The Basic Foundation of a Shelf Layout Model Railroad | Boomer Diorama ~ # 299

[@PeterFrangio-jp6nx]

That was brilliant. As a 1/48 aircraft & 1/35 armour modeler, I'm beginning to realise just the sheer array & complexities associated with our model railroading cousins! You get to cover it all, even down to weather systems. Looking forward to the next installment!

[@boomerdiorama]

There's a lot that goes into making a model railroad realistic which is why I love the medium. Military modeling is cool but I found it to be too limiting for me. I like the broader context of modeling the railroad hobby provides. Besides, it's a natural progression for military modelers to move into shelf layout style modeling where you can tell a larger story. Cheers and happy modeling. ;-)

[@GenxDiorama]

I got me some sturdy and clever benchwork for my very small shelf layout due to your earlier videos from the beginning of River Road! 👊

[@boomerdiorama]

Great to hear!

[@KLDprojects1]

The sound effects is unbelievable. At the moment, where we live it is gloomy and rainy. We thought it was thundering

[@boomerdiorama]

It's similar here as well. ;-)

[@RonStanek]

Ambient lighting adds so much to a diorama or layout. Different angles help in the effects, such as lighting for the edge of the fascia, as like the lower front stage lighting in theater. Or even an effect of lighting under the tracks, if achievable...like a reflection of sun light from the ground. Just try putting one of your locomotives on the screen of your tablet (if you have one), with the lights out and see the effect. There should be a way to work that in somewhere.

[@boomerdiorama]

Lighting can be an art in itself as well. ;-)

[@jsarkozy]

you are a true artist...the level of detail even up close is superb!! so realistic

[@boomerdiorama]

Glad you like it.

[@PeterTillman3]

That lightning effect is awesome Boomer!

[@boomerdiorama]

It is one of my favorite effects to add. 😉

[@jesselomas8626]

TY Sir, once more.. Even though its was a concentration on the benchwork/showing the electrical side, showing the scenes once again emerses me within... TY for your work on both the layout and the VLOG. I know its got to be hard... Always grateful..

[@boomerdiorama]

It’s a lot of work, but I enjoy it!

[@benmoreau8404]

That is way cool, lightning effect! I see that on a couple of layouts , brings it to life. Not many podcast videos explained in detail how things work. Thanks again Boomer 😊

[@boomerdiorama]

I plan to go into it a little more down the road once I get some of this wiring out of the way. ;-)

[@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout]

Oh the thunder and lightning is really good, very theatrical!

[@boomerdiorama]

Have you looked at some of the latest Evans Designs Lighting? Really cool stuff. It looks better live than you can possibly convey on social media. ;-)

[@peterpocock9062]

Your idea of the angle brackets to be able to adjust your cross members is a great idea. I always try to design the cross members where they won't be in the way of a turnout motor, but occasionally that fails!😢 I love your work, well done.😊

[@boomerdiorama]

It is always a challenge to plan for every contingency. ;-)

[@WHJeffB]

Design your layout/modules in CAD if you can... I did it with every set of modules I've built, and have never run into any interference issues.

[@peterpocock9062]

@WHJeffB By the time I've learnt how to use CAD, I'll have built the modules. Thanks for the suggestion tho!

[@WHJeffB]

@@peterpocock9062 Yeah, having that skill first would probably help! Good luck with it... Nothing wrong with doing it "old school".

[@tonybasile58]

Just incredible lighting and sound. The sound effects are so realistic Thank again for another video tutorial!!!

[@boomerdiorama]

O.K. Cheers!

[@patmccarthy1624]

Great opportunity to see the underside, and your wiring philosophy. I share your affinity for lighting; I'm sold on the impact it has on believability and the overall visual impact of the layout. Thanks for another outstanding lesson!

[@boomerdiorama]

I love what scale lighting can do for a miniature scene. Cheers!

[@michaelimpey1407]

Boomer, so true, get the "foundations" right, and just about everything else falls into place. That Lightning effect is amazing. So cool. I have planned my lighting from the beginning, so it just becomes so easy to install. Thank you for sharing, stay safe, and cheers, Michael.

[@boomerdiorama]

It is always better to start with a good plan. You’ll be happy you did it.

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

When I built my benchwork, I used cabinet grade plywood, pocket screws , made into sections, 4 legs per section, great job on the wiring

[@boomerdiorama]

Cabinet grade plywood is certainly a high quality way to go.

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

@ I did a video on the construction of my layout

[@nicholasking1266]

Really enjoying the extra dimension added by the new trees in sections 1 and 2.

[@boomerdiorama]

It's a small slice of the region in which I model. When you see it you know it's B.C. ;-)

[@SPSteve]

Model railroading has a great cottage industry that offers a tremendous number of specialty products. We're fortunate to have it.

[@boomerdiorama]

Yes indeed we certainly are. Much of the lighting from Europe is of excellent quality as well.

[@warrenholmar1129]

Lighting is very important for setting a mood. I drive mostly at night. The factory I'm based at takes on a very different mood at night. Even the sunset will create "mood" lighting. Recently, I have been blown away by the glorious spring sunsets. After our daughter was born in January this year, as I was taking the Christmas tree down, I hung the tree lights up around the perimeter of our living room. We liked the lower light so much we did the same in our bedroom. There is something about the use of light that has a profound effect on us. On a layout, I really do think, as you also said, 11:05 it is next level stuff. I went to a model railroading exhibition last year. The layouts that stood out were the ones with shadow boxes and good lighting.

[@boomerdiorama]

Oh yeah . . . totally. Lighting is quite a task to plan and install as well. I am finding it to really takes time as you plan each light and the shadow it casts. In a way, it is sort of like painting your layout with light and shadow as another layered effect that is incredibly immersive.

[@1Nanerz]

I love blue point manual switch controllers. Juicing the frog plus a great linkage system for push/pull rods.

[@boomerdiorama]

They really do work well for that. I do like to run in the slow speed range with those. 😉

[@JeffRichBLET129]

Using your benchwork method has netted wonderful results on my layout. Using off the shelf big box shelf and wall brackets has given me a floating style layout. Under access is great I'm overall very happy with it.

[@boomerdiorama]

That’s awesome! Floating layouts are gaining popularity for good reason. 😉

[@mikeseba7817]

I appreciate your modular construction, the interconnections between them and last but not least the realistic lighting effects. Thanks Boomer!

[@boomerdiorama]

O.K. Thank you!

[@traiNscale]

Thnx for showing boomer. Gave me some ideas for my own shelflayout! 🤝

[@boomerdiorama]

O.K. Good to hear. Have fun planning the layout as well. ;-)

[@williamdickman7917]

Boomer, your layout is so beautiful and then with the lighting effects and the storm stuff it adds a whole dimension of beauty. Good job, Bud! I'm looking forward to part 3 of the layout.

[@boomerdiorama]

I still have a huge industry to build for section two yet . . . lol.🙃

[@Alabamrailfan24]

awesome good job on the basic foundation

[@boomerdiorama]

I find the minimal framing to be convenient when you begin to drill holes for wire and lights, etc. Less headaches. 😉

[@joejoebus8814]

I really like your scenery. You do a very good job creating a world in miniature that looks so real. ThX for the great videos.

[@boomerdiorama]

It’s amazing what you can do with some basic materials!

[@TerrenceThorn]

So many great and useful ideas ! - Planning ahead for expansion of modules and scenic lighting can be done easily if you see where your layout could go. Personally, this is a classroom for me. Thanks !!

[@boomerdiorama]

Lighting is awesome for sure.

[@bdlii]

Great content. Thank you. Lighting and dog and thunder is definitely on another level.

[@boomerdiorama]

Lighting can really transform a layout into something special.

[@DRCRailroard]

Thanks, Boomer. That's something you don't ever get to see on somebody's layout. If you think yours is congested, you should see mine and I was an electrician for 47 years.

[@boomerdiorama]

I can imagine that one. ;-)

[@timbradley5848]

I would like to see an overall panning view of the room. We need to see how you have worked it into the room. Are you planning to add more track to your right? Always a great video production.

[@boomerdiorama]

The benchwork already extends beyond section two and is completed in terms of the framing, facia, etc. I just have not layed the track yet but that will come in due time. The initial plan was for three sections and that is already built. In terms of expansion beyond section three I will change the build style for benchwork. Beyond section three will be a different modular (diorama) style section that can be removed for display purposes but also function as extensions for staging, etc.

[@PostmoderneModelWorks]

The just plug system is brilliant- one of my best investments

[@boomerdiorama]

I have grown to like it. The new transformer @ 24 volts is a must when you daisy chain the hubs though. 😁 It's pretty lame @ 12 volts. 🤣

[@thomasdecker7631]

Nice video. Saw the tinfoil rock casting method in Model Railroader years ago and often wondered why it wasn't used more. BTW, nice caboose ride.

[@boomerdiorama]

I never use the "tinfoil" method for rock-castings. All the rock work here is just painted carved foam.

[@thomasdecker7631]

@@boomerdiorama Although there are a lot of ways to do exposed rock, it's not something I will be dealing with a lot. Once away from Lake Huron, exposed rock is virtually nonexistent in this part of Michigan. There is some exposed rock on my harbor section. I used foam castings- not exactly correct formations, but close enough. If I was modeling the upper peninsula or northern lower, I would be experimenting with all kinds of methods.

[@boomerdiorama]

It's a good approach to be conservative about rock castings. It is easy to over do a layout with rock castings out of pure infatuation, when in fact they are such a small part of most situations.

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

great layout keep up the great vid on channel thanks four share on channel keep upo the great vid you do log great vid thanks

[@boomerdiorama]

Thanks 👍

[@derz-crackmodellbahnvideosinsp]

Kind greatings from overseas my dear friend 👍 ✌️ ...Hey, today is your big day! ✊️✊️✊️ "I'm really looking forward to your podcast❤

[@PolLight3000]

Oh, obviously you didn't notice the message in the community section four days ago. I'll quote shortly: "(...) It has been postponed and rescheduled to Nov 14th - 5:00 PM Pacific Time. (...)" So, another week of anticipation...😉 Aber Donnerstag, 2 Uhr mitten in der Nacht hier in Deutschland, wenn ich das richtig nachgeschaut habe - ich weiß nicht, ob ich da dabei sein werde...🙄

[@derz-crackmodellbahnvideosinsp]

@PolLight3000 THANKS my modelmate, you are right of course🫣👋! Greetings, Olli

[@PolLight3000]

@@derz-crackmodellbahnvideosinsp You're welcome. Greetings - Ralf🍀👋🏻

[@boomerdiorama]

It has been postponed to next week on the 14th of November. Andy and Mike never got around to changing the date on his community tab (second section podcast).

[@derz-crackmodellbahnvideosinsp]

@@boomerdiorama 😉 14th Nov. ... Already stored ... ✌️

[@timbober1]

The use of a wiring buss is a cool idea I think you have mentioned in a previous video. Don’t apologize for the appearance of your wiring, I have a pinball machine.

[@boomerdiorama]

Lol . . . I remember those pinball machines when the guy would come into the pool hall to service them. Often times he would give me a bunch of free games as well. ;-)

[@timbober1]

@ there was a spur line feeding auto parts to the St Paul Ford plant in my backyard . The plant had a good sized yard. The Milwaukee road operated the line with MP 15 ACs mostly. When you run your trains on River Road I hear the sounds of the roots blowers and those great old GM engines. The only thing missing is that heavy smell of dispel exhaust. The tracks were in a cut with a steep hill down to the tracks. It was a wild refuge in the middle of a residential area. We would see deer and pheasants, friends would come over to play on the tracks. Sorry your dioramas stir my imagination. I love your work. Thank you for what I know is a tremendous effort and expense. Your videography is as good as any I’ve seen.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you. I model what I see and I am always blown away by surprises. ;-) Cheers.

[@JohnPodowski]

Nice effect on the lightning love the dog barking that kind of sets the mood good job boomer

[@boomerdiorama]

I love that dog barking sound file in the run-down neighborhood effect.😉

[@JohnPodowski]

@ we’re a lot alike in many ways you take the simplest effect and make the biggest impact that’s a true craftsman sometimes the biggest mistake makes the model

[@boomerdiorama]

I welcome mistakes and almost force myself to make them . . . otherwise there is not much else to learn. Mistakes teach new things all the time. Each person makes their own unique mistakes and finds their own solutions. That is how we leave our mark on a signature style. ;-)

[@signal12hvac]

simply gorgeous

[@boomerdiorama]

Cheers! That was a lot of work.😉

[@Vman7757]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[@boomerdiorama]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@_steffinwolf_]

Thanks!

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you!

[@RonStanek]

Bet...your glad you live in Canada.

[@boomerdiorama]

I do love my country for sure. ;-)

[@MRR_Shadowolf]

It is very difficult and pricey to get good plywood like you have access to north of border. Envious of that. Using 1/2" ply for base with 1/2" foam on top of it. Forms the base structure with 1x3 stringers as needed. As with the rest of your layout, foundation is rock solid and well done!

[@boomerdiorama]

I built Glover Road with 1/2" plywood and 1/8" door skin. ;-)

[@WHJeffB]

Nice Boomer... River Railroad has to be one of my favorite KZbin model RR's. Learned a ton from you... In the event I ever build any more modules, I have to source some of that higher layer count plywood. Much nicer than the builder grade crap you buy at Home Depot. Got away from using dimensional wood for framing on my last set of Sn2 modules. Won't ever go back. The flexibility you get from ripping plywood to whatever dimension you need can't be beat. Agree with using plywood on the top of the framing. Never bought into the foam over framing method. Gotta have something solid there to screw things to (IMO). Did you not use the frog powering option of the Blu-Points? Why use "Frog Juicers"? They work, but you have a reliable, built in mechanical switch with the Blu-Points and you've wired the frog already, so why not use it? I guess so long as it works and you're happy with it. To each his own.

[@boomerdiorama]

I tend to split the points on occasion,(which shorts out the locomotive) when I use "mechanical" power routing. You never experience this problem when you use a "Frog Juicer." Furthermore, frog juicers are great for (three-way) turnouts, cross-overs, etc, and hard to reach throw-bars under the layout where the switch machine won't fit.

[@stevenz4432]

Nicely done, I’m a perfectionist yet yours is very neat, adding the extra bud is an industrial standard as expansion is always needed. Wondering on why birch I know it was said earlier on in videos but I cannot find the exact one. Is it for moisture issues and expansion and contraction of the wood. Thanks and exceptional work

[@boomerdiorama]

Generally Birch plywood has no voids in the laminate like cheap plywood does. It also takes glue and paint well. ;-)

[@stevenz4432]

@@boomerdiorama very true. And thanks for the quick response

[@andrewl9191]

This is very helpful at this time especially as I'm just working on benchwork for my shelf layout. I don't think I'm quite this complex, but I've planned where everything should go so far and to make sure switch machines will have room. What is the material that you use for your fascia? I'm hoping for something that's fairly flexible but sturdy, and I feel like hardboard is going to be too thick to bend easily in a couple rounded sections I'm envisioning.

[@boomerdiorama]

Hard board is the worst material to use for facia in my experience. I prefer 1/8" (Red Oak) Door Skin. I ripped the stripes on a table saw. Cheaper Mahogany door skin works just as well. Then I laminated several layers with glue and a brad nailer. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYK8pYiVnJqkoKM

[@andrewl9191]

@@boomerdiorama I'm a fairly green beginning with some of the terms, but this door skin, is that something that can be found at most large home building stores, like Home Depot? And when you say you laminated several layers, are you saying that's a phrase for combining multiple into layers? Not coating the outside with something, correct? I've started to watch the other video but it's not the kind of video I can watch at work (shhhh!). You know, this video says "final" so I'm guessing I can look back and find other past episodes before #9 that have other detail on this process.

[@boomerdiorama]

Lamination is where you glue one thin layer (1/8th) over another for the purposes (in this case) of establishing a rigid curve. I show it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5PXo4iaoceImrs

[@generalsb6332]

LIGHTNING?? REALLY?? How awesome. Boomer, quick question on your fascia. You have no fasteners showing. I think they are like a collar and screw that I see on many other layouts. Is that a necessity of the material used for the fascia or do you use a different fastener system. I love the smooth uninterrupted look you’ve achieved rather than the bumps that the collar and screw create. Thank you as always for the work you put in so all of us can soak up your experience. Have a great night.

[@boomerdiorama]

I can't stand those collar fasteners. In fact, I like a clean facia all around if I can. I used a screw gun for the first facia skin. You only need a few good anchor points as you eye - ball the curve in. Then I used a small wet roller and carpenter glue to laminate another layer on just using a brad nailer from my hobby compressor. I did this three times, filled the brad holes and painted.

[@SMR21541]

Boomer, you don’t glue or fasten together the crossmembers with screws? The corner brackets are substantial enough? Another great video!

[@boomerdiorama]

I just use glue and brad nails to hold the frames together initially. When I bolt the sections together I determine where I might need extra metal brackets for strength, etc. The additional framing and sheet plywood surface ties it all together. Sometimes I will add the metal brackets in areas where I feel there is more stress or movement, etc. eg: On the upper frames for the lighting valance, I saddled brackets in the corners where the braces are to hang the upper frames from the wall. I also used stainless cable, at pick points, to suspend the valance cantilever style from the wall or ceiling.

[@donhanley1213]

The urge to get the trains running can create many problems down the road, leading to frustration and lack of enjoyment in the hobby. The bench work is the foundation of our layouts, and as such, quality materials should be used. A shortcut, cheap materials, or sloppy workmanship can create what I call a fatal error for the layout. Bench work must be stable and secure, so the tolerances needed for the trains to operate flawlessly are maintained.

[@boomerdiorama]

You raise a good point. The anxiety coupled to running trains too early (and often) kills most layouts long before they ever get built.

[@ajkleipass]

So the majority / all of the framing is held together with the corner brackets? Are the brackets used for the top too, or is that screwed down to the framing? What is the elevation between the water surface and the top of the rails? BTW, perfect timing on this. I'm just debating whether to use box frames on legs or L-girders atop bookcases. I'm in an unfinished basement (very dry) so preventing unintentional grades is important, but leveling from the bottoms of legs is a [censored] pain in the [censored]! 😉

[@boomerdiorama]

We have to accept the painful parts of this hobby to gain the inevitable bliss. I don't mind the framing part but it is not my favorite task. The top framing is exactly the same dimensionally. I only used metal brackets where I installed "ring bolts" for cables to support the cantilever hood and lights. I don't trust glue and screws where weight slowly builds up over time. You end up with sag and stress cracks which can bite you years later. I learned this the hard way . . . ;-) The elevation from the water level to the track is about two inches. You have to determine what level the tide is in this particular case. Initially, the tidal river level determined the rest of the layout elevation if that makes any sense. Then I cheated the rise in terrain with the rising profile on the facia. It looks like it slowly rises above sea level, but in fact, it never rises above two inches so the whole layout is still flat. Most modelers tend ignore the significance of the facia contour during construction and often add it in as an after thought. I can always tell when people do this, usually due to lack of planning because they are in a hurry to run trains. Furthermore, the facia will often have a huge effect on the layout if it is done gradually and cleanly with no sharp corners and radical changes in elevation. Cheers.

[@ainsleyperry5192]

Boomer, I know I'm a bit sick but for some reason on some of your past Video's you throw the points near the baseboard edge by hand. I like that, so I'm going to be doing the same thing. Only the points at the rear will have point motors. That thunder and lighting set I'll have to get me one of them. The sound does'nt sound tinny at all. I wonder if they do a rain set? Cheers, Chris Perry.

[@boomerdiorama]

I just throw my switches by hand as well. I am considering a few electrical for a few hard to reach spots. You can cheap sound bar stuff with bass woofers for sound under the layout.

[@MarksModelRailroad]

I don't do videos but I put a few photos of my 10'x7' HO layout on my channel. The railroad is non-DCC with custom wireless throttles which control locomotive speed, turnouts, and lights. The entire layout is controlled from a laptop with a touchscreen and can have up to 5 throttles. There is approx 80ft of track on 3mm cork roadbed with 16 turnouts. It's made from 1"x3" pine boards with the top sheathed with 1/2" SANDEPLY hardwood plywood. (Hope you can find the photos)

[@boomerdiorama]

O.K. Sounds cool!

[@hmathewsk28]

Boomer, if you have the time, please do a more indepth video “lesson” on your lightening and other sound special effects. They would go well on my small cameo modules!

[@boomerdiorama]

That is a good idea!

[@politicsandtrains]

what are the Atlas switch being used for (4 switchs to a block)

[@boomerdiorama]

The Atlas (4-way)switch controls (over-rides) the different "aspect" signals for each Block (Atlas board). You can override the ABS with CTC control this way. The ABS still works automatically, but the switch can override the indicated signal despite the block being occupied if you want, etc. It is the way the Atlas system is designed. It also does not need a computer to work as well. The switch can select Red, Green, Amber. Flashing Amber, and Flashing Green.

[@allenlandis4504]

some time to when I look at your layout. I forget it's a layout.I think I'm looking at the real thing.

[@boomerdiorama]

I only have so much room and have to make due. Glad it is small footprint as well. ;-)

[@jamesbraxton6132]

Movie set guy, you'll never make it on Broadway LOL🙃

[@boomerdiorama]

Those days are long gone . . . lol.