Copyright 2019 Nicholas Kalis
Ivy Classic Tube Cutter 19050
Project
Scratch building Telephone Poles
By Nicholas Kalis
Most model railroaders can probably
find some use for telephone poles on their layouts. If one has not dived into
scratch building yet, this can be a fine introductory project. Many of the materials
used can be found in your local hardware store though the ivy will likely
require a visit to the Scenic Express web site to order.
The prototype for my Fn3 (1:20.3) models
of wooden telephone poles with light fixtures appear in several photographs of
the Waipahu Engine House in Waipahu, Oahu (Hawaii). Prototype light fixtures
were surely meant to make evening working conditions safer for engine house
employees.
Here are step by step
directions for making your own telephone poles in any scale. Be aware that you
will need to find light fixtures in your scale – this should prove quite easy.
I used products from Loco-Boose Hobbies because of the unusual scale I model in
(at least unusual for an indoor layout).
·
Each wooden dowel
was cut to length with a Microlux table saw (extra length was provided for to
set each pole deep into the pink foam baseboard) but probably any hand saw will
do
·
All dowels were
scraped with a miniature saw to impart grain to each pole.
·
Each dowel was
stained and let to dry (use a stain that suits you or work from prototype
photos)
·
Built cross
pieces of strip bass wood
o
first cutting and
o
then staining and
then
o
attached with hot
glue gun
o
(used X-Acto® X3254 Craft
knife - Black to cut a flat spot for better adhesion)
·
Built two diagonal
supports for each cross piece by cutting strip basswood
o
staining and
o
installed with
hot glue using hot glue gun
·
First I cut off a
piece of Miniatur Ivy
o
then I stretched the
ivy; and
o
then I glued ivy on
to each pole using Elmer’s White
Glue
·
Each Loco-Boose Hobbies light fixture was
shortened by cutting the tube with an IVY
Classic 19050 tube cutter and
o
then bent each
tube section straight and
o
then weathered by
dipping each lamp into Bragdon Enterprises
rust weathering powder
o
then spraying each
lamp with Testor’s Dullcote
o
used paper towel
to wipe off excess powder from lamps
o
allowed to dry
·
I attached weathered
lamps using a hot glue gun and glue sticks.
·
To simulate four
insulators, plastic beads were attached to each of most poles
o
Each plastic bead
was sanded on one end by placing the sandpaper on a flat surface and rubbing
the bead back and forth on said sandpaper
o
I then coated each
bead with Testor’s Dullcote to
remove sheen
o
then let to dry
and
o
then attached to
cross arms with superglue
·
Some green paint
is painted at the base of each dowel to simulate mold growing on the telephone pole
in this somewhat tropical climate of the prototype
·
The last step can
be to attach a model pigeon to the cross arm using a model in the scale you have
chosen. In some cases, the pigeon must first be painted. Painted pigeons are a
short-cut. I used a Preiser 47084 Pigeon.
There you have it scratch
built telephone poles that will not look like anyone else’s.
Commercial Components
1.
Preiser 47084 Pigeon 1:25 scale
2.
Mininatur 936-325 English Ivy O scale
3.
Loco-Boose Hobbies #DBL 10 Depot Lamps
w/o light bulbs G Scale
Materials Used
1. Manufacturer Unknown Dowels,
wooden
2.
Manufacturer
Unknown Strip
bass wood
3.
X-Acto® X3254 Craft knife -
Black
4.
X-Acto® No. 11 blades
5.
Testors 1260 Dullcote Clear Flat Lacquer
Overcoat
6.
Helping Hand Aluminum Oxide Sandpaper
7.
Bragdon Enterprises Weather
System Medium Rust
8.
Custom made stain
9.
Manufacturer
Unknown Beads,
green
10. Manufacturer Unknown WT-260 Glue
gun
11. Manufacturer Unknown Glue
Sticks
12. Manufacturer Unknown Paper towels
13. Elmer’s White Glue
14. Bob Smith
Industries Maxi-Cure (CAA)
15.
Manufacturer
Unknown Miniature saw
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