This is my 1st scratch built project. I know it’s not much compared to other stuff I’ve seen in the forms, but it’s a start. I was limited by the space. It’s made for my N-scale layout, which for me was a major accomplishment, because I have cataracts and I’m blind in one eye. I have to take photos of everything and blow them up on the computer just to see them.
I made everything except the tower and the fence. I carved the building, propane tank, power pole and out outhouse out of wood. I then used thread for the power lines and wire for the pipe/conduit.
The microwave dish’s was a big problem, I tried to carve them out of wood, but due to the shape and size, I couldn’t get it right and I thought they were too heavy for the tower. I then tried an assortment of other things without much luck, until I stumbled upon Styrofoam balls. I was able to carve and sand them into the right shape, but I could not get them smooth. It was ok for the front cover not to be smooth because the real ones are made of fiberglass and they are not always smooth. The back is usually always smooth. I tried dipping them in paint and sanding them, then applying numerous coats of paint, but I just couldn’t get it. I gave up for now or at least until I find a better way of making them. I’m thinking of looking into the possibility of using molds. I am interested in hearing any ideas.
There are a few more details I would like to make if I ever make another one, but for now, I need to move on if I’m ever going to finish this layout.
Seeing you are in N, can I suggest that you try to find a sequin about the right size for the dish shape in N… would be more difficult in HO to do that!
It’s not for HO only. I think xdford was just expressing envy that you might have an easier time of it than an HO-gauger might for a similar project.
As to suggestions - my thought would be some kind of filler material - spackling plaster comes to mind. Smooth it on, then when dry, sand it smooth, then paint it to seal it. You could also try various body fillers, though some of them have pretty potent solvent in them, which might attack the styrofoam.
Nice work on the transmission/relay house and tower, BTW!
Sorry I do not have a suggestion, but would like to say that I hope my first scratch building project comes out as good as yours! Very nice details. Jamie
As one who spent many years as a technician servicing the equipment in those buildings (and as an N scale modeler) I found your post very interesting. Nice work! Brought back memories. I plan to have a microwave repeater on my layout some time in the future and I just hope it’s as nice as yours. The only thing I would change is that I would not have a cover over the dish. The sites I worked at did not have the dishes covered. You may want to paint the dish covers a light gray to distinguish them from the dishes, although I’ve seen them in both white and gray. Most of the dishes I’ve seen have also been gray. Another thing that might add interest to a tower is to have the dishes different sizes. If the hop to the next repeater is short the dish can be smaller. Another thing that might add interest is a smaller dish part way up the tower pointing in a different direction to represent a branch off to a nearby town. One thing I won’t try modeling is any of the 450 ft. towers we had. But I do plan to put in the guy wires.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticising your work–I like it–but I’m just throwing out some ideas I have in mind for my own tower when I build it in case others might want to make a microwave relay site.
I don’t mind criticism. I realy hate the dishes that I ended up with. I originally planed on having on having different sizes, but I still haven’t got the dishes figured out yet. Someone mentioned using ping-pong balls so I bought some to day and they are way to big for N-scale. It was a great Idea though, maybe someone knows of some mini balls that I can cut.
I am going to add guy wires after I get it mounted onto my lay out. I also made 5 other power poles to continue the high voltage lines from the pole-mounted transformer down the mountain.
I’m going to have to take a break because my eyesight has gotten worse this weekend, I can barely read the text anymore. I’m scheduled for eye surgery on Thursday and if everything goes well, I’ll be able to see from at least one eye.
Hope your eye surgery goes well. They can work miracles nowadays.
I don’t think a half ball would be right. A ball is a sphere, a microwave dish is a parabola. What I’ve thought of doing is making an indentation in a piece of hard wood with the point of a large drill bit then pressing a circle of thin brass into it with a bluntly-pointed wooden stick. I did something similar to make an N scale lamp shade for a table lamp and it worked out okay. Those covers are going to be hard to make (which is another reason I’m going to model a bare dish–but then I’ll have to model the antenna too). The only thing I can think of is to scour the craft shops to find some gee gaw that has the right shape and the right diameter base. Or round off the end of a dowel with sandpaper to the right shape.
Looks really good except for the dish covers. Try going to an auto parts store and look at their interior panel fasteners. The kind that hold your door panels onto the metal frames. They are plastic, dish shaped and kind of look like directional antennas. Might find one that works.
Seamonster-Are they called guy wires or guide wires?
I was at the craft store (A.C. Moore, in my case) on my way home from work, picking up some crafty stuff for the Missus and some cheap acrylics for me. (They probably call me "the guy who only buys gray and green paint.) Anyway, I noticed small wooden spheres (1/4 and 1/2 inch) and thought of this thread.
Another thing to look at is buttons. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
I even went over to the balsa wood display, not because I needed any, but just for, well, inspiration.
