Tip for Lionel Telephone Poles

I did the same thing to mine but also painted the support struts black also. I drilled my pole base with a 1/4" drilled hole and just stuck them in.

The poles on our Christmas layouts(we built two this year, one up for just a day - 120 Sq Ft., the other up for a month at home) have the washers cemented to the bottom of the bases.:

One other tip:  scribe the pole length-wise with a small-toothed hobby saw and then dry-brush:

Jon

Some nice looking layouts. 

Bobby - how much clearance do you have under your track with the MTH trestles?

Smart - a good way to keep them planted, and like you say, a little disguising and you won't even notice.  

Some good tips here!!  Thanks guys...

Alan

I have used both Lionel and K-Line poles on my layout. I added wood grain by scraping along the pole with a razor saw, then painted the pole, braces, and insulators. To mount, I drilled a hole in the bottom of the pole, inserted a piece of copper wire, and then inserted in a small hole drilled in the layout.  The copper wire will bend rather than break if the pole is bumped, and the layout hole is not noticeable if the pole is relocated later.

Well to add to the already clever suggestions, after over 20 plus years of detailed, sceniced, hi-rail style 027 layouts, I opted for the new layout to be a little more retro. I wanted something more simple to maintain, yet having things movable.

So I rough up my telephone poles with sand paper and use dark brown and black wax crayons to give them a little more visual improvement. I too painted the insulators. I masked off the bottom, and primed it grey and then could use acrylic paints to match the base to the painted scenery base of the layout. Then I use this temporary tacky material to secure them in place, which is easly changed if I wish to.

I chose this route as well for my last layout, for it was intended to be temporary. I have used this material in many applications. There are many brands as well as colors available.

Some great ideas here.

Should also work for the newer scale Lionel telephone poles I would guess.

Rod

Great tips,I have one I use white glue, brush it on and then add plastic snow looks pretty cool