I'm debating whether to use power/telephone lines attached to the poles and buildings when I install them on my HO scale layout, or use the poles only. My biggest concern is with dust and trying to keep the lines free of it. It's not that my layout is in a dusty area, it isn't... but I still have it no matter how clean I try to keep the layout room. Do you have power lines on your layout or not and if so does a simple soft brush take care of the problem?
Thanks,
Jarrell
I use poles, but no lines. Too many chances to snag the lines.
V8VegaI read somewhere a long time ago that telephone poles on a layout diminish the illusion of distance.
I suppose it could create that impression, but my line is broken up with various scenic features so you don't see everything at once. This has caused no such impression with me. YMMV
I did sense something missing without the poles, though.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I bought a 3 pack of Dust Off canned air at costco for $12.00 years ago. It is great for getting dust off just about everything. I still have one can left. One quick pass of the wires gets the job done.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Decisions, decisions... :)
This is the first area I thought about using power poles/lines in, going right down the side walk of the small town, but I'm just not sure.
Thanks for all the replies so far!
RR_Mel I have poles and wires and they do collect dust and spider mite webs. I use .010” steel music wire for the wires so they can take some abuse. I use the Harbor Freight mini vacuum attachment to pick dust and webs. http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-micro-vacuum-attachment-kit.html I don’t go wild with power lines, a few goes a long way around my rural housing area and a few in my yard with drops to my roundhouse, turntable, diesel maintenance building and yard supers office. I’m considering a power substation at the rear of my yard. The .010” steel wire can be curved to look like the real thing and doesn’t collect as much dust as thread and it's easy to clean. Mel Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951 My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Mel, I enjoyed reading some of your model railroad blog, especially about building the Sears house from scratch!
I did use them on my previous layout. Read the story, about half way down the page.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
RR_Mel Thanks for the good words Jarrell. I built a total of 9 catalog homes and all have electrical power drops from my power poles. They do collect webs and dust balls but the vacuum cleans them up easily. The trees are worse than the power lines and harder to clean up. I use a Hot Shot No Mess Fogger about once a month to get rid of the spider mites. I should really do it every two weeks during the summer, they multiply quickly. Mel Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951 My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Hot Shot No Mess Fogger. It doesn't leave a residue on your tracks? Hmmm... I'm going to have to try that. I have problems with those very small spiders and their webs and yes, trees are the hardest to clean. Vacuum them and there go all your leaves!
BroadwayLion I did use them on my previous layout. Read the story, about half way down the page. ROAR
Thanks for the help, Lion. I like your 'cupped' washer light reflectors.
A lot of communities have underground utilities, especially the newer ones.
I did power and telegraph lines on a diorama, but avoided them on my layout.
This was partially because of the maintenance required, but with all turnouts and both turntables manually operated, too much chance of the big hand playing Godzirra.
BATMANI bought a 3 pack of Dust Off canned air at costco for $12.00 years ago. It is great for getting dust off just about everything.....
But where does the dust go?
Wayne
doctorwayneBut where does the dust go?
We call that "weathering" around these parts...
The idea of power lines is something I continue to consider. Given what other's wrote, it seems that power lines can get problematic when trying to touch up scenery, move cars around, etc. I think the dust is another reason against using them. Now watch me change my mind about them!
Thank you Dr. Wayne and all! I've just about talked myself out of using power lines. Or maybe not. Dang!! :)
In my early days of model railroading, I was told HO scale power lines were not visible to the naked human eye. I see no need to question if that is true.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
doctorwayne BATMAN I bought a 3 pack of Dust Off canned air at costco for $12.00 years ago. It is great for getting dust off just about everything..... But where does the dust go? Whistling Wayne
But where does the dust go? Whistling Wayne
I usually hold the vacuum up and blow towards the nozzle. Doing rooftops and other things it works quite well, much better than actual physical contact with the brush or a rag. That being said, since we got a new furnace with a very good air cleaner, dust is almost nil on the layout, and that is with six Golden Retrievers running around inside.
Been pondering the same question lately, IMHO something as mundane as utility poles and wires really adds realism to a town/city scene. Internet and magazine investigation shows there are some folks who do a mighty fine job modeling some very detailed utility poles. Seems to me that a dozen or so poles with associated wire and electrical hardware will be worth the maint., but I have a small layout and my planned town will be small too.
The other day I did a study of utility poles while waiting outside the store for my wife and it occurred to me that in ancient times like the 1950s and 60s there were rungs on the poles for the linemen to climb. That got me to wondering if maybe track spikes might be suitable for modeling those rungs? Though realistic, maybe in HO scale the rungs would make the pole look too busy? But I'm modeling the early 80s, maybe the rungs were gone by then?
Regards, Peter
RR_Melmy layout
Mel, Nice modeling and pics, especially like your pool scene and the three-wheel motorized mail cart.
Thanks, Peter
Good-looking power lines, Mel.
Now, if you could only train the spiders to refine their work.
doctorwayne Good-looking power lines, Mel. Now, if you could only train the spiders to refine their work. Wayne
HO-Velo RR_Mel my layout Mel, Nice modeling and pics, especially like your pool scene and the three-wheel motorized mail cart. Thanks, Peter
RR_Mel my layout
[quote user="HO-Velo"]
it occurred to me that in ancient times like the 1950s and 60s
Ancient Times ???? Why they were the end of the good ole days
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
I am always in favor of cool scenic items (however impractical). I love the look of power/telephone lines on poles. On the practical side - I would put the lines in only if there is no possibility that operators would be likely to damage them by reaching into the scene.
Rapido (???) makes a set of power poles with pre-strung lines (pretty cool) and there is a company that sells elastic line that will give a bit if you inadvertently bump into it.
I have a set of scratch built power poles and transformers that are delicate enough that a swipe of the hand takes out hours of work. Those are on pins in the dirt and are removed to a safe place on the layout during operating sessions to avoid a costly oops…
Have fun,
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
HO-Velo Been pondering the same question lately, IMHO something as mundane as utility poles and wires really adds realism to a town/city scene. Internet and magazine investigation shows there are some folks who do a mighty fine job modeling some very detailed utility poles. Seems to me that a dozen or so poles with associated wire and electrical hardware will be worth the maint., but I have a small layout and my planned town will be small too. The other day I did a study of utility poles while waiting outside the store for my wife and it occurred to me that in ancient times like the 1950s and 60s there were rungs on the poles for the linemen to climb. That got me to wondering if maybe track spikes might be suitable for modeling those rungs? Though realistic, maybe in HO scale the rungs would make the pole look too busy? But I'm modeling the early 80s, maybe the rungs were gone by then? Regards, Peter
Yes Peter, I had forgotten about those 'rungs' on the side of poles back in the day. I well remember them and also the guys with the spikes on their boots and how they could dig them into the pole and, with the aid of a large belt, go right up the pole. I don't think I've seen that modeled lately though I'm sure someone has.
trainnut1250 Jarrell, I am always in favor of cool scenic items (however impractical). I love the look of power/telephone lines on poles. On the practical side - I would put the lines in only if there is no possibility that operators would be likely to damage them by reaching into the scene. Rapido (???) makes a set of power poles with pre-strung lines (pretty cool) and there is a company that sells elastic line that will give a bit if you inadvertently bump into it. I have a set of scratch built power poles and transformers that are delicate enough that a swipe of the hand takes out hours of work. Those are on pins in the dirt and are removed to a safe place on the layout during operating sessions to avoid a costly oops… Have fun, Guy
Thanks for the Rapido reminder, I remember seeing those in a hobby shop and I'll check into them!
There is a lot more to prototypical power lines than what meets the eye. Go around photographing every interesting pole and arrangement that you can find. see how the cross members are attached, where the guy wires go, how the transformers are wired.
Then get a book perhaps from the '40s about utility poles, our power house has such a book, and it is very instructful. See if you can find it on line. There is a hiherarchy of how wires are installed on such poles. High Tension at the top, then the local transformers and the local 110-220 distribution. Below this telegraph and then telephone, then street lighting, and at the bottom, the wires for your trolleys. More modern installation would not have trolley power, but would replace that with cable TV.
Telephone service is by far the most complicated to recreate, and you had better photograph that stuff sooner rather than later. Not only had all telco been underground before I arrived in North Daota 35 years ago, but even that has been abandoned and replaced with underground optic fiber.
The rungs on the poles only started about 10' above the ground to keep the general public from climbing up the poles. From 10' down, the poles had "clips" that rungs were attached to. When the work was finished, the linemen would remove the removable rungs and take them with them.
Climbing a pole with gaffs on is not as easy as it looks.
South Penn