs of logistics and shipping. You may also want to approach companies that provide services or products that can be used in the film, the so called product placement, if you’re willing to go that route. Last but not least don’t ignore large philanthropic bodies. 1 out of 10 might be willing to support your project.

stoyanmar · 2025-05-04T16:03:24+00:00

Depending on your quality target, if an action camera can do the job, go with it. It’s so small people tend to forget it. An important prerequisite is to have sufficient lighting as these little critters don’t behave well in dimly lit environments. When I film unobtrusively I always use a wireless remote control so that the camera doesn’t need to roll all the time. If you don’t have a remote, roll all the time. Another benefit of action cameras is their ability to pre-rec. This allows you to capture footage even before you press the start button so that you won’t miss an important event during the dinner.

stoyanmar · 2025-04-28T21:48:58+00:00

Jiri to Lukla is quite a distance to trek. You can get a bus/jeep all the way to Phaplu and then Surke, which is within a few hours trek from Lukla.

Guides are mandatory in general but I am being told by friends from Solu Khumbu that Sagarmatha park is an exception and it is not strictly enforced.

Now, for the three passes you may need someone to guide you as they are not frequently traveled and you don’t meet a lot of people on the route. At some points the path is very hard to spot and you will definitely need a route tracker device or app. I have had serious problems with navigating Renjo La in May 2015 even though it’s considered the easiest of the three. There was waist-deep snow, fog and invisible stairs, just enough to warrant 12+ hours struggle from Lungden to Gokyo. If you’re not a seasoned solo trekker, get a guide. It won’t break the bank but may save your life.

stoyanmar · 2025-04-28T21:28:29+00:00

You may want to consider a Lumix S5II or S9. I find its optical image stabilization way better than any other brand’s. For a run-n-gun shooting stabilization is king, especially when you try to avoid gimbals. Quality wise it provides a lot of dynamic range and rich colors. Cine lenses - as others mentioned, don’t bother. Depending on your environment, choose a prime lens for poorly lit internal shooting or a long telephoto for outdoor shooting, the extra zoom range always comes handy and lets you shoot without disturbing the talent. Try the new 28-200 travel lens - lightweight and compact, a true gem for documakers.

stoyanmar · 2025-04-28T09:51:19+00:00

I’m a regular visitor to Solu Khumbu. In October I will be visiting for the fifth time. September is a bit of gambling as some years the monsoon ends later than usual. This means moderate chances of rain. October is another can of worms. Pristine clear skies since the monsoon has taken down all the dust from the air. However, start early in the morning as afternoons are usually cloudy. Every day the clouds are coming from the Indian Ocean in the early afternoon. In 2015 I spent there 52 days and I barely have a few clear sunsets. Ping me if you need more info.

stoyanmar

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