Here's what the 20pc set looks like...

OOOH! I think I see an "off label" use for these

What diameter are the holes? I have the need to string some electric livestock fencing...

They would likely resemble T

They would likely resemble T posts except for their height, but the wire would not go through the holes but be in standoffs to keep it from grounding. They look like they would be better for high tensile wire in the modern era or barbed wire or similar types in earlier years.

Rob want to build me some insulators?

I know I don't! That's why I thought I'd cheat a bit and use the existing holes. Or Bill you reading this? Maybe T-post with electric insulators that we could string our own electric fencing using magnet wire could be a future product? Make the laser etch a single piece, we'd just paint the post green and the insulator yellow, white or black depending on which color the farmer bought. 

But Rob you are correct. My wife is the equestrian in the family but I've spent more than my fair share of time working on fences.

photo please

Show me a picture of the fencing you are describing please.

They would also make great

They would also make great posts for any type of smooth and barbed wire combinations as is, I am just trying to think of what I would use to model insulators if I was going to do that as a foreground model for folks to oooh and ahhhh over.

I have it, the smallest diameter white plastic rod that can be had at your hobby shop.

 

SOLID STYRENE ROUND ROD Use for bracing, cabling, piping, wiring, conduit or wherever round stock is appropriate. Precision Extruded in White Styrene Plastic. Ideal for all facets of scratch model building.

PLACE YOUR ORDER HERE!
CLICK HERE FOR PRODUCT DETAILS (See below)

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MR-10	1	Pieces per catalog unit	0.40
90850	10	Catalog units per UPC Pack	3.75

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CATALOG PIECE CODE  MR-10   ACTUAL 'H' INCH  .010 CATALOG DESCRIPTION  .010 ROUND STYRENE ROD   ACTUAL 'H' METRIC  0.3mm SCALE  ALL   ACTUAL 'W' INCH  - CATALOG PIECE QTY.  1   ACTUAL 'W' METRIC  - CATALOG PIECE PRICE  .40   ACTUAL 'T' INCH  - UPC PACKAGE CODE  90850   ACTUAL 'T' METRIC  - UPC PACKAGE QTY.  10   ACTUAL 'L' INCH  10" UPC PACKAGE PRICE  3.75   ACTUAL 'L' METRIC  250mm COLOR  WHITE   MATERIAL  STYRENE

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Here is a page from their catalog and at .010 diameter one could likely make do with that. Put it in your chopper and cut them an inch or two in thickness and you have a good stand in for insulators. They will be oversize in HO scale but no one will notice. The effect will likely be something that is stunning.  And no I don't want to build your fence but I did come up with a way you could.

Electric Fence

Rob,

Your's is the best idea I've seen yet. Seed beads, even the smallest I could find still come out to being 3-4" in diameter, much too big for an electric fence insulator.

Bill,

http://deerbuilder.com/DB/features/foodplots/FoodPlotElectricFencing/
 

Follow the link for close up picturess of the various components. 

Although this website seems to be addressing guarding your garden against deer those post and insulators are about as common as you can get in fencing. The same post sans insulators is used with woven/welded wire "grid" fencing as well. In this picture you can see the the wire and also the "tape" that is used.

We have some .008in (.20mm) bead thread in white here that I plan to use as representative of the tape. Just wasn't looking forward to trying to glue it in place every scale 8ft. So when I saw your post with the holes I thought to myself, hey that's not 100% accurate but I bet it'll be a whole lot easier! 

Here is one example Bill.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=electric+fence+for+cattle&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=--f-VNv_EMqWgwTD3oD4Cg&ved=0CGAQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=856#tbm=isch&q=ceramic+fence+insulators&imgdii=_

 

The above should get you to ceramic fence insulators there are lots of them. If any of the links do not get you to pictures Google should take you there.

Hope this helps. I suspect T posts might be an item in the future with and with out insulators.

Perfect sign posts for late

Perfect sign posts for late Pennsy into Conrail-era railroads. Can't wait to order some.

Charles

Neat

I thought they were T posts at first.  Those are a great detail item Bill.

Is there a reason only some posts in the card have the anchor fin?

Anchor fin

I didn't include the fin on all of the posts because if you're going to plant them it's a waste. The ones with fins can be planted or used as a detail on a truck etc. Also I have seen photos of stacks of posts with no fins, so your options are open

I will also be doing another style with holes all the way down and square fins.

And now I'm contemplating the 7' t-posts.

If you're using for a railroad sign

A good standard is 6' of the pole above ground. Typically min 8' from the rail, no more than 20'. Exceptions apply which a Div. Super. can allow. Aren't we all?

Charles

7' T-Post with insulators

This is a 7ft T-Post with insulators:

And the current state of the U-Post Line up...

These are the current iterations of the U-Posts. They need a little more work.

Keep in mind, these are only ~33mm tall.

Super Bill to the rescue

Wow Bill you don't mess about do you!!

I need a thingammy for a wig wam and I need it tommorow!! And I won't pay more than a dollar ...hop to it!!

Material?

The detail on those is really outstanding, especially considering how small they are.

Wondering what they are made of Bill.  Wood? Paper?  And what is the flexibility/resilience like?  i.e. are they firm enough to not bend when planted, and do they have a little "give" to them if they are accidently bumped.  

I'm probably going to have to get myself a few sets of these.

-Kevin

Graeme, you might not need a

Graeme, you might not need a thingammy. Just stand under a spot light for a while. That should keep your wig warm .... 

Randy

Well....

I kinda figured they would be fragile, so I got out a piece of blue styrofoam and tested them!

The material is .015" Laserboard, Resin Impregnated Kraft Paper, and I've got to say,
this material surprises me at every turn!

...

Another really really good idea, Bill... I like it!

Looks Good!

Bill,

If the posts can take a BOING or two, I am sold on their durability.

Maybe Bill can edit in some

Maybe Bill can edit in some boing sounds for the video. They look like a great idea. I might need a few my self.

Randy

@ Everyone

Thank you for your kind comments!

T-Post!

YAY!!!!!! I'll take 36 posts! No really. My wife can use them for her Free-mo module. As soon as you have I guess two frets available to ship I'll buy. You just saved a lot of work involving toothpicks, which incidentally would have produced oversized posts anyway. 

Nice Stuff

So....I wasn't quite able to make out the model or road name on that "cow and calf" picture.  Anyone? 

Congrats Bill on having your rail bars spotlighted on Cody's Office this month.  Between MRH and MR I hope they generate plenty of sales for you.  As great as they are, I'm just not at that detail place on the life layout...yet! Someday...someday. 

Jeff Youst  EL Marion 2nd Sub 1964