Low-tech intermission

[Hauk]

Waiting for the next batch of parts from PAP, I have done a little old fashined schratchbuilding.
Since I model a railroad with electric engines, I need poles for my overhead wire.

The full-size ones look like this:


As I  need a bunch of poles, I wanted to build one with as little fuzz as possible, and solid enough to be usesd on a layout.
As it happened, I did not use any "model" parts, just different sizes of metal wire, strips and a length of wooden dowel. the most fancy tool was my tiny Proxxon lathe, but since I used just freehand machining wth files, you could use a electric drill instead.

It was sfun to do things rather simple for once, and I am quite happy with my first overhead pole:





All for now, Hawks.

[artizen]

What will you use for the catenary lines? A couple of modellers over here are now using EZ Line for the wiring so that accidents are reduced during operation.

[Malachi Constant]

Beautiful work on those fittings!

Cheers,
Dallas

[Ray Dunakin]

Very nice. Will you be drawing power from the overheads, or will they be for appearance only?

[Hauk]

Very nice. Will you be drawing power from the overheads, or will they be for appearance only?

I will use  them for appearance only, but I think I will feed power to the overhead wire just to get sparks. So the ovehead wire will be metal of some sort.

-H

[finescalerr]

I like your poles better than the originals. -- Russ

[DaKra]

A single pole on a display base is aethetically pleaseing, but a technical problem, if you're planning to string a wire on it!    

Seriously, I've considered this and figure I'd make a Plexi display case, dril small holes on either side, and run the wires to the holes.  Haven't tried it yet so don't know how it will look.  Might look cool, might look stupid.   

Dave

[marc_reusser]

Sweet little project and nice brass work. I like the simple elagance of the one pole on the display base.

A bit concerned that the texture on the pole might still be a bit "nubby" or with small fuzz bits in the grain...but I look forward to seeing it all stained and finished.



Marc

[Hauk]

Thanks for all the nice comments! I agree that the pole is not very carefully weathered. Its just a 5mm wood dovel roughened up with some ver coarse sandpaper and given 2 coats of silwerwood.

I am actually wondering if I should blast the whole pole assembly with my new air eraser. Two birds with one stone, preparing the metal for the blackening chemicals and aging the wood.

I also took a picture of pole and engine to getter, it is interesting to broaden the canvas so to speak, I have had a nasty tendency to focus on very small features in the overall picture. But personally I fee that the elements are adding up nicely.



By the way, would you be awfully surprised that one of my main reasons for converting from US Colorado H0n3 to ugly 0-scale boxcabs was the work of the late Bob Hegge? It suddenly struck me how much I owe the Croocked Mountain Lines for inspiration.

[Ray Dunakin]

That pole looks even better seeing it in context with the boxcab.

[Philip Smith]

Wonderful work Hauk!

Philip

[RoughboyModelworks]

Very nice Hauk... Came across this thread http://www.buntbahn.de/modellbau/viewtopic.php?t=4976 over on the Buntbahn forum from a chap building an electric loco. His pantographs are nicely done too. You may already have seen this, but if not, check it out.

Paul

[Hauk]

Very nice Hauk... Came across this thread http://www.buntbahn.de/modellbau/viewtopic.php?t=4976 over on the Buntbahn forum from a chap building an electric loco. His pantographs are nicely done too. You may already have seen this, but if not, check it out.

Paul

I have seen the start of that thread, but not looked at it for a very long time, so I have missed the pantograph part. Thanks for the reminder!

-Haavard

[Junior]

Håvard..........another jewel! You might want to ad a "roof" (see your prototype picture) the rusty little cap that will prevent your pole from rotting, so typical here in Scandinavia. Looking forward to see the final weathering!

Anders

[Ken Hamilton]

You call that "SIMPLE"? 

Great job, Hauk.