No luck searching the Community. I am installing utility poles on my HO scale layout and need suggestions for ways to run "wires" between the poles. I'm looking for recommendations regarding materials to use to represent such wire. I know there are elastic thread products out there but can't remember who makes them. Any ideas?
Hornblower
One possibility might be some place like JoAnn's Fabrics. I studied the thread inventory for a project that needed small cables and discovered there are specialty threads available that are thinner than the regular thread. Might be something there that would work if you don't discover something better.
If I recall correctly, Rapido offered those not long ago. Fine fishing line would work. Painted, of course.
Earlier topic about spacing telephone poles includes what a moderator suggested using for wiring: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/85955.aspx
[Link made live by moderator - FYI: For linking to a thread located on the forum, add a bracketed "url" (minus the quotation marks) on the front end of the URL and a bracketed "/url" on the back end. For linking to a page outside the forum, use the link icon above your text box. The latter, unfortunately, doesn't work for linking to forum threads. ]
I also vote for Mel's piano wire. Stiff enough to hold a smooth straight line and heavy enough to realistically sag under its own weight. Even the thin stuff. Use the thinnest wire you can find.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
selectorIf I recall correctly, Rapido offered those not long ago
.
I have two boxes of Rapido's pre-wired telegraph/telephone poles. I only saw them once, and grabbed the right up.
I am glad I did.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Now I know why my search wasn't getting anywhere as I was thinking Berkshire Valley, not Berkshire Junction. Since many of my lines will cross tracks in multiple locations and I'm working toward regular operating sessions, I think I'll go with the elastic thread of some kind. JoAnn Fabrics has 225 yard spools of lycra thread for $3.50. One spool should do my whole layout.
RR_Mel The normal sag works good for long runs, short drops need the sag added. There is another advantage for using real wire, it doesn’t collect dust near ad bad as thread. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
And pidgons sit upright on hard wires better then on the Lacra thin thread. I use both hard wire and E Z LINE (thin .010'', green or black) elastic polymer, allowing the E Z LINE to sag a little. 100' at $9.95 (12/14/02) of E Z LINE on a spool compared to 675' at $3.50.
Some times a wire or two comes down and I send out a crew to make repaires. Only to get back a "made repair'' report of ''removed a spider web dropping from a pole to the ground''.
RR_Mel About 20 years ago I found some .010” piano wire and made a huge mistake by not buying a bundle of it, it is even better than the .015”. I haven’t been able to find it anywhere. Mel
https://www.mcmaster.com/piano-wire
The Blackwing and Western.
Easiest to use........if You bump it, it goes back to it's original shape. I also use it for cables on vehicle cranes and the like:
http://berkshirejunction.com/subdirectory/ez-line/
Take Care!
Frank
I use good old fishing line, standard size. I then apply a small drop of rubber cement, wrap the fishing line around the crossarm where the cement is and let it dry. I stretch the line to the next pole leaving a little sag in the line betwen poles.
It is inexpensive, the poles themselves are home made with bamboo stick and tooth picks for the cross arms.
The rubber cement dries fast and holds the fishing line to the cross bars without any miss haps.
Just a simple touch of modeled power lines really adds detail to the layout. This is a picture of a finished pole, a lot cheaper than buying ready made pole, plus they are fun to build.
Before I plant the poles I use a spray stain to darken the wood or at least make it look more realistic.
A nice evening project, allow the stain to dry over night before handling the poles. Since I use a blue foam base it is easy to plany the poles with the pointed end of the bamboo sticks.
Robert Sylvester
Newberry-Columbia Lines, SC
zstripeif You bump it, it goes back to it's original shape.
That is an important virtue of the elastic products (and there are makers other than Berkshire I believe). It is very difficult to avoid snagging the "wires" of trackside line poles in normal operations of the layout.
Using CA, it is fairly easy to install. You go from pole to pole (thinking ahead however with poles with multiple arms and multiple insulators - work out from the pole and then work up from the lowest arm). The main thing is not to make it too taut or most poles will start to bend.
Dave Nelson
Ngineering has #38 Magnet wire that looks great as telegraph wire. Just run a sharpie along it to change the colour.
https://www.ngineering.com/accessories.htm
I keep all my old guitar strings as well, some of those are good I change those about every six weeks on two guitars.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Take an old length of zip-cord, remove the insulation and separate out the single strands. I have used these with great luck, and they can carry electricity to led street lights etc. (the resistor is painted black to look like a transformer.) And if some dolt touches them they will discharge a very respectable HO scale arc!
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Eric WhiteYou're probably thinking of Berkshire Junction EZ Line. Eric
Kerry