Scratch Building Signal Boxes for Model Railroads | Boomer Diorama ~ # 235

[@tfm48]

found your site a couple of months ago; alot of binge watching. as a neophyte scratch builder I am amzed at your work. I have learned a lot, especially air brushing. You videos have solved a problem that has been frustrating me for a long time...not enough solvent (IPA). Diluted the tamiya paint and it works like a charm. A big thanks Boomer.

[@boomerdiorama]

Tamiya acrylic paint is awesome when sprayed thin with IPA. I use it for every subject in the model world because it is so reliable and the color quality is off the charts.

[@FHollis-gw4cc]

I'm trying to think of something to say other than the usual Wow, or that's great or I'm impressed because I've said all that each time I watch your videos. But what else is there? So, again, thanks for the time and effort you put into them. Please know that there are a rather large group of us here who really enjoy watching, learning, trying to duplicate your talents. Although I don't believe I'll ever get anywhere near your level, I'm encouraged by your constant repetition that I can. I'm trying my best to prove you right!

[@boomerdiorama]

We all have people we aspire to - even me - so collectively we grow and achieve levels we never thought possible and probably never master comparatively speaking. In the end, who cares if we are having fun and a great experience throughout the journey. Thanks for sharing. Cheers ~ Boomer.😁

[@PeterTillman3]

Thanks

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you Peter! I appreciate the support. Cheers ~ Boomer. 😁👍

[@ronaldvanpinxteren3644]

Great video. Thanks. Especially the painting job is fun to do. Your way of working with filters with Vallejo is a great idea and it works well. Cheers from Europe, Ronald

[@boomerdiorama]

Thanks 👍

[@kevinsheedy7157]

Awesome models. Awesome paint technique

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@usssaratogacv3lefevre978]

I am always amazed.at your painting knowledge.

[@boomerdiorama]

I practice alot and take risks all the time. Make tons of mistakes and then fix them. ;-)

[@canoeingnav7618]

As always your tips and tricks are so helpful. Thanks.

[@boomerdiorama]

You are so welcome!

[@Madonsteamrailways]

What a gorgeous cat on your workshop desk!! If he’s Dusty, it’s quite an appropriate name for a cat of that colour!!

[@boomerdiorama]

Dusty is she. ;-) Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@MRR_Shadowolf]

Another outstanding tutorial!

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@donhanley1213]

The signal and battery boxes are details few model. Modeling the electrical meters almost none. A friend and fellow hobbyist (since deceased) worked for the PRR. He was assigned the task of checking every electrical meter between Fort Wayne, IN and Chicago, IL to determine if the meters were still in use or abandoned. As I recall he found approximately 100 locations where they were no longer needed, and the railroad was still paying the minimum amount. As modelers, we seldom consider these details that are a part of the day to day operations needed to keep a railroad up and running. As always thanks for sharing your talents.

[@boomerdiorama]

Good point on the details being there but not actually functioning. We tend to model perfect worlds and not reality at times.

[@michaelimpey1407]

Boomer, great signal / electrical cabinets. So realistic, your scratch building techniques are off the scale, but then you have been doing it a long time, so that shows. The painting technique for doing an Aluminium wash is awesome, I have used the Aluminium before, but then spend ages trying to "dull" it down. I have aquired some of the golden wetting agent, and it makes such a great difference, and today some different size grainer brushes arrived, I can't wait to start teaching myself how to use them, so I will be back referencing your videos again. Thank you for sharing, cheers, and stay safe, Michael

[@boomerdiorama]

With silver paint I often dull it down with a little grey.

[@jamesp7762]

Your talent, skills, experience, and personality really shines through in your videos. Please keep them coming.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you! Will do!

[@4everdc302]

Writing down 📜📝 How to make rivets. Cool Boomer🚂🇨🇦🙋

[@boomerdiorama]

I use a compass point from the dollar store. ;-)

[@frankcerne7613]

Wow it looks amazing boomer..True artist in modelling..that's great..

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you so much 😀

[@PeterTillman3]

Wonderful stuff Boomer. These scratch building videos of small details are some of my favourites.

[@boomerdiorama]

Glad you like them!

[@Mel-127]

I'm returning to model railroad after 12 or 15yr break with properties. I notice Tamiya now provide 10ml of half filled bottles of paint. When I first started with Tamiya they were 23ml bottles, still half filled. How times change including some techniques. Love your videos, to the point ive started with the very first video you made in this series and watching forward. Great work Boomer. Thanks for your teachings.

[@boomerdiorama]

Those "half-filled" bottles of paint are for a reason. You can thin them until the cows come home.

[@1Nanerz]

Great stuff. Everyone does the relay cases but hardly anyone ever remembers the battery cases to complete the track circuit. This S&C maintainer approves! lol! PS. Thank you for adding lift rings. The boom truck operator thanks you. Trying to pick up certain cases without them is sketchy at best.

[@boomerdiorama]

Great point!

[@Okanagan_modeler]

Thanks for showing us how this is done!! I recently moved from Ontario to the Okanagan and I am rebuilding my layout and will build some stuff like this...thanks!!

[@boomerdiorama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@HartfordWhaler]

Really great detail. Nicely done. I love scratch building. Your channel got me started on it. I know what you mean about the challenge with trying to film every minute of a scratch build. Takes time and also kind of blunts the fun a bit.

[@boomerdiorama]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Vman7757]

Thank you for sharing.

[@boomerdiorama]

My pleasure!

[@harperlarry49]

Everyone else has said it for me... another great video with tons of information. Thank you!!

[@boomerdiorama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@derz-crackmodellbahnvideosinsp]

Thanks for asking mate, I'm fine :-))✌️😉...NICE shown challenge🥂🍾 again!!! ..."No RISK, less FUN"...Then until than my dear modelbuilding friend🙋‍♂️ "👍"

[@boomerdiorama]

Thanks again!

[@jesselomas8626]

Great, great, great!! You commented that some RRs will sometimes put cabinets between them running lines. That may have been the case though its mostly at the side of one line for, as you stated, safetys sake. Of course, its down to the prototype, and you might see associated cables and troughing to accommodate. Nice to see Dusty, as always, making an appearance.. Brings a little extra to the tutorials... TY Boomer, as always, for a relaxing 30 mins or so. It flew by! Now I must head off to feed our two 😂😂

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you!

[@craiglowrey9550]

Super informative. But, you make it so simple...

[@boomerdiorama]

Try it. I try everything without knowing for sure. Usually things turnout after a few flubs. ;-)

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

Thank you. When you showed these a while ago already assembled I hoped you would show how you built them.

[@boomerdiorama]

I almost forgot I produced the video. I cover just about everything but keeping track of it all is quite a challenge and some of the video gets lost once in awhile.

[@FarlandHowe]

I started painting my truss bridge today. It is pretty big in OO scale, 31.5 inches long, three tracks. I got most of the shadows painted today. Once I get the base color on I plan to try your wet on wet methods. I was able to sit out in back on the deck in the sun to paint. Loved it. Thanks again…Rob

[@boomerdiorama]

That is awesome!

[@FarlandHowe]

@@boomerdiorama The wet-on-wet worked out well. I am very pleased with the results, it was just what I wanted. Thank you again.

[@205004gs]

That’s awesome and it looks absolutely prototypical like the ones in my area! I can’t remember seeing this done from scratch before. Outstanding! Cheers 👏👍

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you Gene!

[@richardlawson714]

Maybe I have missed this in the past, why the one glove, and why not all the time? Great content too.

[@boomerdiorama]

It depends what I have on the go "off-camera." Sometimes I have multiple stuff going on when I produce a video in between takes. ;-)

[@wapatocreekrail]

I love those SW900 road switchers SRY has. I just love the idea of a road locomotive that's that small. They're sort of like a gmd-1, in a way, or SW1500s with Flexicoil trucks. All great for a shortline!

[@boomerdiorama]

Agreed!

[@richardsmith4147]

Awesome information again, thanks

[@boomerdiorama]

Any time!

[@allenlandis4504]

Looks just like the real ones.

[@boomerdiorama]

Funny how simple things turn out surprises. ;-)

[@PostmoderneModelWorks]

The beauty of painting a model railroad is you can be 100% sure the direction of your source of light. That’s a handy bit of info to have.

[@boomerdiorama]

Implementation of painted light & shadow is what makes the subject pop. ;-)

[@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout]

One of my first scratch builds were battery boxes for the cabinets. I didn't have any .010 or .020 sheets, so I used what I had - .040 - came out too chunky and oversized. I know I can redo them now. Thanks for all your help. Cheers!

[@boomerdiorama]

That's a great idea!

[@Jan-hx9rw]

Excellent video. Coincidentally, I've just started the "locker phase" of the HO icebreaker I've been building, making the ammunition and storage lockers that will go along the main and upper decks and this confirms the approach I started the first couple with and showed me a better way to make some of the other smaller ones, especially with hinges. The technique for adding a conduit to the telephone pole is applicable to adding some of the pipes that run up the side of the ship's stack, which is going to be attempting to turn some sheet styrene into a tube. And I need to build some signal boxes for the right of way on my railroad as well. Having the painting added in the video is great, because I never would have thought of using the wash technique on such small structures. Great little project all by itself! Thanks!

[@boomerdiorama]

You can get a great selection of HO Scale hinges from Tichy Train Group as well if you want.

[@garyrose8188]

You have done a fabulous job on those relay cabinets/cubicles/cases, Boomer. The only thing I can nitpick is the depth of it - I feel it should be a little deeper, say 50%, and have an access door at the top portion on the rear to access the rear of the relays. (I am making an assumption of the internal equipment used based on my experience in Australia, Hong Kong and the UK so could be off). Regardless, an excellent representation of an older style of location case! 👍

[@boomerdiorama]

I showed the photos I built from. I build what i see and measure when I can. Not sure what you mean. Cheers.

[@robertlussenburg1770]

See you next time Dusty! 😁 Cheers

[@boomerdiorama]

Yes!

[@stevenstorey1945]

Well, Boomer Dusty didn't appear to be a bit pleased having been removed from River Road. After all, she wouldn't have even thought of messing with those delectable little parts anyway! It's just amazing how adding well thought through detail can change the whole scene in one little area. This is what separates your channel from the many others on KZbin! OK, now put Dusty back before she boycotts River Road... Cheers

[@boomerdiorama]

Dusty is a sweetheart but she also has a split personality. ;-)

[@CharlieH65]

I've noticed you have different signals installed from the original type G signal you did the original signal tutorial on. Do you have more signaling videos "in the can" for release at a later time? Thanks again for all you do and show us on this great channel!

[@boomerdiorama]

Yes. I will talk about signals on this layout eventually. Too much content in the que to say when though. CHeers ~ Boomer.😁

[@Madonsteamrailways]

By the way, I’m a cat man myself!! Mine’s a ginger tomcat called King Harold, named after my 19x great uncle on my father’s side.

[@boomerdiorama]

Awesome! Say high to Harold for me. ;-)

[@ainsleyperry5192]

Boomer, What function does the pole shown at the end of the video perform? I've seen some of the "boxes" come with a small satellite radio dish on a short pole alongside the signal box. You've started something now on my bench they are breeding faster than rabbits! Cheers, Chris Perry.

[@boomerdiorama]

The pole ia an older service pole I decided to build. Not sure if it is still in service but thought it looked cool. I like to model the passage of time here-and-there. ;-)

[@clintonstorer8571]

do you think the signal boxes might be a bit large? I was just comparing the doors and hinges on the side of my HO Scale Trains SD40T-2 and they are way smaller.

[@boomerdiorama]

They are built on spec from the SRY/CP connector. So no, I don't think they are. Have you walked up to one and put a tape rule on one. They are all different in many cases depending where it is. I build what I see and touch usually. The hinges have nothing to do with an SD40 size.

[@bobfuller]

Very nice. Shame about the white balance though which prevented us seeing the detail during the build.

[@boomerdiorama]

Sorry about that. Have you ever tried to shoot video like this? Hard to get everything right with a white subject like this. Cheers.

[@breydence_8912]

I would like to Do Signal Boxes like you

[@boomerdiorama]

They are a good place to start scratch-building. They will give you confidence. Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@politicsandtrains]

Do you recommend set of micro drills?

[@boomerdiorama]

I recommend the "Godhand" drill bits (made in Japan). Most hobby shops should have them if they are still available. Otherwise, whatever you can live with.

[@randysrockandrollrailroad8207]

👍🤠👍

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you Randy!

[@Yeoman7]

How old is Dusty?

[@boomerdiorama]

She is five years old.

[@TomStarcevich-fb3qo]

🐈🐈🐈🐈🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃👍

[@boomerdiorama]

Cheers . . . ;-)

[@kevinsheedy7157]

Dusty - get out!

[@boomerdiorama]

Lol . . . just this one time. ;-)