Modeling Telephone Poles

Model telephone poles can take a real beating once they’re installed. I can’t count how many layouts I’ve seen with so many broken ones that, frankly, the layouts would have looked better without them. So when making telephone poles I strongly suggest that you make plenty of extras, that way those that have been damaged can be quickly replaced.

Also, when the poles are installed the cross arms should usually be on alternate sides. In other words, on one pole the arms would be on the east side, on the next pole on the west, and so on. A common mistake many modelers make is to have all of the cross arms on the same side or to have them arranged in an haphazard fashion.

Yep! I learn a bit everyday! And so, when the time will come to plant my poles... I will know how.

Thanks for the tip.

Cheers

(unfortunately ... still at the plywood-scape stage)

Also, when the poles are installed the cross arms should usually be on alternate sides. In other words, on one pole the arms would be on the east side, on the next pole on the west, and so on. A common mistake many modelers make is to have all of the cross arms on the same side or to have them arranged in an haphazard fashion.

Scott Dunlap

Scott, in the name of Science I conducted a short survey on the way to my storage unit, a 2 mile drive in all.  On the way I noticed that there was absolutely no rythym or rhyme to which side the cross arms were installed on.  The numbers on the west side were more than the east, but otherwise, there weren't any noticeable patterns - and in many places, especially on new metal poles, there were arms on BOTH sides!

What are the specific colors do you use for insulators? I've been having a heck of a time getting a color that looks right.

Scott,

I've been observing cross arm placement on my way to and from work (sort of like the distracted driving that occurs when using a cell phone, but not as "cite-able".), and Southern California Edison Co. conforms to the practice of alternating sides of the pole for cross-arm placement.  It's not universal, but on long runs in one direction with few or no branches, it is over 90%.

Vetadmiral,

This may give you ideas:  Clover House sell insulators of various colors.  (MRH advertiser:  cloverhouse.com )  Page 13 of their catalog lists oval and round glass beads that are white, black, dark red and dark green; and also brown and dark blue strain reliefs

Bob,

I enjoyed your telephone pole article, had not thought of using the swabs.

My eye, however, was caught by your turntable. Is there a chance of you doing an article about it.

Shay Driver

The turntable is an Atlas plastic TT with wood glued to it. I have one just like it in the train room. I believe there was a write up in Model railroader 15 years ago or more about the Jerome and southwestern where they explained how to modify the TT by covering it with kapler scale lumber to give it a realistic look.

Dan

Thank you, Dan, I thought that it must be an Atlas. 

Thanks, also, for the Jerome and Southwestern info.   

Nelson

I don't really like the look of beads for telephone/telegraph pole insluators. I have been away from the hobby for quite a few years and am recently restarting. I remember some years ago that someone made clear plastic crossarms with molded on clear insulators. You could then stain the insulators green or leave them clear, etc. Is this item still available somewhere?

Thanks,

  Skip

 Does anybody have an email for Bob Grech? What ever happened to his wonderful website full of amazing photo tutorials on building super realistic pine trees, etc? 

-Ben R. 

Bob I sent you an email that might help....... not sure.  I didn't want to post anything in the open no matter how easy it is to get elsewhere.

Steve