realistic powerlines and rails

[Anonymous]

hi, I'm new here. I've looked with awe at some totally real looking photo's of model railroaders projects. The lighting especially has been conquered when some of you took your sections outdoors!!! The depth of field, the sharp contrasts, the beautiful blue skies, even the reflections in some of the windows, incredible!!! However, there is still something that an ultra-perfectionist may want to address - the overhead utility lines - they continue to be stretched tightly from pole to pole...why? When is the last time you saw that, maybe in winter deep freeze. I know it's not a big deal, but if you're going thru the trouble for that kind of detail to have utility lines - give 'em a little slack. It's not easy, but the results are spectacular! Please indulge one more- the shiny rail sides- you rust up the individual wheels and springs on the trucks, why not the sides of the rails as well, not even new (real) track is laid with shiny sides...Your projects and layouts are superb, thanks for sharing them online[:)], see-ya...doug

[Javern]

everyone has their own ideal level of detail. I don't even have powerlines as I feel it's hard to work around them. I hope to one day refine my artistic side more and make my layout more detailed

[selector]

I tend to agree with Javern, although your point is well taken, Doug. After a certain point, any layout becomes a nightmare of things to get broken, knocked over, things that don't allow you to reach in and right a tipped article of rolling stock, etc.

I guess if you have everthing else done, and want to add another nice touch, those things would be good to have, especially the wires in a steam era.

On thing I did learrn today, though, is that using WS brown ballast makes the rail sides look rusty in certain ligthing. The effect is quite realistic!

[Anonymous]

On my layout I use gray embroidery thread. I tie it off to one insulator, add a touch of CA and go about 3 poles and fasten with a touch of CA, then CA the other insulators. I pull the thread so it just touches the insulators. After about a week, the thread will stretch and sag realistically.

I tried metallic thread, but it was to "out of scale". I also tried black and brown, but they seemed to get lost in the scenery.

I start at the bottom, closest the pole and work my way outward and upward. Extremely time consuming! Three pole section with 12 lines took about 8 hours to get it right!!

You can see the photos at: http://community.webshots.com/user/up_santafe

There are photos of the metallic thread and also of the gray embroidery thread.

Here are two using the mettalic:





Here are two using the embroidery: