Building A OO Gauge Model Railway: Building A Mimic Control Panel

One of many jobs on the long finger I have finally turned my attention to making the control panel for the branch side of the layout. I need to give a huge thank you to one of my subscribers, Steve Skelton, for his u wavering help with the wiring on this project.
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Title music by ‘Longzijun’
Title artwork by ‘Charlie MacGowan’

[@oceancity1042]

Liked the idea of adapting the photo fame , cheap and cost effective. Thanks for the tip. Regards Robert

[@GalgormHall]

Glad you enjoyed it Robert. Paul

[@alexhill9169]

I completly love the idea of the photo frame Paul it adds an extra something to a mimic pannel. Your wiring is not simplistic at all, it looks exactly the way id expect any wiring to be done, no need to over complicate what doesnt need to be. Top stuff.

[@GalgormHall]

I’m sure I’ve seen the picture frame idea elsewhere but it came to me one evening and thought it would provide a good option rather than trying to fabricate something myself. That’s the easy bit of wiring done, I expect more difficulty with the directional lighting units. 😬 Paul

[@TheDaf95xf]

Evening Paul. Nice simple mimic panel 👍🏻

[@GalgormHall]

Thank you Stevie, simple but effective. Paul

[@davestrains6816]

Very nice build. That control panel looks like a piece of finished furniture. Thanks for sharing. Dave

[@GalgormHall]

Furniture fit for a bonfire! 😆 Thank you for the kind words Dave. Paul

[@trainsontuesday]

Hi Paul, It was great to meet you at the Warley show. Your panel looks great and will work very well for you I'm sure. I had to chuckle at your difficulty saying DPDT and then a real laugh when I saw the wires attached. It's not a DPDT at all it's an SPDT. The DPDT has six wire connections, the SPDT has three. Regards, David.

[@GalgormHall]

It was a real surprise and pleasure to see you there David, really enjoyed chatting with you. SPDT? I still would have fluffed saying that too. 😆 Paul

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Nice idea with the photo frame. Saves alot of time and effort in making something up when you can pick them up pretty cheaply. Cheers

[@GalgormHall]

That was my thinking and dimension wise worked perfectly between the joists. I certainly wouldn’t have made anything as neat from scratch. Paul

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

Great work, Paul. The best way to learn! 👍👍

[@GalgormHall]

Thanks as always Anthony. Paul

[@stmichaelshill7421]

Hi Paul! Really nice video, and 1,000 times better than my effort! That was a disaster! I will re-do mine at some point using this technique! Very clever to start with the picture frame!

[@GalgormHall]

Thanks Richard, I’d been mulling over this project for some time with no clear idea on what or how i was going to produce something. The picture frame was a great starting point giving me dimensions to work from for the cabinet carcass and more importantly something simple but effective to house the board. The square well finished frame to dress the box was an added bonus. Paul

[@EtonieE25]

Brilliant cost effective idea my friend and thanks for sharing

[@GalgormHall]

Thank you for watching and commenting EtonieE. Paul

[@WestBlythMPD]

Great work on the mimic panel, looking forward to more videos. Michael

[@GalgormHall]

Thank you Michael, kind of you to say so. Paul

[@martinrandall3735]

Excellent idea. Absolutely going to do this for my own mimic panel. Much easier than trying to build something totally from scratch.

[@GalgormHall]

Thanks Martin, the use of the frame certainly made it easier to create dimensions for a box and as you say, much easier than scratch building. Paul

[@collinsngauge5493]

Hi Very nicely done and the running session was smooth. Colin

[@GalgormHall]

Thanks Colin. Paul

[@davekirwin]

Hi Paul - great little video, most informative. I’m similarly wary/rubbish at wiring - nice to see I’m not the only one! Nice idea using a photo frame.

[@GalgormHall]

Thanks Dave, it is you that refers to it as electrickery? Paul

[@davekirwin]

@@GalgormHall It is indeed!

[@yarslowmodelrailway1]

Excellent stuff Paul - some great ides with the picture frame and pin-stripe tape!!

[@GalgormHall]

Thank you Yarslow. Paul

[@skel3110]

Lovely neat job there Paul, I do like the finish with that Halford's appliance paint and keep up the good work with the DPDT's! Nice to see the kadees working well and thanks for the shoutout Cheers Steve

[@GalgormHall]

Cheers Steve and an extra thank you for your help and guidance in this project, couldn’t have done it without you. Paul

[@SchuylkillRiverValley]

Very nice panel Paul - inexpensive, attractive & effective! It should make operating trains in that section much more enjoyable. Best, John

[@GalgormHall]

It’s already proving it’s worth John and turned out not too bad. Thank you as always for the support. Paul

[@Elvenhome]

This is very timely Paul. I am thinking of how to operate the points at High Elven when I build that bid, and a mimic panel was something I was considering. If it works I may convert the other panel of switches. Even with my level frame, remembering which is which and which they are pointing takes quite some doing. Stephen

[@GalgormHall]

It’s funny how this happens, videos pop at the right time, I know that’s been the case with some of your topics when I’ve watched. Very happy with how this turned out and a very inexpensive build. Paul

[@adlam97531]

What a great tutorial, looks good

[@GalgormHall]

Thank you David for the very kind comments. Paul

[@thomasm1964]

12:58 Well done!

[@GalgormHall]

Thank you. Paul

[@boneyknocknees]

Hi Paul, Another excellent inspiring video. I had been trying to decide a way to construct a control panel, great design. Thanks for sharing. Regards John.

[@GalgormHall]

Glad you enjoyed it John. Paul

[@GalgormHall]

It was a pleasure to meet you today at Warley John and get a good chat. Hopefully we will cross paths again. Paul

[@boneyknocknees]

Likewise Paul, I was hoping to meet you. I really enjoy your channel as I find it very inspiring, hope you enjoyed the show. Regards, John.

[@GalgormHall]

I loved it John with the highlight being meeting so many people like yourself. I’ll definitely be back. Thank you for your very kind words on my channel too. Paul

[@Wickford_N_Gauge]

Brilliant video Paul, I have all the cobalt stuff to do a mimic panel since last Christmas but was just terrified of mucking it up 😱 Your wee video has given me the confidence to finally push on 👍 What’s the worst that can happen 🤕😉 Lucky thing is I won’t be using those DUP switches, so hopefully it will go smoothly 🙊😂😂😂😂😂 Many thanks for the inspiration and best wishes from County Wicklow 😎

[@GalgormHall]

If I can do it Paul so can you. Get the tools out and start building. Paul

[@wheezypalacemodels7726]

Hiya Paul, this is something I have been putting off for a while now but I must have a look at it again soon. Great job and I know the cobalts make it easier. I have mainly Peco solenoid so should be just as simple once I work it out. Great job as always, well done, looks great too!! Cheers, Chris

[@GalgormHall]

Thanks Chris, that’s half the battle, working it out. After that it’s a straight forward repetitive process. I put it off for long enough myself but honestly it was quite easy once I knew what I was doing. Paul

[@LoganKohn]

Best of luck, keep it up! Subscribed!

[@GalgormHall]

Many thanks Logan for your support. Much appreciated. Paul

[@thebibletrain8297]

Very nice “how to” video, very easy to follow. 👍

[@GalgormHall]

Thank you GR. Paul.

[@medwaypeninsulaMR]

Hi Paul another very good and instructive video. I too am going down the Cobalt route (just waiting for them to come back into stock) But I have taken the easy way and will use their Alpha Panel I only have 11 points so that fits nicely as I will only need one box. Cheers Kev

[@GalgormHall]

Thanks Kev, the alpha panel is a tidy piece of kit and certainly much easier to install all the wiring. Paul

[@Sandlingjunction]

Nice job Paul, start filming mine this weekend, I like the ideas on the box you made. Cheers Paul at Sandling Junction

[@GalgormHall]

Cheers mate, cheap and cheerful but does what it says on the box. Paul

[@TRAMJUNCTION7147HG]

As always Paul, I enjoyed watching you make this mimic panel which you made a very nice job of. Despite you pronounciations of the switches, I would have just continued to call them switches. I too sometimes get tongue twisted when describing certain things lol. Keep up the good work Paul, your layout is looking brilliant so far. Cheers for now..................Geoff

[@GalgormHall]

Too kind Geoff and thank you. My brain engages after the words depart my mouth. 😆 Paul

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi Muppet (LOL). In PBS-C the "C" stands for Common (or centre!). I think the word you were looking for was "bezel" (as you remembered!). I suspect the point motor wasn't grabbing the wire due to a weak (or broken?) spring. You could still use it on a point that you control with the NCECab. I like the mimic panel. My own plans for a mimic panel are a little more ambitious with LED push buttons. I saw a video on DCCconcepts website that featured a frame in which the edges open up to fit the panel. I designed the panel plan with Libre Office Draw. I'm not so good working with wood (which I don't have lying around) so I need to work out a supporting frame.

[@GalgormHall]

Hi Paul, you must be working your way through some of my old videos, if that’s the case thank you. Paul

[@williambryant5946]

The panel looks great. That appliance paint gave it a mirror kind of finish that's very nice. I noticed the rail was not lined up on the siding switch that you crossed first in the video with the train. It looked as if you had put the rail on top of the rail joiner. It looks like the connection of the switch to the mainline on the rail closer to the front of the layout. Don't know if you've noticed that or not and i don't want it to cause you problems down the road. Carry on, your layout is looking great and progressing nicely!

[@GalgormHall]

Thank you William, the paint was a lucky find but I think it works well. I noticed that bump to, something I’d missed before and will investigate. A quick look didn’t show any eve idea W of a misaligned joiner but I need to inspect further, appreciate the pointer though. Paul

[@williambryant5946]

@@GalgormHall Just trying to help. 👍

[@GalgormHall]

Appreciated too William. Paul

[@samdeacon5045]

Great video Paul! Exactly what I needed as I could think what to use 👍 What's the switches your using again....🤣

[@GalgormHall]

Thank you Sam, they are DTP...DBD...DTBD... oh forget it, they’re switches. Simple! 😆 Paul

[@andyg1645]

Please check out some urgent news from the US regulators that could prevent any KZbin video such as this from being broadcast. The regulators in the US basically want to remove from KZbin any content that could appeal to children under the age of 12 of which it could be argued is almost everything. I came across information about this after watching the latest KZbin post from “Andy’s Hobby Headquarters” which is primarily tutorials on building plastic kit models. This is very serious so please watch the latest video from Andy’s Hobby Headquarters where you will find a petition that you can sign and the ability to post a comment for the regulators to read.

[@clivecobbold6815]

Hi Paul another great video mate there is a new hobby & craft shop open at the abbeycenter Hobbycraft Longwood retail park Bt37 9uf 03300 261130 it has humbrol & tamiya paints and hobby tools Airfix models and some revell models & paints and woodland scenics to mate 😀😀😀👍👍👍 clive

[@GalgormHall]

Yes! I’ve been waiting for a Hobbycraft to come to NI for ages, just the news I needed and a trip will need to be organised. I’ve spent plenty of early mornings and late nights in the past working the Longwood site on maintenance work so know the place well. Paul

[@clivecobbold6815]

Galgorm Hall that is good news then mate clive

[@paultijink4235]

Hi Paul, that wiring looks great! Your (dpdt) switches only have three pins (or?) which seems to make the wiring to/from the Cobalt point motors relatively easy and neat. I started building a relatively small layout in January and my trainshop advised me to use MP5 point motors. It took me a bit of time (and lots of trial and error) to figure out how to do the wiring, and what I ended up doing seems much more complicated than what you have done on your layout. You can see here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqu0pn2Qm7p9j7c how I did the wiring. Any thoughts are welcome!! Btw great videos and thanks for the inspiration! Regards, Paul

[@GalgormHall]

Hi Paul thank you. Yes, only the three pins on my switches and I believe you can get away with two on them as well. I looked at your video and got completely lost in the wiring schematics. It’s just not my thing, wiring, and one of the reasons this method worked so well for me. I hadn’t heard of the MP5 motor until you mentioned it but reading round the subject a little it seems to be favoured by some. I think this is another case of horses for courses and what works best for the individual modeller. Paul

[@paultijink4235]

@@GalgormHall Hi Paul, thanks for your reply! I agree, it's another case of horses for courses. I can imagine you got lost in my wiring schematics, I didn't find it easy to figure out, and I did ask my train shop for some assistance as well 😁. What I really liked about the MP5 is how much smaller in size it is. Some spaces below the baseboard are really tight, then a small point motor works well. Regards, Paul