Along with the dumpsters, I have also have been working on some power poles. These are the "specialty" poles that have transformers, switches, capacitors, or overhead primary to underground primary. Of course, there will be many more standard poles that just carry the wires from point A to point B. And, looks like I am taking the dive and will eventually model the power lines between poles. The poles still need paint and weathering.
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Gary, you are having entirely too much fun. Those poles look great, and you have captured a lot of detail most folks miss. You have a great eye.
It looks like the pole top switches, and some of the fuses are there.
I learned about the pole top switches while working the power plant, but the pole top fuses I found about when one blew on the pole across from our house. When they blow, there is no mistake. It sounded like a stick of TNT. Did some smoking too.
Attention to details really pays. I don't know if I'll get that far but sure is nice to watch you in action.
Charlie
Dang Gary!!!! You're an inspiration! What are you using for transformers?
Ralph
Charlie B, since I am an electrician, this stuff interests me. All the stuff isn't exactly like the real thing, and I did leave some of the wiring off the equipment, but it turned out okay. The fuses are just brass wire bent up, and quite crudely at that, but they should look pretty good once on the layout. All the wiring was taken out of multi-stranded six conductor flat cable or from fire alarm wire.
Ralph, some of the tranformers are from Walther's pole kit, the other ones are just sprue, with brass wire added.
Nice Gary. Looks like the ones that I did.. <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=398&start=105">viewtopic.php?f=17&t=398&start=105</a><!-- l -->
Hey E-Paw, I didn't see those before. I guess it was before I had made my return to Big Blue. Your details are much better than mine, the insulators and all. I just faked most of it with music wire and brass wire. Your transformers look really good too!
I was looking for power poles on the net and ran across another guy who had done some great work on his power poles. I thought, "heck, if he can do that, so can I!" Only thing is, as I get bogged down in the details, the overall progress on the layout is slowing down. I need to get back to work on the backdrop.
Thanks for the link to your power poles.
Thanks Gary, I was very impressed with your utility poles. I spent many hours climbing ones like that in my days working for Bell Atlantic. To make my insulators, I used a thin plastic sprue, chucked in a drill on low speed, and shaped it with a razor saw to it's final contour. To make glass insulators I like to use a dab of glitter glue that you get at craft stores. In my aria/time period green is the most common color.That type of thing along with the type of equipment mounted on the poles can vary from reagan to reagan.
Right down to the drip loops. Wow!
Nice work -- must take a lot of patience!
Thanks guys. But it doesn't take that much patience. They can be built fairly quickly. The hard part is handling the tiny wires.