Hi ya’ll. Any advice from the pros on modeling power lines? I’m thinking monofilament but wondered if anyone has a better idea. Thanks!
I used thread. Just run it through some bees wax and the will prevent it from sticking to your other “power lines” and keep it from fraying. You could also use fishing line. Good Luck! [:D][8D]
grande man,
Berkshire Junction markets a product called EZ Line. It comes in several colors and a couple of sizes and comes on 100 foot rolls for about $11.00 a roll. It is a polymer with 700% stretch and then returns to its original shape. I saw it demonstrated at a train show a couple of months ago. I haven’t used it yet, but I will when I run my power lines.
This is a link to Berkshire Junction: [url=“http://berkshirejunction.com”]
Hope this helps.
That does help! I think I’ll give it a try. Thanks.
Yes, that is some very nice stuff. They (Berkshire Junction) come to a lot of the train shows I go to, and always have their demo set up with a set of poles with their lines on it and a motorized mechanism that constantly presses down and stretches the lines and then lets them snap back in place. That’s definitely the stuff I will use when I get that far. I can’t imagine using somethign with no give - just imagine the trouble if you put a hand in the wrong place and snap off all that hard work?
–Randy
I have been looking for things like this for a while, seems to be the ultimate thing to use. Thanks [8D]
The stuff Berkshire Valley sells is Lycra thread. You can pick it up (in several colors) at any sewing supply store for about 1/4 the price BV sells it for.
You are right, thanks for telling. I searched the net and this is what I found.
http://www.ww1.org.uk/rigging.htm
Look at how thin they are.
Seems to me that using a stretch thread is going to compromise the authenticity. Real power lines sag, Lycra thread doesn’t. (In fact, as any sports bra maker will tell you, anti-sag is the whole point!)
When I was in telecommuncations (showing my age, I guess), we used to wire our own snap uses. The wire is really fine and I imagine that it could be used and since it is metal (copper strand) it can be “dressed” to simulate the sag of real power/phone wires.
You mean fuses, don’t you? Sheesh, I remember wiring more than a few of those myself. That was tedious work. Can’t remember why we wired them rather than buy new ones. As I recall that fuse wire was extremely expensive. Thanks for stirring up an old, forgotten memory, Marlon.
On a previous layout, I used a heavy black thread that I purchased at Walmart.
It worked really well. My only advice to you is to string the power lines LAST…
after everything else is complete. You WILL snag them every time you reach
over the layout… Murphy’s Law. Good luck, Dave
I haven’t tried it, but from what I’m reading I’m thinking a fishing line called Spider Wire woud work. I use it for fishing (obviously), it comes in a couple of colors, will sag and is VERY strong. You could try it if you couldn’t find the other suggestions.
Lycra thread! Thanks, guys.
Oh, and Bikerdad, loose lycra sags quite nicely - just talk to someone who’s lost enough weight and you’ll see!
Jim
As for color, it depends on what kind of line you want to model.
For newer powerlines, I’d look at an aluminum conductor. New aluminum lines are shiny, but after a few years turn dark - almost black. I’d look for a very dark grey to model the color.
For older lines I’d model a copper line. After a few years the copper gets a nice dark green patina.
Mark in Utah
(Electric utility guy)
I bought some stretch thread at WMT - for like a buck a roll - perfect for O, it may be a bit large for HO though. I have seen the Berk. jct stuff and that made me remember about stretch thread. $11. vs $1. you choose. 
It comes in black and white - you can dye the white any color for cheap with RIT dye.
In this pic you can see the use of this thread - I used super glue to attach it to the insulators and was able to put sag into the wires.
For more photos go to:
http://nasme.tripod.com
Thanks
d5k
Awesome tip. You get the sag and lycra stretch!
For modeling power lines on my N scale layout, I used ordinary dark grey thread “borrowed” from my wife’s sewing basket. Power lines are covered with a black insulation which fades over time to a dirty black or grey colour. I tried black, and it just looked too stark. I also modeled high-tension lines (the ones on steel towers). Those conductors are not insulated and for them I used a metallic thread that I found in a craft store. The effect is that of sunlight glinting off the conductors on a bright summer day. Very effective.
I work in the photocopier industry and have used corona charge wire which on some models comes in spools about 4 feet long. The copier advances the spool over time to give a clean surface for charging the 600 volt potential used. When it is time to change the spool I keep the old one to use as telegraph wire.
The wire becomes grey and weathered looking after use and it conducts if you want to power some thing as well. It is a very fine but strong wire and almost invisible from any distance.
I first install my pole line and over a period of operation observe where there might be conflicts with the overhead when switching and or rerailing cars. The poles in these areas I leave unwired but in other places it looks great along the rite of way.[2c]
Has anyone tried piano wire? If you bend it right, I think it would look quite good, keeping it’s sagging shape.
Trainboy