A ingenious, relatively inexpensive and good looking system...common items..doesn't look too difficult. Thought I'd pass it along.
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Brilliant
I have been looking at how to do this for my new MTH Crocodile, the MTH stuff is way too expensive for me
I was really glad it was so well illustrated and detailed as far as instructions are concerned.
That's about the best 'home built' system I have seen. Not perfect scale but I a good real world solution for a system that works and is cost effective. I'd like at least one section under wire.....so THANKS
Pretty detailed instructions.
Very nice system, now I just might really use this, testing it on a diorama I'm making. When I would use this on a layout, it would be unpowered, so that would make power blocks simpler. But how important is it to have the wires spring loaded like that instead of just soldering the wires to the 4-40 screws? I'm sure the springs add to the realistic look, but are they necessary for operation?
Originally Posted by sinclair:
Very nice system, now I just might really use this, testing it on a diorama I'm making. When I would use this on a layout, it would be unpowered, so that would make power blocks simpler. But how important is it to have the wires spring loaded like that instead of just soldering the wires to the 4-40 screws? I'm sure the springs add to the realistic look, but are they necessary for operation?
Springs required???? MAYBE not if you solder all the wires.....but helpful to keep lines tight in all temps.
I guess it all depends on the look you want when it is done.
My era look 'stops' in 1960 so I wanted a vintage look, not a modern one.
Here is how I built mine......from scratch!
http://www.jcstudiosinc.com/O-Gauge-Catenary
Hugh
I really like the look of the spans. What was the cost ( averaged ) of each span? Personally of course, cost would be a consideration of any installation, pre-built or otherwise as in the case of the MTH product.
Bruce
Originally Posted by electroliner:
Hugh
I really like the look of the spans. What was the cost ( averaged ) of each span? Personally of course, cost would be a consideration of any installation, pre-built or otherwise as in the case of the MTH product.
Bruce
Bruce,
Doing this job as you saw when you went through the link was a love of labor. Parts were relatively cheap, I am guessing about all averaged out to about $7 a pole. I bought many used ones for a few bucks a piece as old scratched up pre-war tinplate pieces at train shows. To speed things along, I bought MTH #71, 10-1093 sets which added to about $7 each brand new.
I just did not like the bulky look of the ready made stuff. Visitors to the layout always comment positively at the look and performance of the catenary.
You can buy my catenary for $360,000 right here in Venice Florida. Comes with the whole house, pool, a short run to the beach, all the trains (about 50 sets of trains) and the DCS - TMCC layout.
Cheers
looks very nice, so the springs are helping but are to duplicate the insulators as well?
Very nice, Thanks.
The springs also keep an even tension on both ends of the wire during temperature changes and as the wire stretches over time.
yes so serving a working purpose as well as for looks, great stuff
Great info!! Thanks for sharing.
Alan of "Leaving Tracks Alan" came up with a really nice way to use cheap Pittman poles and Marklin wire for a catenary system that doesn't need any springs.
However, now that I obtained a Resistance Soldering machine from eBay making my own poles and cross-bucks should be even easier.
