Installing WOA Series II LED Meters

[mlucitt]

I would like to learn the consensus of the WOPL Upgraders. Do you remove the red plastic film from the LED Meter Lenses, or leave it in place?
With no brightness control for the LED Bar Segments, would it be too bright?
I should probably try it on one channel and see what the difference would be.

Thanks

 

[Hexis22]

I leave the Red film in place, it helps diffuse the light.

I prefer the overall look with the Red film, it helps hide the LED components when not actively lit.

 

[George S.]

I've left the red film in place on all 3 WOPLs. So far it was all in amazingly good shape, despite it's age.
I have considered removing it and subbing in smoked glass or two way magic mirror glass.

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

I take it out, scrub everything, remove the old tape, and reapply fresh tape and put it all back together. Even the red tape gets the dose of windex. I prefer the look. I played with different tape colors and all that crap. In the end, I leave pretty much stock. I even tried the "Green Treatment" with the LED's to change the look. (YES, I tried GREEN LED's)............

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

Just remember, don't just focus on the original look..... We ALWAYS have options..... Use your imagination and take that step...................

I think meters are a distraction and with a meter treatment like below, it makes you REALLY listen to the music.

 

[mlucitt]

Thanks all. This confirms my original thought. I think the film is Acetate, it should last forever.
Perry's treatment should be the standard for WOPL building - remove it, clean it, and reinstall the film with fresh transparent tape.
OR
Just put in two pictures of your Mom...

 

[Bob Boyer]

...I even tried the "Green Treatment" with the LED's to change the look. (YES, I tried GREEN LED's)............

Of COURSE you did...

 

[Gepetto]

I take it out, scrub everything, remove the old tape, and reapply fresh tape and put it all back together. Even the red tape gets the dose of windex. I prefer the look. I played with different tape colors and all that crap. In the end, I leave pretty much stock. I even tried the "Green Treatment" with the LED's to change the look. (YES, I tried GREEN LED's)............

I started out thinking that the best way to replace the PL original cylon meters was to have 2 bars of green LEDs to the left, then a yellow bar and then finally a red bar on the right. Each bar has 10 LED segments. It would show the progression from the easy zone through the caution zone into the danger zone properly.

When PL did these cylon meters the only choice available for LEDs was red and they were pretty pathetic back then in terms of luminosity. They were stuck with red, the same way they were stuck with PL909 output transistors. All they could get.

Then I thought of the red tape on the glass shield and promptly gave up on changing the world.

 

[mlucitt]

Then I thought of the red tape on the glass shield and promptly gave up on changing the world.

One of the best parts of this forum is hearing the back story.
Kind of like listening to Paul Harvey. The youngsters don't know who that is unfortunately.