Insulators for N Scale Transmission Towers

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?

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

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

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

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

Regards, Peter

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