Subject:
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Re: Catenary and/or Trolley wire
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Tue, 12 Oct 2010 23:22:49 GMT
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Viewed:
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20125 times
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In lugnet.trains, Rick Clark wrote:
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In lugnet.trains, Larry Pieniazek wrote:
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Have folks done trolley wire or catenary? I’ve seem some folks that did some
using the Maerklin parts but I’m not looking for functional, just something
that looks good. I think I have a fairly good design for the poles. trying
to decide if tying knots in string is the way to go to get catenary or
whether to build it out of something like tubing and minifig hands. Which
would be sturdy and less taxing on the eyes (to build it) than string but
would look rather overscale.
If folks have pointers to pics that would be great. I’ve tried some searches
but came up cold.
Thanks
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Hi Larry! Long time no see!
If you’re not committed to being LEGO-pure with the wires, there’s a great
model railroad solution. I saw it demonstrated at a train show several years
back and logged it into my memory in case I (or you) ever decided to do
telephone/catenary wire.
It’s a spool of rubber, polymer, string-type material called “EZ Line.” $9
for 100 feet. Check their web site and the video demo here:
http://www.berkshirejunction.com/scenery.htm
and an additional pic here:
http://www.berkshirejunction.com/images/EZ-Street-sm.JPG
The huge advantage of it is that it is so incredibly elastic that it is
nearly tear-proof, sag-proof, and highly tangle-resistant. It stays taut with
hardly any tension on the support poles, which, with LEGO, is a big
consideration.
The stuff comes in several colors, but the woman demo-ing it at the train
show noted that many people buy the charcoal, thinking it will look
prototypical, but it turns out that it is mostly invisible, and that the
natural white looks much better (see the photos on the site).
Okay, I’m ending my infomercial now. I guess you can tell I was impressed by
the product. Good luck with the endeavor.
Rick C.
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Hi Rick!
Right now I’m looking for an all LEGO solution. I already have loads of black
string which looks exactly like LEGO string. What I’m struggling with is how to
do the attachment to each of the poles in a way that doesn’t impinge on a
trolley or pantograph that contacts it.
In real life there are usually two wires, the catenary, and the power wire, with
hangers every so often from the catenary to the power wire (usually welded). But
many modelers use only one wire for simplicity. With one wire I can’t think of a
way (that doesn’t involve glue) which doesn’t have a piece below the plane of
the wire.
But I agree that the springy “wire” you shared would be a good choice to replace
the string I was going to use...
For the first show I do this for, I think I am going to go with just the poles
and leave the wire out, but eventually I would like (simulated) wire if I can
suss out how to do it.
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Message has 1 Reply:
Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Catenary and/or Trolley wire
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| (...) Hi Larry! Long time no see! If you’re not committed to being LEGO-pure with the wires, there’s a great model railroad solution. I saw it demonstrated at a train show several years back and logged it into my memory in case I (or you) ever (...) (14 years ago, 12-Oct-10, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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