The Last Turnout | Midweek Track Update March 2024 | Boomer Diorama ~ # 234

This is the last HO (1/87) Scale Scratch Built Turnout for River Road. It will serve Dryco Building Supply (off layout).
There are a few more curved turnouts already built for Section Three. This one slipped through the cracks and it was quite a challenge to get it done.
KZbin Audio Library Music
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[@trainmanroysmodelrailroadh7686]

Although not a comment on this video specifically, I just have to send a hugh thanks. I have adopted your "make it - don't buy it" attitude. I have used many of the techniques you show with, in my mind, great results (ok, I'm biased). You and Luke Towan are the ONLY video's I don't fast forward through at times - so as not to miss a random gem of information. So thank you Boomer for really enhancing the hobby for me. Much more fun than driving the real things i can tell you. Cheers

[@boomerdiorama]

Wow, thank you! Thanks for taking the time to share that. Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@danrao3707]

Nothing better than watching the wheels of progress at a pace you dictate. I’m happy you brought us along for the ride and alway look forward to each episode.

[@boomerdiorama]

I just produce, edit and publish as I go whether it's back two steps or forward one. No idea really, but systematically working thoroughly from left to right. I don't like leaving too many loose ends, otherwise they build up and overwhelm the progress.

[@donwillhoit6866]

My best relaxation is scratch building turnouts and hand laying track. Hats off to you.

[@boomerdiorama]

They can be for sure. I wasn't really in the mood for this one but I pressed through anyway. Feels good to have it done so I can get on with scenery. ;-)

[@murraymartin9009]

I'm totally engrossed with this project like a really good book. Wow! The things I learn! Thank you!

[@boomerdiorama]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@1BCamden]

Really great episode, love the full scale rail in the corner of the shot, like you are creating inside reality. Never get tired of your explanation regarding track laying. Very best regards

[@boomerdiorama]

My brother gave me that when he use to weld (Manganese) frogs for Great Northern. ;-)

[@1BCamden]

Family heirloom then 😉

[@Jan-hx9rw]

Nice tip about that hook on the point! Thanks!

[@boomerdiorama]

👍

[@mimodelrailroading]

Your turnouts are absolutely beautiful.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you so much!

[@michaelimpey1407]

Boomer, great result to get the "last" turn-out done, it gives a sense of achievement when you hit milestones. Thank you for sharing, you certinly provide some absolute gems of techniques and nuggests of golden information, keep it coming. Thank you for sharing, cheers, and stay safe, Michael

[@boomerdiorama]

Thanks 👍

[@nickwiseman7770]

Great job doing your own turn out. That is impressive and really intimidating! You’re definitely getting me itching to start my layout! Fantastic sir loving every minute!

[@boomerdiorama]

Glad to hear that. Start small first. You will enjoy it more. 😁

[@cameronwheatley7792]

Morning, I was just thinking about all the wonderful classes you have given us over the years. And think I have mentioned before about an amazing book I've had for about 40 years now, it's a hard cover book, the encyclopaedia of model railroading by Terry Allen. Boomer, once you do finish the next two sections. It would be fantastic to turn the River Road development and master classes into a book. You have so much content and could make a book with ease. I know books are old school but sometimes it's still the best way to learn and for all of us to grow based on your teaching. Id be more than happy to give you a hand with it. You are one of the masters of this art and your layout deserves its place in everyones book shelf that has an interest in this great hobby of ours. It's amazing to see you start the next half of your master plan. Thank you again for all the effort in creating the videos for us to follow and enjoy your passion for the hobby.

[@boomerdiorama]

I believe I am familiar with the book - must check my collection. ;-) Thank you for the encouragement. Maybe a book one day if time will afford me. I see your reasoning. Thank you again. Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@royceferguson]

Fabulous milestone and it's gotta feel great checking that box for the (mostly) completed track work. ✅ Congrats, Boomer!

[@boomerdiorama]

It really is!

[@monkeymike8797]

3d prints? Next you will be buying a laser cutter🤣. Good video, love seeing the progress.

[@boomerdiorama]

I would love to see someone design and print a modern (2000's) Fire Truck in 1/87 Scale. I mean a really nice one. No one produces one. Either a ladder truck or a pumper would be great. Someone I just met recently sent me a 3D printed Peterbilt Tractor and it look's really good. Have to wait to build it though.

[@mikerubynfs]

A common staging for small UK layouts is aluminium angle on laminated boards, where the angle forms the track and side protection, called cassettes. To join them metal clips (bulldog type) are used which allows power to be transmitted along the angle for locos. The laminated cassettes means they slide easily on the baseboard to form trains. They usually have short cassettes for locos and longer ones for stock.

[@boomerdiorama]

Yes. i know what you mean. I like that style of off layout staging.😁

[@vincenthuying98]

Dear Boomer, always love the shots of Dusty on the layout, such a beautiful kitty! On the point blade connection to the throw bar; had that same problem. Definitely will try out the hook. Have been tinkering with the thought of constructing a more prototypical throw bar with the K+S rod, but still stall on the conductive issue. However, purely for the sake of movement it seems to work fine. May have to try Evergreen rod instead to solve the conductivity. Cheerio

[@boomerdiorama]

You can use the PC board srtipped with thin plastic overlay for details. ;-)

[@davenitsch6094]

Great idea pinning the points to the throw bar, before soldering! I have some commercial turnouts (Railway Engineering) that have broke at the solder joints! May have to do this when I need them!

[@boomerdiorama]

They take some abuse for sure. ;-)

[@railroad1970]

Per the note about forgetting to drill for the switch machine: I made myself a checklist on a piece of paper that I put up in the section I’m working on. Cut the gaps, drill the holes, attach the feeders…😅

[@boomerdiorama]

Cutting the gaps can come back to bite as well if you miss one.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Great craftsmanship! I’ll have to stick with my PECO code 83 turnouts, but it’s nice to do some vicarious track building via your channel.

[@boomerdiorama]

Peco makes great turnouts! Once you learn how to scratch build turnouts, there is no going back. ;-)

[@HartfordWhaler]

It’s on my bucket list. I’ll definitely reference your posts when I’m ready to try. Dusty is a character. I’ve got a Rigby who enjoys yowling for my attention whenever the camera is on.

[@keithdenner9441]

Great work Boomer!

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you kindly

[@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout]

Good to hear the passion in your voice tonight.

[@boomerdiorama]

Lol . . . Thank you Bill. I guess it doesn't always sound that way but the passion seems to be unmoving and solid since day one. ;-)

[@kenzieska9148]

I enjoy watching your progress. I have built many turnout over the years and I am always looking for other techniques. The little piece of brass for strengthing the switch points is interesting. Never had much of an issue with that but it would really make a bullet proof turnout.

[@boomerdiorama]

Track integrity is the most important factor for me.

[@ralphrenzetti22]

Boomer, I agree with you about building turnout, the difference between us is, you do it totally scratch on a paper diagram and I use the metal fixtures. The feeling of satisfaction is gratifying. I have a question though, When you add your feeder wires, how and where do you fix them? I flatten the wire tip, bend it over 90 deg to make it look like a spike, tin the end with solder and pick a spot on the lower track flange beside or through a pc tie tin that as well then it is a quick touch with the soldering iron and it done and looks like a rail spike! Works great for me! No mess, no heavy blob of solder on the side or bottom of the rail to hide!

[@boomerdiorama]

I like to solder the feeders to the bottom of the rail with extras for redundancy. No need to hide anything because you can't see them when the ballast is down. I tend to shy away from soldering to the PC board because what if the rail separates from the PC board due to a cold solder? It's another unnecessary broken link in the conductivity chain. 🤣 However, I do both but tend to favor the former. 😁

[@pauld2216]

Its a 0.5mm / half a mm hole. Thanks for all your videos.

[@boomerdiorama]

Cheers!

[@billbeverly2864]

I do something similar that you do with the brass hook on the throwbar when scratch building my turnouts. What I do is get some brass pins from the craft store that have a flat head. Like you I drill a hole through the throwbar and the foot of the rail. I then insert the pin from the bottom sticking up. I clip off the excess and solder the pin in place. When I lay the switch I sand a little slot below the throwbar, since the head is small and smooth it slides very easily.

[@boomerdiorama]

Sounds great!

[@ainsleyperry5192]

Boomer, The look Dusty gave at the beginning said it all really. "That Boomer thinks he's coming down here. This is my half, Mate." For the sidings on the cassette across the track joins make plastic re-railers at both ends. Also track blocks can be stored on shelves above the cassette deck. To change the look of the 3/4 wagon sets you just turn the track block around. Is Dryco the business behind Ipex Plastics? Cheers, Chris Perry.

[@boomerdiorama]

She is staking ground. ;-)

[@4everdc302]

Hats off to those making turnouts. It's ok. I'll keep Atlas in business 😂🚂🇨🇦🙋

[@boomerdiorama]

Some of the new stuff is really nice for sure.

[@ausfoodgarden]

I didn't really understand what the brass hook does, but that's probably because I've never built a turnout from scratch. I will be making some turnouts using 3D-printed bases with the Templot system. I guess I might understand more after I try my first build.

[@boomerdiorama]

The pin helps to hold the point rail to the throw bar along with solder. They take some abuse sliding back-and-forth over time.

[@AndyCrawford_NorfolkWestern]

First, of course thanks for sharing and I must say, you’ve set such a standard that’s it’s often a challenge or just interesting when there are such particulars that really shine. That mechanism you fabricate with the throwbar is awesome. I moved to silver soldering years ago to make that bending joint with the point more robust, but since I switched to using a pair (or 3 for #10’s+) of “Z scale” or just quite narrow PCB. But that didn’t have room for the brass rivets I used decades ago, but the pin will. I’ve watched some European Proto:4 do something a bit like that, but not precisely. Now I’m inclined to build a few on the bench that way. Another standout particular, is the architecture, infrastructure, and plant discussions you share. I’m a big fan of those details that are popular in European builders, albeit brought back to mountainous US inspirations. I’ll be fascinated when you’re planning and building the sector plate/pivot/table… they’re such a useful, and simple solution, but very interesting as the devil really is in those details. One question, “last turnout” period/to install? …or have you already built those few planned for section 3?

[@boomerdiorama]

Nice to hear from you Andy. You are correct. I have already built the turnouts for section three. This one was last on the list as I almost deleted it. I decided to add it because there is another industry (Dryco Building Supplies) further down (off layout) so the extra parking space will come in handy for the few Bulkhead Flats I have, since they will tuck behind a sloping ridge.

[@AndyCrawford_NorfolkWestern]

@@boomerdiorama love bulkheads, lumber industry, anything with open loads. That’s good times building loads, tarps, etc. I picked up a couple of the recently released drop center cars, looking forward to assemble some loads… magnetically “attached”, maybe… been thinking about that recently… idk ;) Take it easy.

[@boomerdiorama]

I saw those they look great. I just picked up a few Rapido "Bulkhead" flats in BCOL livery and they look fantastic.@@AndyCrawford_NorfolkWestern

[@contributor7219]

Great to see you using scratch-built turnouts - they make life easy in so many ways as well as looking the part. I'm gradually playing catchup on your earlier videos and have a watched a few about turnout construction and track-work. Your point that the prototype builds each to suit its specific location is an excellent one. I use a FastTracks jig for mine and leave long tails that allow me to 'blend' them in to their individual position in the trackwork, I find it strikes a good balance for me between fully scratch-built and commercially available. My plan is based on the Minnesota Commercial's 'Hennepin Job' so is very much about prototype switching - including the Interplastics 'one car at a time' operation at the end of Cleveland St NE, and Traffic St NE.

[@boomerdiorama]

Your layout plan sounds awesome. Yes, you are correct about the turnouts. The problem for me is every turnout is different and they are rather large curved turnouts for the most part so jigs were out of the question economically. They all work flawlessly though, so things worked out. ;-)

[@contributor7219]

@@boomerdiorama Yes, I love that you have recreated as closely as possible those long turnouts leading to the barge slip. They cry out for that built-in-place approach you have taken. I did take the liberty of 'google earthing' the area in which your layout is set to get a better understanding of the context. It's a really fascinating run along the riverbank, and picturesque with it. I'm not sure what it is but there is something special about rails near the water. In my humble opinion the section of the MNNR I'm modelling punches above its weight for fun switching without needing to resort to a switching puzzle - much like River Road. Run arounds are few and far between, so careful ordering of cars is a must before each job. There's also a great mix of rail served industries that use pretty much every type of freight car. As an Australian, I'm also staggered at just how green that whole area is and how that greenery completely changes the feel of the industrial area.

[@boomerdiorama]

I think when it comes to run-arounds, we can design them in to favor the smaller footprint and still maintain a prototypical (freelance) feel if the curves are generous. ;-)@@contributor7219

[@usssaratogacv3lefevre978]

Looks like its going to be fun.

[@boomerdiorama]

So far, so good!

[@blaketatar1239]

I love the hook for the point rails. I’m using Central Valley track and switch kits. I have build a couple but used the copper clad throw bars. Adding that hook will work just fine on these. Thanks again Boomer!!

[@boomerdiorama]

Those Central Valley turnouts are very nice. ;-)

[@PostmoderneModelWorks]

I’m so glad I went with your matte medium method for track and ballast because I’ve had to replace turnouts and it’s quick and painless.

[@boomerdiorama]

Exactly. Always a method to my madness. ;-)

[@schadowolf]

well done!

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you! Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@shaunhuckstepp7531]

Hi boomer those metal rulers are really good to use as a straight edge , just the right thickness to tuck in on the sleeps . One of these days I will start making my own turnouts there's going to be an opportunity soon I hope when we move house.,might try code 83 track

[@boomerdiorama]

Code 83 is the perfect start. ;-)

[@shaunhuckstepp7531]

@@boomerdiorama I've been looking at Walters new code 83 points and flex track they look very impressive, what do you think?

[@tonyromano6220]

I want to see the cat building a doubleslip!

[@boomerdiorama]

She would rather sleep on it. ;-)

[@danielfantino1714]

She´ll be good for doublesleep 😊

[@tonyromano6220]

@@danielfantino1714 well played!

[@danielfantino1714]

Glad you like it Tony. It was so easy. You started it....or did Dusty did it ?

[@ronaldjoyce7374]

I think it’s great that you build your own turnouts, I’ve never done that because I model in N scale (OH MY OLD EYES) LOL Maybe one day I’ll try it, those are getting expensive and maybe I can save a dollar or two…?

[@boomerdiorama]

I scratched one in "Z" scale just to see if I could do it. It worked out great, but I only built one and quit while I was ahead . . lol.

[@Vman7757]

Thank you for sharing. You just solved my throw bar issue. Thank you very much. It's going to be interesting for me drilling a hole in ME code 55. But the rest will work for sure. Can't wait to see the next one. Vinnie / Vman / Vincent.

[@boomerdiorama]

It's completely doable in Code 55.

[@cncpgreatlakesdiv4896]

very nice video thanks for posting and awesome work.😊😊👍👍

[@boomerdiorama]

Thanks for sharing!

[@metalnail]

The sector plate sounds awesome! I am curious how it would be. Looking forward to see you build and operate one.

[@boomerdiorama]

It's funny how we always try to save space but in the end, very little is actually saved . . . lol.

[@bernicemeade3232]

Section three Railroad crossing lights Take your time but I can't wait❤

[@boomerdiorama]

No crossing lights here but at Glover Road near the end. There are no crossing lights prototypically here. Of course I could install them but they would drive me nuts after half a dozen runs . . . so not in th middle of the layout - but at the end. ;-)

[@bernicemeade3232]

👍

[@dan8402]

The idea of building a scratch turn out scare the begesus out of me. Although the look amazing once done.

[@boomerdiorama]

Everyone is scared at first and then after a few wonder why they were. ;-)

[@russrockino-rr0864]

What is your Kitties name, Boomer? I have an Orange Cat who likes to be with me when I am working on my Layout. His name is Copper, or AKA "BOB"(Big Orange Boy). Awesome Layout and Trackwork. Thanks for sharing!

[@boomerdiorama]

Dusty. She loves the layout as well.😉

[@allenlandis4504]

looks real good

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you!

[@jesselomas8626]

Progress, progress... Sector plate? You have mentioned that, more in conjunction with the ferry though. Now, adding another will add flexibility in anycase.

[@boomerdiorama]

Need stub end staging at both ends. One is functional like the prototype, the other is imaginary for now.

[@WolfgangSabella]

Hi, Very helpful, but: What happens where the hook protrudes the point rail, does it not represent an obstacle where the point meets the stock rail? Do you do something with the back of the point or is there an extra tiny gap/recess in the stock rail to accommodate the hook? Many thanks for your feedback!

[@boomerdiorama]

Good question. So the point rail is filed on the closure side with a convex curve and if need be (but not normally), I tweak it with a file since it is sealed with solder anyway. Furthermore, the closure rail base is also filed a little inward as well at the throwbar apex so no need for fastening there. Never any issues if you gently file it down a little. Never had to file it flush so it holds fantastic. ;-)

[@WolfgangSabella]

Many thanks!

[@mikeseba7817]

👌👍👍👍

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you!

[@ISAACBATENBURG]

Hello Boomer, where can I buy the sleepers you use for soldering the tracks on? What brand are the tracks?

[@boomerdiorama]

Those are PC Ties. You can get them from Fastracks online. Apart from handlaid track I use Micro Engineering and Atlas Code 70 flex track.

[@ralphhardison2185]

You said 5mm but it’s point 5

[@boomerdiorama]

I'm surprised I get anything right anymore . . . lol.😉👍

[@nomo69ss25]

Damn decimal points…!!😂

[@boomerdiorama]

I may live in Canada but I am still on the preferred imperial system. 😉@@nomo69ss25

[@nomo69ss25]

😂I’m a retired machinist so my brain bounces back and forth… sometimes for no apparent reason…!! 🤣🤣🤣✌️

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

Thanks. What plastic strip do you use for ties on the turnout?

[@boomerdiorama]

Evergreen Strip # 155 - (.060" X .100")

[@TomStarcevich-fb3qo]

🐈🐈🐈🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🇨🇦👍

[@boomerdiorama]

Cheers!