Who has catenary strung above their layouts? Currently, I am working on stringing up the catenary, and I'd like to see how other people do it.
My poles are made out of popsicle sticks (readily available, will replace with plastruct poles later). I then strung a piece of wire across to both poles 3" above the railhead. I put insulators on the wire (tiny black beads I got at a craft store). I bent some wire into a V-shape for the steady rods and I soldered one side of the V to the steady span. I also put some suspension insulators and supporting wires up.
I made my actual wire on a piece of plywood with several nails on it to provide tension as well as keep the wire straight. I soldered my auxilary and trolley wire together while on this jig. I then slid the wire into the steady rods and soldered the other sides. After that, I soldered a messenger wire right under the suspension insulators, and made hangers that clipped under the auxilary wire like a hook and soldered them to both the messenger and auxilary wires.
My first section of wire is done. I will take pictures once I pick my new camera (later today).
I was wondering how you other people did it. If you have pictures of your layout, post them or at least link to them.
My poles are made out of popsicle sticks (readily available, will replace with plastruct poles later). I then strung a piece of wire across to both poles 3" above the railhead. I put insulators on the wire (tiny black beads I got at a craft store). I bent some wire into a V-shape for the steady rods and I soldered one side of the V to the steady span. I also put some suspension insulators and supporting wires up.
I made my actual wire on a piece of plywood with several nails on it to provide tension as well as keep the wire straight. I soldered my auxilary and trolley wire together while on this jig. I then slid the wire into the steady rods and soldered the other sides. After that, I soldered a messenger wire right under the suspension insulators, and made hangers that clipped under the auxilary wire like a hook and soldered them to both the messenger and auxilary wires.
My first section of wire is done. I will take pictures once I pick my new camera (later today).
I was wondering how you other people did it. If you have pictures of your layout, post them or at least link to them.
