Does any one know how to make inexpensive HO scale telephone poles?
[:)]
In HO, wooden skewers might be pretty close to the right diameter. You can get them at the grocery store, or maybe even at a craft store. Just get some strip wood at the hobby store and glue on some cross arms. Some small beads could be used for insulators.
stores like Hobby Lobby have everything you needs, dowl rod, strip wood, wood glue, and paint
RIX Products used to make both the poles and crossarms, though they might not be available any longer. I bought a package of poles and crossarms, assembled them, and they look great. You might have to ask around at hobby shops and train shows to find them, but I think you would be pleased with the results if you found them.
Mark C.
Hi dowels work fine but depending on howmany you need the Atlas ones are really well done and failly inexpensive.Take a look once you buy the wood the dowels and whatever you will use for the insulators you’ll probley have spent just as much as if you had purchased a couple boxes of the atlas poles.With weathering and some scribing down the lenghth of their poles with an exacto they don’t look half bad. Rob
The Rix products are still made and are all in stock at Walthers. They offer several options including bare poles to which one glues cross-arms, and several styles of pole with the cross arm. When checking the on-line Walthers catalog, I noticed that the Rix product is now molded in brown plastic, originally it was molded in white and needed to be painted. I personally think the Atlas ones are just as nice, and the cost per pole is almost identical, so I would say decide on 2- 3- pr 4-cross-arm and buy accordingly (Atlas is 3, Rix is 2 or 4). I would never spend my valuable hobby time assembling poles from scratch when the manufactured alternative is so inexpensive.
Yes. With or without lights. The wires on mine do carry current for the lights. I used 1/8 inch dowel rod for the pole, wire for the cross arm brace & lamp arm, straight pins & plastic beads for insulators and strip wood for the cross arm(s). The brass lampshades are from Campbell. Cost without lamps is about $.25. About $3 with lamps.
i was wondering what gauge wire did you use. they look great by the way
If not useing real wire what do you suggest?
Jaymineco
I hate to say it, but maybe it’s time for a telephone POLL?
Sorry, I couldn’t resist … [D)]
jfugate
Remarks like that is what drives us newbies away! The only DUMB question is one not asked.
Jay
He wasn’t saying your question, or any question in the thread, was dumb. It was just a joke in light of all the craziness we’ve had here on the forum with polls over the last two days.
You know, an attempt at some humor - Poll / Telephone Pole. Sometimes it just doesn’t come across well in electronic form.
The dunce cap smilie after his post indicates that he feels foolish but he couldn’t resist making the joke.
Regards
Ed
I tried the Walthers Electric Utility Poles and I really like them alot! Various sizes of cross-beams, transformers, etc.
http://walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3101
Dark gray upholstery thread. It’s thicker than regular thread. To get rid of the fuzz, run it through bee’s wax (available at the fabric store)
I use 26ga bare wire for the power wire. I should note that I only run 6 bulbs per circuit. I want to keep each circuit under 1/2 amp draw so that the wires don’t get warm. I also protect the circuit with a 1/2 amp fuse should there be a short.
These will be used at the ash handling plant on my layout.
Thanks for the compliment.
egmurphy
My error, maybe I have playing to long. Should get some sleep before running with the Big Dogs! Will try to be less touchy.
Jaymineco.
Jaymineco,
You might also consider EZLine, the Spandex thread sold by Berkshire Junction:
http://www.berkshirejunction.com/
It is available in several colors, including one that is close to the verdigris hue of old copper.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
Rix is on the inernet www.rixproducts.com you can order directly