Modeling Switch Lanterns for our

This week we are making switch lanterns to mount on the switch stands we assembled last week for our large scale railroad.
The switch lanterns are being made from Ozark Miniatures switch lanterns. We made a mold from the lantern body and day targets so we could cast a large number of lantern bodies as we need a lot of these lanterns.
The lantern base and stand mount is scratch built for each lantern from K and S brass shapes and tube silver soldered together.
The lenses are turned on a toy lathe bought on eBay for $35.00
www.ebay.com/itm/100W-Mini-La...
The lenses are turnned from acrylic rods found on amazon.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
The lamps are 3 volt surface mount 0402 LEDs. I bagged 50 from China for about $20 but you can get them now on Amazon for $10 per 20
www.amazon.com/EDGELEC-Emitti...
We are using Llagas Creek cast brass switch stands which require clean up of the castings as well as soldering the assembly together. This also requires connecting the switch stand to the points by fabricating a cross-bar to hold the points in proper spacing and connect them to the switch stand so they operate properly.
llagascreekrailways.com/
We are laying on hand-cut red cedar ties and using home cast tie plates and point slide rail braces as well as Llagas Creek cast points and frog. Following Denver and Rio Grande Western narrow gauge practices based on photographs taken in and around Durango Colorado.
We are currently laying track in the indoor switching yard, much of our garden railroad is indoor but plans call for the bulk of it to be outside in the garden.
The indoor sections are all hand laid on nickel silver code 250 and code 210 often on white metal tie plates. As of now, the plans call for using commercially available prefab track outside.
model-railroad-hobbyist.com/n...

[@neosystem852]

I’ve never been more invested in a model railroad series. Great job

[@ToyManTelevision]

Well thank you! We have now started on the outdoor portion of the rail road although I must say right now it’s nothing more than the bench work. But it’s a start

[@neosystem852]

Toy Man Television I can’t wait to see it!

[@rangerstl07]

I'm liking the updated "Garage-mahal" intro! Nice to see new stuff as well as see a little bit of Al each episode.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yeah I thought it be fun to put that together for any time we’re working on the Railroad!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Or just some garage Mahal project or other

[@canyonpast]

Very cool. Again another quality offering. Thanks for all you do.

[@ToyManTelevision]

And thank you for watching we should like making a show next week we’re going to what was once an amusement park and is now sort of a swamp. Another words were nursing all of our wounds from being bit by bugs

[@marykoferl5639]

Enjoyed this video. The two of you are talented. Thank you.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi and thank you

[@randallhawkinson4727]

Amazing work, Sir! John Allen would be very proud!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thank you Randall! We are sure having some fun with this stuff and I’m just thrilled at how the little switch lenders are turning out. Being that we are fans of switch lanterns! Do you check tomorrow’s show on that subject

[@matthewblancher1538]

This is just the coolest. Every week is just a deeper look into how these detailed railroads get made. I saw the episodes on Steve's railroad and his detailed scratch builds but this one walks us through how just one of those details gets made. Thanks for another great one. It's becoming a "how to model railroad" guide for me.

[@ToyManTelevision]

We are now going to undertake a huge backdrop as we have to get that ready before we can build more branch work and build more track. Nerve-racking to start painting on that huge cove backdrop

[@jesseusgrantcanales]

I almost teared up when you showed the switch at 'night' and played rail sounds, my inner child and forever rail-fan heart warmed up. :)

[@ToyManTelevision]

There’s just something about a glowing switch stand in a real yard the chokes me up. I guess it has to do with my upbringing and seeing those things when I was a small child but darn it. It’s just an amazing reaction

[@jesseusgrantcanales]

@@ToyManTelevision You are the luckiest to have a childhood like yours around railroading, I envy you.

[@jimkammerer8028]

You two make the best videos and are the king and queen of SCREWING AROUND. ENJOY the day and your weather. THANK you FOR your VIDEO and your TIME HAVE a great day JIM KAMMERER OF PHILADELPHIA PA THANK you AGAIN 👍😁

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi!! And thanks! We get a kick out of making these videos. And building the layout and projects. Normally we are on the road a lot this time of year but this year... so projects!!

[@upsd402]

Great craftsmanship, can’t wait to see the railroad layout completed. Lol. Great work.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks. It’s coming along slowly but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

[@bigwoz78]

You are a master modeler indeed. Outstanding

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks. Yesterday we worked on the OUTSIDE PART! I never thought we’d get that far ( joke).

[@jasonsnyder3948]

Fantastic job Toyman! Great detail.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks we are sure happy with how they’re coming out

[@nathancorcoran5347]

There are great switch lanterns.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks

[@nathancorcoran5347]

You’re welcome.

[@cudathehawgjetfixer7520]

With all of that hard work is now starting to pay off, GREAT JOB GUYS AND GALS, from all of the stuff you've done on your layout, you've got me wanting to start tinkering around in my hobby again! Thanks for the incentive!!!! Keep up the great work!!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Just yesterday we started work on the outside portion! Gee are we skipping around? No matter the real railroads did that too.

[@FastSports-ScaleCarGarage]

They look fantastic! Great work! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@ToyManTelevision]

They are really coming together and looking great! This is so much fun

[@daviemaclean61]

Wow. Outstanding work. I can't wait to see the 1/20th scale working man who will stand next to it! ;-)

[@ToyManTelevision]

Still in the design phase on that one! Debating whether or not these should be done by cloning DNA and growing a little human beans or some sort of robotic solution.

[@daviemaclean61]

@@ToyManTelevision A 3D printed copy of yourself perhaps?!

[@rrswitch48]

Awesome artistry!

[@ToyManTelevision]

And thank you for watching! Next week something different but then we’re back on the rail road again

[@Brianrockrailfan]

Awesome video liked 👍

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi!! Man is this fun. And looking great.

[@johnnytoronto1066]

WELL DONE!!!!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

We’re working on the backdrop right now because I can’t put in benchwork until it’s finished and I can’t lay any more track until that’s ready. I guess you would refer to this is work order

[@dougcostello9064]

Very impressive work. 👍

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thank you and of course more

[@richardruemenapp2782]

I commend you two an such a nice job scratch building those authentic switch stands , Very nice

[@ToyManTelevision]

Well the switch stands for a kit but the switch lanterns are generally speaking scratch built! Now I have some scratch built switch stands those will be on a future show

[@gunnyusmc4957]

I had to watch this again and again and again it will help me in the near future of my railroad again you to are the best awesome job talk to ya'll later

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks Gunny!

[@rodrobinson6646]

Another nice one.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the nice complement guess what we’re not working on the outside part!

[@VW7472]

These are magnificent! Love the work you've done so awesome!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

We’re still working on that switching yard Also now a section outside! And I’m about to start work on the locomotive shop.

[@detroitredneckdetroitredne6674]

Wow great job you have some serious Patience and talent

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi again! And thanks for watching. This is really fun and we’re really doing some great experimenting on different ways of doing this

[@cbgadget4740]

Awesome scratch build, so realistic looking. Thanks for sharing 👍👍👍😎😎😎 Cary

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thank you!!!

[@mikewest3108]

Nice work.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi mike! The really turning out great really happy with them

[@justindampier9017]

Some great looking lanterns!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!

[@DavidDragonhammer]

fantastic video.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!! I now have 7 working switch stands, 7 switch lanterns finished, two more in the works and 7 discarded switch stands

[@gunnyusmc4957]

Hey guy's been a while. But I see your having a good screwing around time making parts for your railroad, doing a an excellent job! My compliments y'all be safe

[@ToyManTelevision]

Are you gonna be nice to see you’re back! Yes we’ve been off screwing around while avoiding people. All in all good times! We had so much in mind for the summer but well there you go I guess we all did.

[@gunnyusmc4957]

@@ToyManTelevision glad yall doing good take care

[@TheDougday]

I am not an On30 modrler but am really enjoying this. Keep 'em coming! Doug

[@ToyManTelevision]

This particular railroad is 1:20.3 scale but a lot of what we’re covering is over in 30 and or in three. With a smattering of HO throwing in just for fun

[@robertemmons2260]

Such awesome creativity! The time and level of patience it takes to build your railroad layout is just simply amazing. I for one don't have near the level of patience that you have. Great job on the switch lanterns! I really enjoyed the end result, they look amazing. Looking forward to your next episode. Thank you again for another fun video. Take care.

[@ToyManTelevision]

More coming of course! Next week we’re taking a break from the railroad to explore what was once an amusement park. We’ve also started work on the outside part of the rail road.

[@robertemmons2260]

@@ToyManTelevision looking forward to it! I was wondering if and when you two were going to venture to some unknown area and bring back with you the history of the area.

[@camshawn8883]

Great work! For making the bullet holes, you could use a small brass block as an anvil that has a small hole started in it ( small drill to creat a “dimple”). Then use a punch (nail) that passes through a guide (brass tube soldered to a C shape and to the anvil base so that the punch lines up with the dimple in the anvil. Place target on the anvil, drop punch into guide and hit with a small hammer. Should work if the target is not too thick. Cam

[@ToyManTelevision]

That’s really close to the way Karyn was doing the bullet holes in that piece that’s in the video. The metal is really quite thick and if I use a thinner metal it’s too flimsy. But we think we’ve come up with a solution we just haven’t tried it yet. Keep an eye out if it works will post it.

[@stephenriley9084]

Enlightening! 💡💡💡💡💡. Regards Stephen.

[@charlesmcclure5994]

Great job making those lanterns, love them 👍👍

[@ToyManTelevision]

When I thought up this idea to make these I had no idea it was going to turn out this nice

[@rogerstrate5727]

You guys are so amazing and artistically talented, I love watching your videos and seeing how you add realism to your railroad. Thank you for posting and stay safe and just know you make a difference in my life.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi and I hope this finds you well. Strange times isn’t it? Anyway as we are avoiding people during this strange pandemic, this is a great time to get stuff like this done

[@rogerstrate5727]

@@ToyManTelevision Another question Dale, I was in Spring City 2 weeks ago and I thought I saw your brothers place up for sale, any luck? Isn't it the small home just across from Strate's garage? Just curious and hope I'm not being inappropriate to ask!!

[@wmjwell]

Wow. Once again, amazing job! Thanks for sharing your skills.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Than you!

[@robertdavies5501]

Bullet holes could be started with a centre punch then drilled with a number drill very fine...👍👍❤️😎

[@ToyManTelevision]

What we’ve come up with so far is kind of the opposite of what you just said we can use a small punch just to get it in the right place but then drill a very small hole. Been using a larger bistro halfway through. Then use the center punch to drive the rest of the way through which splays the metal on the back side

[@N-Scale]

Those are turning out simply beautiful. Mike

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. Right? I’m amazed and thrilled. Didn’t know if this wold work.

[@stevemellin5806]

A great job . looking forward to seeing a train going by the lamp . thank you . Have a great weekend

[@ToyManTelevision]

One day soon I’m going to be put in power to the track and driving around! Or should I say operating around!

[@tomklock568]

Neat-o as they used to say!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Nido jet

[@vettebecker1]

I would love to build some of these for my 7.5 railroad, great job

[@ToyManTelevision]

Railroad supply corporation used to offer such a thing lantern lenses switch stand everything. I think the company still exists but not in their old location in Burbank and I’m not sure what’s become of them. But that’s switch lantern is a thing of beauty

[@ToyManTelevision]

Just looked. Dang nope. Still make a caboose market. Close. But no stand or switch lanterns

[@vettebecker1]

Toy Man Television I’ve purchased equipment from railroad supply in the past, but the problem is they either take forever to get back with you or not at all.

[@knifetrain3118]

Beautiful work Dale! Good move going with LED's. You'll probably never have to replace one of them and very little if any heat from them to "re-shape" the new lenses!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yeah they really run cold as ice and I think if I can lower the voltage slightly with a resistor they’ll be even better. Just got a box of resistors and I’m testing.

[@kenshores9900]

Dale; You sir are a steely eyed missile man. This was awesome work and the video was very interesting. As another respondent said a layout should tell a story. Well yours does. That is what Steve and Al did with theirs as well. Hence the reason for my compliment. You are Karyn do such a good job! Keep on Tracking!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi ken. Gee! Thanks!! We are having a ball working on the layout. Yesterday we started on the outside part. The grapevine. Looking good!! And fun. Anyway thanks!!!!!

[@kenshores9900]

Toy Man Television Looking forward to seeing that as well. Those LEDs are tiny.

[@milepost3926]

Wow Dale what a fun little project, working with the Lathe is always a fun time I have one of my own I just get lost in making things nice video have a good day

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. It’s a toy but dang it works

[@NicksCollectableCreations]

For making the plates thinner for the "Day Targets" which I think is a fitting name with the bullet holes, you could try fixing them into place on a flat surface and run a palm sander over them and thin them babies down. Bullet holes I think would be good enough to drill small holes into the "Target" with a couple going through and the others just scuffing the surface and let painting and weathering take over for the full effect.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thought about sanding them down like that but haven’t quite figured out how. Still thinking about trying to find a thinner metal but everything I’ve looked at is just too flimsy. These work great but I don’t like the thick edge. Anyway we’re still experimenting will figure something out. But I think Karyn has the bullet hole figured out one way or the other will post something.

[@stevesteve2293]

Look forward to Sunday’s with the toyman

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!

[@jamesnull6010]

I really enjoy y’all’s videos. I’ve been watching for some time now. Thank you for the time and effort that is spent on them. Now, it’s time to get back to your video. God bless!🇺🇸

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thank you for watching! More coming of course! Working on a show right now about an old amusement park

[@jamesnull6010]

Toy Man Television Awesome! I’ll be looking for it!🇺🇸

[@gardenrailroading]

Those lenses are really great! I need to do that on my new raised railway! Many Thanks! Love you guys!

[@ToyManTelevision]

As it turns out it’s actually fairly easy to do. You could buy some of the Ozark miniatures lanterns and try making lenses for them

[@Mizzinno]

Absolutely beautiful. When I can build something like this I'll be using your videos as reference.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Do it! It’s really fun

[@royreynolds108]

I was travelling with a Adlake switch lamp in the car. It was night and I wound up with a flat tire. I had to take stuff out of the trunk including the lamp. I lite it and the green light was enough to show up on things 20 feet away so I set the lamp so the green showed on the wheel and the red showed to the rear somewhat protecting the car. This was in 1965.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Cool story. The lens really focused the light.

[@royreynolds108]

@@ToyManTelevision The green lens was much brighter than the red.

[@joebear1194]

I was putting some HO markers at the end of a heavyweight coach and oh boy was it hard in that small scale! Pitting the LED inside took 3 hours! It looks great though, very much worth it

[@ToyManTelevision]

I did some let’s switch stands in HO scale years ago. Really hard to do but boy did they look great. Our friend Ralph Govhnour made a kit on his brand Utah Pacific. I understand there are still on the market I’m not sure of the new brand name. Do use an incandescent bulb which is about the same size as those small LEDs of music. Perhaps even a bit smaller

[@mikkoo0076]

Would be nice to have these in 1/32 !!!

[@kyleburkholder6003]

Wow

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!! Did you see today’s show on switch lanterns?

[@kyleburkholder6003]

@@ToyManTelevision no not yet, it is my que for videos to watch

[@prrproductions5469]

I wanna see you ballast the track.. especially the switches

[@ToyManTelevision]

We will be back on benchwork this week. Then back to the track in the yard which extends into the new section. I temp ballasted a foot and it looks great!!

[@Kevin-go2dw]

Blue lens and yellow flame from kerosene makes green light.

[@ToyManTelevision]

It depends which blue. The pale blue would come out green. Some railroads would use that others would just use green. But the pale blue really shows up well and does look more like green with the kerosene lamp the blue and purple lenses really come off as a deep as your blue or dark purple. Amber clear lenses, usually called by the railroads lunar, usually meant clear track but again different railroads to different things. But the original dave marker for clear track of head which is to say hiball was either white flag or a white ball up a pole on a rope as the ball was white in the evening it would be replaced with a white lantern.

[@ALSomthin]

I love switch lanterns. I have a nice one also used to have a switch stand but when I moved I had no place to put it I still regret giving it away

[@jorgel.fernandeziii8278]

I love the way how you can turn your idea into a reality and you have saved yourself a ton of money by being able to make your own parts ! The yard came out fantastic !!! The track came out great, the switches, were even better, and when you put lights “LED’s” and the lanterns turned on that was like the icing on the cake 🎂! Anyway I’m glad to hear from you guys back from a KZbin and I haven’t been able to do anything yet because I haven’t figured out anything because I’ve got so many different family things to do ! Now, I’ve been doing some (“Heavy Thinking”), on what “you told me” and I think I’ve got some plans that just might work ! But for right now more research and let’s keep our fingers crossed and let’s see if this works ! 🌊🐺

[@ToyManTelevision]

When you’re ready five right in. Then don’t give up. Persistence is the key to success in everything. Talent is a myth. It’s simply persistence that people misinterpret as talents

[@kovacssndor]

Pretty cool you guys have love it have a layout to but Minds O scale you guys have a nice train layout by the way

[@ToyManTelevision]

O is great. Perhaps my favorite scale. But the garden needs bigger.

[@Buck1954]

To mimic the bullet holes I would try drilling a small hole and then take a tiny chamfer bit to hollow out the hole because of the plastic thickness. Then taking a sharp center punch tap the hole to show the punched through metal. If it were thin metal, I would drill a small hole then taking a sharp bit tap the metal through the hole to mimic the bullet pushing the metal through.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Bingo!! That is exactly what we’re doing and it works great! Thank you

[@Buck1954]

@@ToyManTelevision I knew you would, but an old modeler needs to exercise his brain, eh? Wish I could be there to help out at the (Toy?)mahal

[@iannarita9816]

New footage on the intro. Just a thought on LED's. If you find the LEDs are undimmable, the other thing you might try is apply an A.C. voltage with a silicon controlled rectifier(SCR) in a chopper circuit.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I’m testing. But it looks good for dimming. Not keen on the color temperature. They have yellow but also not great. But still nit picking. Looks great really.

[@gregbeatty5638]

👍

[@chrishereford5969]

Thank you Dale, and Karyn. My, haven't the two of you been busy? I've thoroughly enjoyed watching this video, and have shared it too. Dale, I loved the part of a square peg in a round hole that you mastered when you were just three! Right there I had an idea. Motorcycle or bicycle spokes with their threading nut would be ideal for this job. What do you think? Loved the mini lathe, and the nail buffer, for polishing. Aren't you two, ingenious? I'm sure the thought of seeing everything complete, is motivation enough to keep going, besides spending your time profitably isolating! God bless! Your enthusiasm is contagious!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi Angie thanks! Yeah heck I’ve been sticking square holes and round pegs or the other way around my whole life. Never endeared me with my gradeschool teachers! But I digress. It’s so fun figuring out how to go about doing these things. Come up with some idea and then push it and see what you can make work. I’m really happy with how these lanterns are turning out

[@oldiron1223]

You do want to put a resistor in series with those LED's. Not using a dropping resistor will drastically reduce the service life of the LED. Start with a 1K ohm fixed and work up by 500 K at a time. You can use more than one resistor in series to get to the brightness level you are looking for.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yes I just got a box of resistors and I’m testing

[@oldiron1223]

@@ToyManTelevision I've been an Electronics Engineer for 35 years. As long as you are running those LED's off of a constant voltage power supply you need a "dropping" resister. Start with a 1k ohm resister and work up from there. Wire the LED's in parallel otherwise the resistance will increase with every new LED you put in the circuit and the brightness will decrease.

[@krissfemmpaws1029]

I like your idea of using those little leds in the light. That is a great and simple idea. May I offer you an idea or two, get some small 1000 ohm I think is the value you would need, liner variable resistors to use for dimming the LEDs. This way you can change the light levels for each lantern. Not all lanterns have the same light level do to how tall their wick was. The added benefit of using a resistor is it drops the current across the diode reducing the heat generated, there for prolonging the life of the LED. The other advantage with using the variable resistors is you can take an ohmmeter and read the resistance of the variable resistor so you know what value of resistors you need to get for the light levels you want.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I just ordered a mess of resistors and they came Friday and I’m looking forward to trying them. Hadn’t thought about using a variable resistor if that’s an interesting idea

[@krissfemmpaws1029]

@@ToyManTelevision I've done it on a couple of projects because a fixed resistor was either to much or to little. Of course you can parallel resistors to get close to what you need. I found a variable resistor so much more simple and elegant.

[@superhighdudefour20]

Love the videos try using a nail to make the bullet holes? With a slight pressure from hammering

[@ToyManTelevision]

That’s actually what that first attempt was! It’s sort of works but the metals really thick. But we found a new technique which we will be sharing that works brilliantly!

[@superhighdudefour20]

@@ToyManTelevision I can't we wait till the video is out on the technique. Cant wait to see the layout as will.

[@angryrailfan5711]

Now Switch Lanterns I now need to figure out how to do it in HO scale

[@ToyManTelevision]

Ralph Govhnour made those when he had Utah Pacific and they’re brilliant! I know they’re still on the market but I’m not sure who’s selling them. Try googling Utah Pacific’s which stands and lanterns

[@johnbenedict6703]

As for the LED light brightness, LEDs come in "bright white (cool white)" or "warm white". "Warm white" is a subdued brightness. I get a gadget from Big-windy on Ebay that can be configured for AC or DC input and has a DC consistent output with an adjustable output voltage (could experiment with dialing back the output voltage to get the desired effect). I have many of these to light my LED projects. They work great and sell for $3.50. One of these could powered all of your switch stands. I just checked Big-windy on Ebay and unfortunately they are presently not being offered. If you're interested, keep trying Ebay, I'm sure they're temporarily out of stock or you could contact Big-windy. Good luck. I like your videos, and yes, I subscribe.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I’m going to go looking for a big windy right now thank you very much for that information.

[@wasatchrangerailway6921]

Hi all! Are you still wanting to see the different switches I have built for my railroad up here in Brigham City? If you are still interested, the last number of my phone number is 2. I have built moveable point frogs of different designs, spring frogs, moveable wing rail frogs, and jump frogs. The railroad is not anywhere near finished, but you can see the different switches that I have built for my railroad---the UP&W!!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi N yes we’d love to see that. I get so confused and I lose track of durn near anything. On our homepage there’s a link to guys hobby shop which is not a hobby shop. And from there there’s a link to toy man television.com. But anyway somewhere in there there is a contact button that links to my email. I don’t always get email because I get like 250 spam emails every day but let’s give that a try.

[@filipthetrainguy4723]

2nd!

[@lordsjaak]

maybe you can little bit of black wash ink on the LED light or on your switch lanterns so little bit darker but it look really awsome :D

[@ToyManTelevision]

I thought about tinting them. My resisters came Friday so I’m going to test that.

[@lordsjaak]

@@ToyManTelevision good luck with it :D and if don't work try little bit of a wash ink paint.

[@daniellilly840]

Boy, Dale, u got more oomph than I do. I’m trying to build me an N-scale layout, 90 percent Kato (Kah toe, NOT Kay toe). I have a couple of their grade crossing signals which work great, and u can place the pickups whatever distance u want. Their uni-track is fantastic. If Karen ever decides to build her own N scale layout I STRONGLY suggest going all Kato. Except for buildings and scenery. They don’t have any. I tried Woodland Scenics and they turned out crappy. And I couldn’t find my floquil paint anywhere, so i used the brand my hobby man suggested, and it went on lousily. I think I’m gonna junk them and try to find some buildings from Kibri Faller and Vollmer that would pass for American. These r EXCELLENT kits and they r molded n color. Anyway, that’s just my thots.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. Love Kato! They do HO too. Didn’t know until seeing their booth and the National Train Show. But super stuff!!

[@robertlucido3686]

My dad says that I should make my layout tell a story, I'm trying to figure out ways I can do that, if you have any suggestions please let me know

[@ToyManTelevision]

Depends on what you like. But fir me the first step is figuring out where it’s coming from and where it’s going to. Just around doesn’t tell a story. A story has a beginning and end.

[@wmtrader]

You could do a 1930s Depression Era layout with young men (hobos) traveling to and from small towns on freight trains to places where the seasonal jobs where (farming, logging, ranch hands, temporary day labor at factories and or warehouses) with the occasional luxury passenger train (Milwaukee Road Hiawatha, Southern Pacific Coast Daylight) just for some juxtaposition.

[@NicksCollectableCreations]

I have seen a few late 1800's "Old West" style layout modules at train shows which I thought was pretty cool and definitely unique. There are a lot of interesting stories that could be on such a layout given the nature of the time period.

[@randallhawkinson4727]

MIne is based in late September of 1942. A great deal of traffic due to WWII. Motive power is mostly big steam; but the Railroad had "recently purchased" early, first generation diesels. All the research focuses on the date. Chose wisely, as my time period doesn't have a lot of choices when it comes to ready available equipment. Throughout the layout will be small scene replicating photos I've locate from the period; and, there will be a small USO service stand next to the main city's depot. Chose your time period first. Research next. Design the layout based on the research; and , then, start building!

[@johnnytoronto1066]

Learn about realistic railroad operations and delivering goods to various industries. For a start, the peddler freight tells a great story with every trip. In your mind's eye you can see the story play out as that boxcar delivers the products to factories, warehouses, docks, freight houses and so on. The real story of railroads is about moving people and freight. NO roundy-roundies. It would be great if you made your railroad point to point. Make sure you invest in plenty of switches, which you can get second-hand and cheaply, often in bundles, on eBay or at train shows. It's the switching that makes the 'story'. Good trackwork is more important than anything else; add fancy detail only after you've got that right. Best wishes.

[@daviddryden8088]

Make sure to disinfect all those parts from Chy-Na. :) You are a craftsman. Beautiful models.

[@ToyManTelevision]

We are actually disinfect everything that comes through the door! Not that we are paranoid or anything

[@jjuddlloyd]

Dale you should do a class on NMRA X

[@ToyManTelevision]

Be fun!

[@0779BooBoo]

It amazes me the amount of patients the two of you have. So, will the light's automatically come on when the sun goes down and how many are you making? Also, would you make me just one?

[@ToyManTelevision]

I thought about doing some kind of automatic lights and even talk to people about doing some sort of computer controller and it just gets too complicated. So I have a switch! Old-school analog and it works great

[@0779BooBoo]

@@ToyManTelevision That is still cool!

[@frankhellman6879]

Your lenses came out very realistic. The only thing you skipped was how you got the glass polished look on the convex outside of those lenses. I was initially guessing holding it close to a butane lighter to melt just the surface. But maybe you have some sort of polishing method?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi do you know that was my original thought I even went and bought some disposable metal spoons at Walmart thinking I could heat the end and hold it against the plastic while it was spinning. As it turns out not needed at all. I take it down bit by bit with the garnet board from Germany. The finest part of that board is only about a 2000 grit. And realistically that does a good job. I tried taking a buffing wheel to them while it was spinning and really didn’t see any advantage to it. So most of my lenses have just been polished use in the 2000 grit on the ladies from that foam back Garnet board. But as I was gluing the lenses in using the super thin superglue, One time I accidentally left the green slop all over the surface of the lens. Oops but you know what it looked great! So from that point on what I’ve been doing is setting the lens in place and then putting a drop of super glue right in the very center of the wins and letting it run all the way around to the edges and in fact even across the back of the lens which I can’t polish. And boy does that look good!

[@terryh5526]

Great video. Any chance you could list the source of the surface mount LEDs? Oops! Never mind. Finally located them by looking at the bottom of the picture of the lamps.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Also links fir everything in the description

[@brucec954]

Great looking switch lanterns! But tell me it isn't true that the Toy Man has a metal casting setup but does not have a proper metal working lathe?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Well at one time I had a sureline in the shop. But I’m just not very smart with lathes I guess. I always ended up doing what I’m doing here just kind of freelancing things with chisels and files

[@carlsorensennb7c750]

excallent. I wonder if I can do this in O Scale (2 rail)

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yes you can! Have you seen the video on Proto 48 and Jim Harper’s railroad in St. George Utah? He’s got perfect switches and switch stands and I believe he sells them

[@asbmp]

what plumbing supply or plumbing connector are you using to make those small miniature lanterns? is it something that I can easily get at home depot or walmart?

[@frootloops1696]

Where'd you get the rope lights for the lighting?

[@ToyManTelevision]

China. Wish.com. But I think amazon now is about the same price and you don’t need to wait 2 months.

[@francescoferrigno2339]

Would it not be worth using a very thin dremmel or multi tool to drill out bits like lanterns? Just curious

[@ToyManTelevision]

I do for tiny holes like the holes for handles. But coring out the center I just hand drill as it’s a very fragile casting and the bit tends to grab.

[@solarusthelonghaulerrailfa3226]

So how far out is the golden spike to going in

[@ToyManTelevision]

Gee. A long way off. No rush. The key is having fun. Hoping this year to get the switching yard and engine shop built as well as a start on the west side of the garden.

[@hamiltonsullivan6563]

Toyman I've been waiting for you to cure my boredom, I baught some project engines (7) from ebey to keep me going, I know that you cast parts and I may have snapped one of a two piece early athern steam loco frame could I mail one piece in and you can a new one... please!

[@ToyManTelevision]

The parts I make out of white metal really flimsy. For what you’re doing you really need brass. There is a way to do that but it’s a little bit expensive. But we should do a show and how you can rebuild broken parts and have them re-cast into brass. Precision scale can do that work as can many jewelers. But let’s do a show and show people how that’s done

[@hamiltonsullivan6563]

@@ToyManTelevision please dooooooo!!!!!! I need this part , I was thinking about rapping it with electrical tape and then falting to it with a light but I dont want the drive rawds to cetch on it

[@lavettelee9999]

First

[@wjf213]

Boy that does look VERY real. Really a well done build. I always enjoy your videos and sense of humor, and that square peg in the round hole trick you perfected when you were three was funny. Just a quick question....were you ever a mechanic or do a Pep Boys commercial? Keep up the great work. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJCyZomNbKZji9k

[@ToyManTelevision]

Lol!!!!! That’s perfect! Are used a bit less hammer and a bit more sore but the idea is the same