Any ideas, thoughts to threading ho scale telephone poles? Heard the stories about using cotton thread with expansion/tightening and unrealistic. Heard good things about synthetic thread, any ideas and is it readily avail? Also heard about using 44 gauge copper wire…don’t know which way to go.
Want to stay away from the expense with the Rapido “Totally Wired” poles. I’ve already detailed/weathered my Atlas poles, just need to string them. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
There’s this
http://www.berkshirejunction.com/
Or you can try to find Lycra sewing thread. The kind used for sewing spandex. Won’t give you that prototypical droop, buy will flex and not break if you snag it.
The guy who comes up with fine enough “wire” that droops the way it should could become a rich man, IMO.
Thanks for the Berkshire link! [tup]
I recall seeing a couple of times that modelers will use sewing thread and pull it through some wax to eliminate the fuzzy look. I eventually want to try this method myself, but haven’t yet, so I cannot provide much insight on how well it works.
A local modeler uses a synthetic elastic thread, probably lycra. He built a threader with an L shaped handle. the long leg was about 4-6" long and the short leg was just long enough to hold a spool of thread. On the end of the long leg he put a small wire loop.
Put a spool of thread on the short leg and feed the thread through the wire loop. Tie the thread off on the starting pole or anchor. Hold the threader with the long leg horizontal. Put a finger on the side of the spool to control its turning, which also controls feed rate and tension. Then use the threader to wrap the thread around the insulators. At one point he had a multiple feed system where he could do all the "wires’ on a cross arm at once. Caveat: I’ve never used it so I can’t say how easy it really is.
Someone is making a set of telephone poles with a type of elastic wires already attached. I want to say it is Rapito or maybe Roco. You might be able to find it with an Internet search. I think there are ten poles to the box.
Get this stuff:
Buy the smoke color. I use it for telephone wires (it will droop no problem), riggin wires on WWI aircraft, and it’s great for sewing on patches to my motorcycle vest. It has a number of other uses as well, detail wires for engine compartments, hydraulic hoses etc or sewing up the tear in your favorite couch.
Thanks for everyones’ input. I went to Walmart this evening and picked up some Triobal Polyester thread which runs about $ 4.50 or so for about 1100 yds. This cost more than the other types of polyester threads since it is solid and doesn’t fray which you need to watch for; since most of the polyester threads fray. Obviously I wanted to stay away from the cotton threads in order to prevent deterioration. Hopefully the polyester does the trick and it’s a heck of lot cheaper than the Rapidos, and I can style my poles to my time period. Again Thanks!