Those of you who have power poles on your layouts, do you “wire” them using thread or other material to simulate the power cables, or do you just forget about the wire, and just put the poles up. I like the way they look when they are wired, but I’m almost to the stage of putting up my power poles, and wanted to get everyone’s pros/cons on wiring them. Thanks in advance.
I haven’t installed any power poles yet. I plan to at some time. I am worried about being able to work on the layout under the wires.
When I install the poles, I plan on experimenting a little. I even have some old magnet wire laying around. I just might try using the wire and have “real” power poles for running lights to the buildings. Anyone try that yet?
Darrell, wirely quiet…for now
Kevin there was a very good thread here about just this check it out, some great product recomendations in this thread
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6156
I didn’t. I did, however, put black thread between the power arch over my turntable bridge and a nearby pole. What do you think?
I might use ultra-thin, painted brass ‘railing’ wire on poles that are in areas where I’ll be snapping alot of photos. I avoid thread because (1) it has to be stretched taut to look ‘real’ [it sags slightly on the prototype], and (2) the stray fibers attract dust, which is difficult to keep off.
Omitting power pole “wiring” detracts measurably from the realism of a modeled scene. It is one of the key give aways that the scene is a model and not the prototype and is alway very noticeable to the viewer (we all know what the real world looks like). Common thread is a very poor choice to represent power lines. Use one of the commercially available “stretchable” products, since it not only looks far, far better but is also forgiving of accidents.
CNJ831
I plan on wiring my telephone poles and my power transmission towers from the power plant. The EZ-line stuff looks interesting (Berkshire Junction) as it will stretch. Somewhere I had read it was a certian type of thread, similar to spandex or a vinyl stretch thread. The name escapes me but when I knew it I went to all the fabric stores in town and they looked at me crazy, 1. for asking for the product, 2. for wanting it for my train layout. Women…
I’m pretty sure EZ line is Lycra thread. It’s very good - it will stretch and then go back to it’s original position.
The attached photo shows this product on a module of mine.
Hope this helps.
Tim
I vote to wire them. I’ve seen many fantastically detailed scenes in MR with one glaring fault, no power lines on the poles.
I tried this several years ago.I thought it looked pretty cool but I ran into a problem, I got hung up in them a lot and would catch them with boxcars locos and almost anythng I started in the direction of my layout. I plan to try it again when I build my new one starting later this year. There are lots of “pros and cons,” My opinion is, they look good but be prepared to work around them. All good things come with a price… Joey
Tim,
That was the name, I couldn’t find it anywhere, I was told if you could get it at a fabric store it was like 60% less then EZ Line. Any ideas where to find this allusive thread?
I like the look of your lines, the rusty look, if that’s what I am seeing is sharp.
David,
I have no problem finding Lycra thread in Rockford at Jo Anns Fabrics. Are there any Jo Anns in Bloomington or Peoria? Heck, the college theater departments have GOT to have a line on the stuff; maybe try them?
Some great info. guys, thanks! One other thing I was thinking. I would like to place guy wires on some of my poles just like the real ones, to help keep the pole up-right against the “pull” of the wires. My model poles don’t “need” these guy wires, as they can support themselves just fine, but I thought it would look cool. So here’s the question. Pretty much all guy wires that I have seen have been a silver/gray color. That EZ Line stuff seems pretty cool, but you can’t get it in a silver color. How about using fishing line (assuming you could find it in the correct color). Fishing line wouldn’t have the dust collection problem that thread would have would it? Just a thought! What do you guys think?
I did hit Jo Anns Fabrics here in Peoria, they were one of the places that looked at me weird. Maybe I should try again. Why would the college department use it? Hmm, I have a friend that teaches at Bradley University, maybe I can have him see. I will call them (Jo Anns) today and see if they may have it, does it go by any other name just in case I was using the wrong terminology??
Thanks!
I bought some for using to make chainlink fencing. You may be on to something for the guy wires. I don’t fish, but love to eat them, can you get fishing line in a extremely small diameter?? My problem is doing Normal Scale (N scale 
Kevin, I like that modern look you have on your layout [tup]
Theater departments need it for costuming (provided that they still do their own!)
Try asking for elastic thread or “shirring” thread; you might have better luck at fabric stores with those terms.
If you’re having problems finding it locally, try these links:
http://www.amefird.com/best_stretch.htm
http://catalogs.indiamart.com/products/threads.html
http://www.spandexworld.com/index.htm
I plan to add wire but not until the its the last thing to do on the layout
I never wire my telephone poles because they are nothing but elbow catchers…the only ones i would wire are ones in the back sections of the layout where derailed trains and body parts won’t make contact with them…it’s perfectly all right to have bare wire telephone poles and transmission lines…chuck
If you are modelling “prototype” the distance you are from the layout will automatically eliminate any visual of the actual wires, and, if you can see the wires, they are far too large proportinately to the poles. 1. 12 wires per pole (or more) X 450 poles(do the math) 2. and aren’t you going to have fun tying each wire to those tiny insulators, remember, now, this is “prototype” This theory lies in “prototype” steam locos, if everything is to scale, the rivets are reduced and the size will be so small they would not show, check the handrail (if it is to scale) on a steamer and compare to a rivet. If all else fails, use spider webs from a small spider if you want authenticity.
I used embroidery thread on my power poles, there isn’t any stray “fuzz” on this type of thread and has not been a dust collector. It takes a lot of time and patience but for me it appeared to add realism.
When I redo my layout I will avoid going so close to the tracks and over them when ever possible, 'cause the trains are difficult to get to in case of derailments. I also plan on experimenting with different materials, such as motor winding wire from burned out HO locos.
