Building a Signal Box for the Level Crossing: Elvenhome EP 157
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- In this video of my N Gauge Model Railway layout Elvenhome, I show the process of constructing a signal box to take the place of the intended crossing gate keepers cottage, including creating an interior from scratch. Something else arrives which may be slightly out of gauge as a result of an impulse buy. Finally a proper running session with the train cam travelling from Weathertop to High Elven and a Black 5 and BR Standard 5 on mainline duty.
I'm here for the running sessions! At times I can't believe I'm watching a model railway. So much attention to detail and the right amount of weathering to make it really realistic.
Thanks very much Nigel that is a very kind comment. It is nice to see the running shots and see the benefit of all the work. Still plenty more to do of course. Stephen
Hi Stephen, signal box looks great such detail and the light inside is brilliant you made the right decision. Nice running session to see the trip up the branch line to high elven. Looking forward to your trials with water scenery. Nat 🚂
Thanks Nat. The signal box was a good little kit and I did enjoy fitting out the inside. It was much better with a light inside. It’s been a long while since I could see the train go up to High Elven so it was nice to get that footage. Took some track cleaning after so long to get everything g to run well. Stephen.
Great variety in this video. I was amazed by the complexity of the Lego Kit. The manual itself was like a version of War and Peace! I couldn’t believe it when I noticed a lit signal box during the running session, which was great by the way. A very entertaining way to start Sunday morning. Thanks for sharing what you do. Happy New Year to you and yours. Roy.
Thanks Roy. The Lego kit was an amazing bit of engineering. There wasn’t a brick where I thought you could do this better with a larger brick. The lighting it arrived yesterday so I can get that out in. I thought I would preview the kit box in the running session. It just had to be lit and I suspect I always knew that. Happy New Year. Stephen
Lego, i remember when the humble six brick was king. Love the train cam , great views and great music.
Thanks Chris. The train cam hasn't travelled up the branch for a long time and I had to spend a long time cleaning all the points which hadn't moved in ages and then the track along the branch. But it was so nice to see the train arrive at High Elven. As for Lego the adult series (which I comfort myself in knowing that this kit is part of that) is extraordinary. Stephen
Stephen. Excellent work. So glad that you decided to light the box. Pete.
Thanks Pete the box looks much better than the gatekeepers cottage, and it uses the space better. Thanks for the idea. Stephen
Good evening Stephen - well that kits looks really good and I do like the idea of that wet palette - your are right in that I have washed away so much paint that I have squeezed out and not been able to use up, Methinks an investment is to be made. I was so happy you decided to light up the signal box, and with the interior it makes it so much more realistic.
Regards
Steve
Evening Steve. The wet palette is a wonder, I was using it again today and the paints will be fine for me to use tomorrow if I need to touch in any areas tomorrow morning. I don't know why I kept saying I wasn't going to light the box. I had a lot of fun building the interior - although the thin levers were a trial, and it looks so good in its place. Stephen
Love your signal box furnishings - Wow!
Thanks John. The signal box furnishings were only bits and pieces I had around but I think it was effective. Stephen
Hi Stephen, 3 times you said that you were not putting lighting in the signal box, and low and behold a lit signal box 🤣🤣🤣. But on a serious note great job on the signal box! Nice to see you sharing the wet pallet, it goes to show what you can learn from other modelling genres, another useful item for acrylics is to use a white silicone fidget popper to put paints in, when the paint dries you just pop it, and the paint peels right off and is clean for the next visit! Lego was a nice touch and what a lovely build! looking forward to seeing it lit up! Euan's being a bit optimistic saying your on the home straight! he must have forgotten that a layout is never finished 🤣🤣🤣. Keep up the good work! all the best Tony.
Hi Tony. I can remember thinking when I kept saying I wasn't going to light it why and I saying this? It is so much better lit, and I had real fun creating the interior. The wet pallet is such a revelation and you are right there is so much we can learn and use from other modelling genres. I'll take a look at the fidget popper. The lighting kit for the Orient Express is currently in the tender care of Evri so who knows when it will arrive. Stephen
Hi Stephen. Great video in making the signal box and lovely running session with the little camera on the front of your train. I been watching your videos for a long time now and this is my first comment, all has come together in the last couple of months well done, keep up the good work.
Hi David and thank you. I am a bit surprised how finishing the final section around High Elven has made such a difference to the layout. Glad you’ve been enjoying the videos and thanks for taking the time to comment. Stephen
Hi Stephen! The signal box kit looks great! Loved that it incorporated those jigs to help with building it! I'd never heard of the "Wet Palette" thing, but it looked like it was a really useful tool - another one for the shopping list I guess! The Glue 'n' Glaze is fantastic stuff! I've had a couple of test runs with it and will be using it to add windows to some 3D prints of some vehicles I've obtained! In the running session, I was paying close attention to the ballast on the incline and it didn't look too bad to me, although I've decided that I won't be using plaster cloth on the surface of my inclines - but possibly will on the sides! Good job not lighting the signal box by the way! Lol! All the best, Ian.
Hi Ian. The kit was much better than I expected and I particularly like the care with which it has been designed. I wish had known about the wet palette sooner. I've been using it over the weekend again (building another signal box as it happens) and it saves so much paint. My first foray with Glue and Glaze was an utter failure but then I saw it being used by one of the BRM chaps and I gave it another go on the main Depot building. I've been a convert ever since. As a non lighted building the signal box really shines 😁 Stephen
Morning Stephen, enjoyed the video, the signal box looks great up on the hill and fantastic job with the interior and the lighting considering you weren’t fitting it 🤣😉. A nice twist in the video with the Lego kit build, I’ve not built one since my kids stopped with them many years ago but I just love Lego maybe it’s time to revisit a Lego build?! Really looking forward to seeing the timber yard back and what you do with the scenery , the layout will really pop when you get the greenery in place and where you put those new trees 🌲 from Warley🤔? Cheers Gary
Morning Gary. The signal box was very enjoyable to build especially one I decided to light it and hit out the inside. Not sure if I ever believed myself that I wasn’t going to light it. The ‘adult’ LEGO kits really are something. There is a superb model of Concorde and a 9000 piece model of Titanic for a mere £589. Looking forward to getting on with the scenery. I agree that getting greenery and the trees in will make a difference. Stephen
About 40+ years ago, someone bought a lego technical kit of a JCB backhoe for Christmas for my nephew. I think it said age 7-9? The announcement was made that Uncle Stephen will build it for you. Now I was a little the worse for the drink, but I would sincerely like to meet the 9 year old that could have made that kit. It was about a foot long. Several hours passed. Complete!😊. Played with like a Tonka toy for 5 minutes. Destroyed 😂😂😂. Great job on your train and the signal box. I didn't believe the no lights statement from the first off!😂. Happy New Year! Regards, Stephen.
Happy New Year Stephen. I remember those kits. They were fiendish even without a drop or two inside you. I enjoyed doing the train, which is of course and adult kit 🤭, and it does look good once done. I didn’t believe myself when I kept saying I wasn’t going to light it and I really don’t know why I kept saying it! Stephen.
Happy New Year - really enjoying watching the Elvenhome progress
Happy NewYear. I’m pleased you’re enjoying them. I’m having a good time making them😀. Stephen
Greetings Elvenhome and hello Stephen 👋 Now you have the Lego Orient Express 🤔 you should really pick up the N Scale equivalent 😮 a rake of C.I W.L. coaches would look delicious behind a black five 😉 Another very entertaining show 👏👏👏 and the "wet pallette" 🎨 an excellent tip 👍 Very best wishes from the Emerald Isle ☘️
Hi Paul. The Lego kit was great fun to do, and it does look good. The wet palette is a revelation and so useful. It was good to see the footage from traincam going up the branch. A good couple of years since I have been able to do that. Stephen
Great little signal box kit Stephen. A long time since I've built a Lego kit but that kit looks ace ! Always great to get a trip around the layout. You look to be entering the home straight with the layout. 😊 Euan
Thanks Euan. It is a good kit and I enjoyed building it. As for the Lego kit that was just great fun to build and see it grow in front of you. I think I have quite a bit of scenic and detail work to do, but no more hill building. It is just nice to watch things travel around it. Stephen
Love the Lego kit Stephen.
Thanks very much Chris. It's good to hear from you and I hope things are progressing well for you. The Lego kit had been calling to me for several days. It does look really good, and it will look better with lights if Evri ever deliver the kit. Stephen
Hi Stephen, I really like those Arch Laser kits from Osbourn’s, I have a few myself and they are rather nice to build. Most of the ones I’ve built so far I’ve painted before building as I found it easier, although they do warp a bit doing it that way, but painting both sides helps a lot and a weight on them overnight helps. I do have one though that was a bit of a duff where the instructions are terrible and a there were bits missing? Still, the signal box looks great, especially with the interior and lighting.
Now, I wish I hadn’t seen that LEGO Orient Express, I love LEGO and have been contemplating for sometime about buying a kit, my daughter who is 28 now is very much into LEGO, especially Harry Potter, and it sparked my interest somewhat and now you. Lol! I’ll have to save up for it now as I’ve just emptied Exehaven’s coffers for a while!
The layout looks great by the way, it’s amazing how much different the old quarry workings make, cheers Stephen, John
Morning John and thanks. The arch kit was very thoughtfully designed. I painted after building because of past experience, especially with acrylic which are water based
, on thin wood before gluing. The Lego model is just lovely. The lighting kit arrived over the weekend so that is today’s work. It is a considered purchase, but not as considered as the 9000 piece Titanic at £589! I have been really surprised how much difference the quarry working makes. I think I said in the last video that when I finished the last bit of hillside and dropped the removable section into place it really made me step back. To think it is only a bit of painted foam sheet. Stephen
Hi Stephen, wow what a great Lego kit, very impressive. The signal box looks excellent, a lovely running session. The layout is looking great.
All the best for the New Year.
Hi Allan and thanks. The kit is a remarkable bit of engineering and will look very good in our lounge especially once it has the light kit installed. I am very pleased with the signal box it looks just right where it is, especially with lights. Stephen.
!Very nice, like!
Велике спасибі. I'm pleased you like it Stephen
Thanks for the video. That signal box lools smashing. Have you ever looked at the Manchester Model Railways website shop, they have a lovely range of similar models. I built the cattle dock which I really enjoyed and am looking for excuses to use some of their other kits. But that is amazing work you have done. Maybe you could a little allotment behind the box whichnthe signal men do when it's quiet or on their days off or maybe a bicycle leaning against the box. Happy New Year - another where you share your inspiring progress.
Thanks Dave. I did look at MMR models for a signal box when I was at Warley. They have a great selection at 00 scale but they haven't yet reduced them all down to N. The Timber yard buildings are all MMR and I agree they have a great range. When I spoke to the owner at Warley in 2022 he was planning to convert more kits to N but I know he had major heart surgery last year so those plans were on hold. Thanks for the idea of an allotment. The Gatekeeper was going to have a garden to his cottage so the allotment can take the place - in fact I have three figures I could put in that area now that I think of it. Stephen
Happy New Year, Stephen. Signal box: Nice little model. Love the Lego model, too. I'm not a fan or shorts (not the accoutrements for hot weather!) as I don't like the small aspect ratio of the videos. Take care.
Hi Paul Happy new year. I thought people might enjoy the Lego model. I agree with you about shorts. I don't think they work for model railways. They are really RUclips's attempt to rival Instagram and Tik Tok. I thought I would give it a go just to see. Stephen
@@Elvenhome Lego carriages: my favourite carriages are the KATO 5152-9 Orient Express Pullman 4158 (Hakone Lalique Museum) ones. I have five of them, to be pulled by my KATO 2016-2 D51 498 Orient Express 1988 Model Train Steam Locomotive. The carriages are the most beautiful I have ever seen.
@PaulSmith-pl7fo I can see why you like them so much Paul. They are lovely looking coaches.
Great video Stephen
Thanks very much Josh. I’m pleased you enjoyed it. Stephen.
Hi Stephen, what camera are you using for the train POV shots? Would love to do something similar!. Another great build and looking fab. Cheers, Mike
Hi Mike. If you go back to video 27 you will see how I created the train cam. It is the innards of a spy pen mounted on and adapted PECO bulk grain wagon kit suitably adapted. The exact spy pen I bought from Amazon is no longer available but the latest versions look just the same. It records to a small memory card. Stephen
@@Elvenhome Thanks, I have found a similar pen so will give it a go! It may take me a while 😄
Hello there, do you plan to add any signals to the layout? Because (unless I missed them) there would be some protecting the station area, loco yard, gas works and anything coming out on to the main line.
Hi Bob. I am likely to position a few signals at some point just for decoration mainly. I’m not going to try anything prototypical. I doubt I could buy a gantry properly to signal the mai line through the front of the layout. I may look at some ground signals for the yard and gas works. That’s part of the detail that I need now to go back and sort now that I have completed the major landscaping. Stephen
What was the coach that the Tank Engine pushed up to High Elven? Was it prototypically LNER? Thanks
Hi Rob. I was hopping that no one would notice that I had forgotten to put the Pannier Tank engine back with the Hawksworth Autocoach. That certainly would be prototypical being both GWR designs. I am pretty sure that J50's were never fitted for use on auto coaches or indeed did passenger workings.
@@Elvenhome I thought it was a GWR Autocoach and being less knowledgeable about stock, I wondered if there was something comparable on LNER? :-)
Been looking for a signal box and this may be an answer if there is a 00 gauge version. Still thinking of scratch building but when something like this comes along which looks good hmmmm.
I think Arch laser do make several versions of signal boxes in 00 gauge but not this one. If you were looking for a good kit you might want to take a look at MMR Models website. I like their kits (which are cut in more robust material than the arch laser) but the signal boxes they had in N didn't quite suit. They have a wider range at 00 scale and I really did like some of them. Stephen
@@Elvenhome thank you for the information will take a look at MMR Models.