Homemade Telegraph poles?

[Anonymous]

How might one construct homemade telegraph poles that could withstand the weather?

[Anonymous]

What scale? [:D]
Peter

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pfd586

What scale? [:D]
Peter

'bout 1:20.3? [}:)]

[bman36]

Capt. C,
There was an article in the Feb. /04 issue of GR. Essentially it dealt with using dowels and treating them for outdoor use. Very simple to make. Check it out. Later eh...Brian.

[Marty Cozad]

capt
I've had home made cheap-os out for two years now. The only thing (around here) is to dip them in tar so termites don't eat them. Plus make them alittle longer so the wind does not knock them over. BUT not to deep so if YOU step on them you don't get mad at yourself. You seen them in most of my photos. 3/8" dowels, cedar cross braces, beads with spikes. Plus use longer spikes to hold the bars on so they don't work out.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Marty Cozad

capt
I've had home made cheap-os out for two years now. The only thing (around here) is to dip them in tar so termites don't eat them. Plus make them alittle longer so the wind does not knock them over. BUT not to deep so if YOU step on them you don't get mad at yourself. You seen them in most of my photos. 3/8" dowels, cedar cross braces, beads with spikes. Plus use longer spikes to hold the bars on so they don't work out.

Thanks, Excellent work! By the way, what scale are those automobiles?

[Marty Cozad]

Most autos are 1:25th or 1:32 if they sit further away from the track. Buildings are 1:29th. I had a lineman tell me my poles are close to scale of those used in the past along the RR. If they are tooo thin, they brake easy.

[Anonymous]

I have had good luck with the Bachman poles. I usually remove the bottom two crossbraces and file them smooth. You can leave one, two or all depending on the look you want. Just nip the tops of the insulators a little (to get rid of the pointed look) and paint them with a mix of green and clear that is to your satisfaction. You can even mix a paint cap full of the stuff and turn the poles over and dip them one side (3 insulators) at a time. They can be re-dipped for as many coats as you want. I suppose you can paint the poles for a more weathered look or dip them in whatever you want to get rid of the brown shiny look. They don't look like wood poles but they aren't bad. The sun hits the green paint/clear coat and looks pretty good. And they are flexible, easily installed after poking a hole in the dirt with a metal rod, and easily replaced when the weedeater gets a little close. By the way, where do I get more pic's of Marty's RR? Awesome!!!

[Kiwi Down Under]

For G scale Instead of dowel, try chop sticks. If not the coated type spray with enamel undercoat. Mine have held up fine outside for 2 years.
You should be able to buy dispoable ones in packets of 500 very cheaply from Asian food merchants.


Tony

[Anonymous]

Hi Joe
You can also use rail for the poles if it is a railway pole route these at the shortest
need to stand eighteen feet out of the ground ie from ground level to the top of the poles
the shot 18' poles generaly only have one or two cross arms on them.
one has said use long nail to hold the crossarms on I figure the fussy will drill it for a nut and bolt deatail part so why not drill it and use real nuts and bolts.
regards john

[Anonymous]

Marty and all, Talking to a painter friend of mine he suggested linseed oil, It will take a while to dry but it has a tendancy to turn things black like cresode did on raw wood. (FYI)Oil paint is basically linseed oil with color added which is why oil paint wears better out doors or a least use oil primer under latex .

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

Marty and all, Talking to a painter friend of mine he suggested linseed oil, It will take a while to dry but it has a tendancy to turn things black like cresode did on raw wood. (FYI)Oil paint is basically linseed oil with color added which is why oil paint wears better out doors or a least use oil primer under latex .

What are y'all using as insulators?

[bman36]

Capt. C,
WalMart sells a wide assortment of beads for craft work. There are several that can be used for insulators. Cheap too! I even use beads as doorknobs on my buildings. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bman36

Capt. C,
WalMart sells a wide assortment of beads for craft work. There are several that can be used for insulators. Cheap too! I even use beads as doorknobs on my buildings. Later eh...Brian.

Cool tip, thanks.[8D]

[Anonymous]

Hi
Not sure about beads as door handles I use the plastic toped dress making pins for that.
But little porcelan or glass beads as insulators what a good idea
regards John

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by John Busby

Hi
Not sure about beads as door handles I use the plastic toped dress making pins for that.
But little porcelan or glass beads as insulators what a good idea
regards John

What are y'all using to fasten them to the crossarms that is resistant to the elements? Glue?

[grandpopswalt]

Marty,

I really enjoyed reading about your RR in GR (Feb 2003). Can you put more photos on the web for us all to drool over?

Walt

[bman36]

John,
For the door handles I guess they are not really classed as "beads" since the hole does not go all the way through. What they are really for I have no idea. They work great and come in all kinds of colours. Later eh...Brian.

[Marty Cozad]

Matt
I've used boiled lincseed oil on my building shingles for years, ages really well. Thanks for saying it.
Walt, Thanks. I have lots of photos on MyLargescale.com. many more post there also. Plus some photos on Largescaleonline. You'd have to be a member to see them tho.
Its a simple RR with lots of room. Plus the camera can lie and make things "look" better than they are.
I've always wanted to get some one to publish a video for me. But I have to have $$ there to make it happen.
also go to Aristo Crafts forum, I post lots there to. Its fun sharing and seeing others work reguardless of size.
This was shot around April 2 or so of 2004, i love evening runs with lights on.