The Model Railroad Diorama | The Shadow Box Track Plan 

Welcome aboard Steven! I think once you get the "stage" or "shadow box" theme established you will see the power of the genre for sure. Cheers. - Boomer.

You are welcome. Glad to hear you are having fun as well! Cheers.

Thank you very much!

Lol . . . I thought you might find that funny Will. Cheers.

Yes, except now I have more space . . . Cheers.

It really is a cool effect for sound and lighting when you build this style of "shadow" box enclosure. It most definitely looks and feels like a miniature stage as you say. Cheers and thanks for sharing. ~ Boomer.

Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, it is calming. Some morning I just stand there with my coffee staring at it . . . lol. - Boomer.

O.K. Jim. Sounds good . . . lol. Cheers. Boomer.

Absolutely! It is huge in terms of sound enhancement! Cheers. - Boomer.

Something about the level crossing. I cross a very busy local one every day. Cheers.

@@boomerdiorama I absolutely love that sort of environment. Most of my weekends are spent at North Weald Station on the Epping Ongar Railway, at which we have an old level crossing. Only pedestrians can cross the line using it, but it’s still a busy crossing.

Thank You. Lot's of content and plenty more to come. Cheers. ~ Boomer.

@@boomerdioramaGreat will sub you to follow your video

@@medwaymodelrailway7129 Thank You! Much appreciated. ~ Boomer.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Wow, Than You! I hope the content encourages more enthusiasts to practice their craft as well. We all grow as a community by sharing ideas. Actually, I can`t wait to get into modelling again. I've been so busy with post-production. Cheers. - Boomer.

Thank you! Cheers!

Awesome, thank you! It`s not over yet though. - Boomer.

Thank You Paul. You made it clear. The focus should be on the actors and the stage. The rest is just a distraction which interferes with the immersive experience we all seek in modelling our favorite railroads. - Boomer.

TCS rocks when it comes to their "Horn Quill." I wish Loksound had a horn quill like TCS. Then they would be perfect. - Boomer.

Thank You. I pretty much built my modelling career around the "shadow" box diorama. Cheers. - Boomer.

That's a great idea! I`m glad you see the light Joey . . . lol. You will be happy about it, I am sure. You are also quite the burgeoning modeler as well, not to mention your photography experience to go with it. I do follow your channel by the way. Cheers. - Boomer.

@@boomerdiorama Its that photography background that's helping me compose my stuff more purposefully, and your videos are reminding me of all those artistic licenses I realized I can take with it. Glad we can share in the hobby this way.

@@JoeyBPhotography Cheers.

Lol . . . it just came out that way. I mean, what is free these days anyway? - Boomer.

Glad you enjoyed it Vincent. Cheers.

Yes. Curved turnouts also save space since you transition into the apex of the curve in a shorter distance. Cheers. ~ Boomer.

Thanks You! - Boomer.

I'll think about it. Boomer.

Sounds great. All one needs is cheap door skin attached to a light frame. Enough to support some LED's. Cheers.

Thank You for that Ian. You are right about the TCS "quilled horns." They are the best on the market. TCS really nailed them there. Even though I have become a LokSound v5 fan, I still really like the TSC WOW Sound. I always wrestle, a bit, before I upgrade a locomotive between the two. I just wish TCS would slave the "ditch lights" to F6 like ESU does. Don't know why they won`t. Oh well. - Boomer.

I’ve heard a few people mention that TCS decoders had limited customization options, and they wish it was easier to do function mapping. This is my first layout and obviously my first go at DCC, I get the function mapping thing but I can’t believe all the options for customizing the sounds is given. What more could one really want?? I like the lok sound decoders a lot, and I know I am being a stickler but it sounds synthetic only having full horn or no horn. I have had the incredible experience of operating a locomotive at the Southern California Railroad museum (formerly Orange empire railway museum) as well as around a dozen cab rides, and they were always kind enough to let me blow the horn! I still get a smile thinking about putting a nathan M3 (my all time favorite horn) through its paces. I have memories going back to when I was three years old of engineers skillfully quilling their Alco RSD1 #1956 with that M3. It really sounds haunting and ominous hearing it slowly fade in and out, can be musical in its own way.

@@boomerdiorama Something I’m thinking about doing is applying some of the ground cover to the facia and curving or fading the facia into the scenery. I’m undecided I might try doing what you did

@@ianisaacs2340 I prefer Loksound as well. Hard to beat the TCS "Horn quill" though. They were the only decoder to have true 16 bit sound as well until Loksound v5 came out. - Boomer.

Effectively and clearly stated. Bravo. Cheers. - Boomer.

Great Idea! I`ll remember that. A lot of the fun is in those little details you just mentioned. Cheers. - Boomer.

@@boomerdiorama Yes Sir!

Thank you! Cheers! - Boomer.

Thanks 👍They aren't perfect but they work well! Cheers. - Boomer.

Glad it was helpful! - Boomer.

Exactly. - Boomer.

Thank you! Cheers!

Jay, it's funny how as we were growing up buying the magazines dreaming of the day when we "grew up " we would have what those guys have. I've been chasing my empire since 1998. Haven't got it yet and now I'm pretty sure I don't. Good luck on your new layout.

@@bajabound1122 Thanks Dave, I find Boomer video's Dumb it down for me to make it like so easy, I always "over think" the process.

Wow! Thank You! You beat me to it. I`m a little envious. I am happy to say that I have acquired some extra space for the Glover Road v 2.0. Actually, I have it in writing . . . lol. I promised my wife I would give her more shelf space up above and down below, and it worked! I like the sounds of your plan with the one grain industry. It should have a nice prototypical feel to it. Cheers. - Boomer.

It`s funny how things work. Back in the day when I had all the space and resources I couldn`t find contentment with the railroad hobby - for a few reasons, I guess. Then, many years later, when I took a more conservative approach, it all began to come together . . . strange the way life works that way. I think what did it for me was going small, manageable and focused with the same satisfaction and immersion level. Not to mention the economic feasibility. Cheers.

I'm so happy with my single industry layout. Still a long way to go with structures and ground cover. But had it up and running a week. With being smaller I can pay more attention to detail and see the rewards more quickly.

Yes. Absolutely. Thank You for the request. It is now on the list. Cheers. - Boomer.

@@boomerdiorama I second the in depth look at turnout construction! In N scale I would love code 40 for yard tracks and branch lines but there’s no ready to run turnouts so hand laying is mandatory.

@@ianisaacs2340 With turnouts, you just have to dive in and attempt a few. The first ones will be a bit shaky, but after a few they start to come together. If you are a perfectionist you will never be happy. You sure save alot of money making your own turnouts though, not to mention all the custom sizes as well which are never available by the manufacture. Cheers. - Boomer.

Thank You! I really enjoy working on it as well. Cheers. - Boomer.

Lol . . . When were kids. There was a Brewery serviced by BCHR and they would look the other way when we leaped off the loading dock with some foamy . . . lol.

The opening (aperture) between the track level and the bottom edge of the light valance is 9" (nine inches). I think this is the ideal opening give-or-take an inch either way. In some cases it might be wise to leave the upper valance off, (or make removable), in order to reach into a deeper layout. - Boomer.

@@boomerdiorama thanks for the quick reply. I have a shelf layout attached to the wall and is essentially the same width as yours, 16”. I do model in N scale and we’ll see how long I can do that since I’m 61 now!

@@thomplacier677 I used to be into "N" scale as well. N scale is another fantastic scale to model in, but the old "Boomer" eyes can`t see it anymore. Cheers. _ Boomer.

Thank You for the compliment. You are also very welcome to the videos. In answer to your question: No. My track is not on roadbed. I layed Atlas Code 83 "flex" track straight onto the panel board with "thin" CA (super glue). Then, I ballasted with sifted dirt/sand from outside and diluted carpenters glue. After all the gack is installed, switch machines etc., I glued chunks of 1" insulation foam under the track in random places with PL300 adhesive for sound suppression. It works great! Trains run smooth and quiet. Cheers. - Boomer.

@@boomerdiorama ty for your reply , it looks awesome, you’re a great teacher, I’ll tell you what, it’s a real headache for me, trying to do the transition from HO to N for depth perception, I’m wondering if it’s worth it, my wife thinks I’m crazy😂 I think we all are, haha

@@kenmayer3785 I feel for you Ken. I love all the scales. I used to be into "N" many years ago for a short stint after "O" scale. Having said this, I always had "HO" stuff on the back burner and finally settled for it after I saw the light. . . lol. HO Scale has the most options for me. It is the ultimate scale for a shelf layout in my experience. Cheers. - Boomer.

When you peek through the door one sees a vast expanse of the cold north . . . which is not so cold at the moment . . . lol. Cheers.

The "box" (overhead lighting valance) acts as an echo chamber. It is another benefit to the shadow box design. Thank You for the comment Spencer. Cheers. - Boomer.

Hmmm . . . I don`t do other platforms or post E-mail, so not sure. Maybe through a friend on Facebook. I`ll look into it. - Boomer.

You could post them on your channel and I could view them there. Cheers.

I run a power bus - two heavy guage copper wires (positive/negative) with open ends on both ends. I just tap in the power supply (anywhere) along the bus, including all the track feeders. It's all very simple. Check this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QLlm3rd9Te8.html