Masts and poles

[Anonymous]

I was wondering if anybody had advice on modeling power lines and radios masts. The former I'd like to have running to my on-layout power plant, while the latter I think would fit nicely near the top of the mountain that is (will be) on my layout. I was wondering if people had recomendations on how to model this. Ideally I'd be able to string something through the powerlines (black thread?). I'm also a bit concerned about a realistically tall radio mast breaking down some of the site lines or ruining the illusion of scale. A 250' mast would be about 18" in N scale, and that feels a little big.
Thanks.

[pcarrell]

I thought I saw something in the Walthers catalog about an antenna. I'd check there.

As for the wires, I've seen this stuff that is like elastic, but better looking. Its made just for power lines. I think its in Walthers too.

Matter of fact, I think this was discussed in a thread a little while back. I'd do a search on the forum and see if you can find it. If I remember right it has a short video link that shows it all set up as telephone wires and then they push a bar down on them to show how they stretch and sring back.

Maybe somebody here can give you exact names for these products. They do exist though.

[Anonymous]

Humm. Perhaps E-Z Line from Berkshire Junction? Manager to dig up some posts on it from May. Thanks for the pointer, and I'll make sure to search more extensively in the future. [:D]

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by distantantennas

Humm. Perhaps E-Z Line from Berkshire Junction? Manager to dig up some posts on it from May. Thanks for the pointer, and I'll make sure to search more extensively in the future. [:D]

Here's a better pointer: "EZ Thread" is just Lycra thread. Go to any sewing store and buy it for about 1/4 of what Berkshire Valley wants.

The problem with using Lycra thread is that it doesn't sag like real power lines. If I was going to ever model power lines (I haven't yet, mostly because they tend to get in the way), I'd use plain old black thread, superglued to the poles.

[Anonymous]

Some say to run the thread thru beeswax to give it body so it will hang and keep it's shape. If you make the mast smaller it will appear to be farther in the background.

[jrbarney]

QUOTE: Originally posted by distantantennas

I was wondering if anybody had advice on modeling power lines and radio masts. . . . I'm also a bit concerned about a realistically tall radio mast breaking down some of the sight lines or ruining the illusion of scale. A 250' mast would be about 18" in N scale, and that feels a little big. . . .

Distant,
You may want to visit Billy Bob's Fly Bye Nite Operations Web site:
http://members.aol.com/Nscaleloco/page3.html
It's been a while since that site has been updated, so I don't know what its status is, but his radio antennae look interesting.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[Medina1128]

I remember an article in Model Railroader, and a gentleman used very fine solder for telephone wires. It sags like real wire. The downside is that it's pretty fragile. The upside is that if you snag it, it will break rather than your poles.

[CBQ_Guy]

I don't know how high the majority of commercial radio antennas are, but I used to work at a TV station and the tower there was something like 1,400 feet high, though admitedly it's the second highest one in the state of Illinois! I was told the top of it is line of sight with the Sears tower up in Chicago, around 85 miles away!

Don't forget a shed or small building, no widows, near the base somewhere as this is where the transmitter(s) and other related electronics, possibly a generator are located.

Walthers has hi-tension power line towers if that's what you're also asking about at:

http://walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3121

Hope this helps!

[ukguy]

The flexible wire is called EZline and is available from berkshirejunction.com, among others I would presume.

Here is the video link

http://www.berkshirejunction.com/ezmovie.mpg

here is the page link

http://www.berkshirejunction.com/scenery.htm#ezline

Have fun & be safe,
Karl.

[Anonymous]

Fine Scale Miniatures makes a beautiful brass radio tower in N scale for $19.95.

It's 10 1/2 " tall so it might be suitable for HO. You could also solder two together, since they aren't tapered. I started carrying it because I make a couple of light kits for it - an older beacon and a modern triple strobe.

I wish he'd make it in HO, but packaging and displaying something that tall would be a challenge for any dealer.

Mike Tennent

[Anonymous]

I used to do some work in broadcast engineering and what I remember is that tv towers in my area were 800 feet or higherand placed on high ground.

FM towers were also on high ground and ranged from 100 to 380 feet. The taller ones were used when there were no mountains to place them on to attain a height above average terrain.

AM towers are located in low swampy areas and are around 200 feet.