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Insulators for N Scale Transmission Towers

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  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
  • 1,503 posts
Insulators for N Scale Transmission Towers
Posted by GP-9_Man11786 on Thursday, August 9, 2018 8:28 PM

I finally took on a project I've been dragging my feet on for a while, building some high-voltage transmission towers. The one's I'm building are the Wooden H Frame variety.

I've built five of them so far and my problem is insulators. I scaveneged some from a Model Power substation kit. However, I'm almost out. Any ideas on what I can use for insulators from here on out?

Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.

www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com 

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Thursday, August 9, 2018 10:15 PM

Walthers offered some power poles in HO which had insulators that might be useable for high voltage lines in N scale.  They may have offered an N scale version, too....



Modelling in HO, I'm not sure if scratchbuilding the insulators in N scale would be feasible, but my suggest would be to punch suitably-sized discs from thin sheet styrene, then cement them together using solvent type cement.  The punch which I use has changeable punches, and usually deforms the discs into a slightly cone-shape - if you cemented the concave sides together as pairs, then joined them, pointy-ends-to-pointy-ends, either with solvent cement or on a wire, you might get an acceptable insulator, although it sounds labour intensive.

Your picture shows the makings of a good-looking scene.  I hope you'll share some views when you get it done.

Wayne

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Friday, August 10, 2018 8:29 AM

I’m with Wayne on this one,  a 1/16” diameter punch out from a .03” Styrene sheet would produce a 10” x  3½” disk.  Fairly accurate for a 30KV to 50KV insulator disk.
 
 
I also use a punch with changeable dies for such things.
 
 
 
 
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    January 2014
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Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Friday, August 10, 2018 10:14 AM

They make small little tiny nuts and washers for #00-90 machine bolts. O.D. of nuts is 1/16". I just got a bunch for another project.

Brass or stainless steel, but could be painted. You might try these.

Robert

LINK to SNSR Blog


  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: California
  • 2,388 posts
Posted by HO-Velo on Friday, August 10, 2018 10:15 AM

Nice towers.  Tichy has some insulators that measure .107 dia. x approx. .250 in length. 

Regards, Peter

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
  • 1,503 posts
Posted by GP-9_Man11786 on Saturday, August 11, 2018 3:07 PM

Thanks for the suggestions everybody. And thank you also for the kind words about the towers themselves.

Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.

www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com 

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