The Railroad Diorama | Building the Utility Poles: Part 1

[@1Nanerz]

As a maintainer that has climbed and worked on pole line, those are the best looking pole hardware I’ve ever seen. Well done.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You! They need the pair of sneakers hanging from the power line . . . Lol.

[@jamesbraxton6132]

You are definitely a scenic artist. All my years building Broadway sets I know a scenic artist. Great work

[@boomerdiorama]

Yes Sir, I was a scenic artist as well in film and theatre. Very good call. Cheers.

[@randysrockandrollrailroad8207]

Wow! Can't wait to see them painted

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You. I`m looking forward to the paint session as well.

[@ronhill5118]

Wow, power poles really look good.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you.

[@deejayjonez599]

Master builder!!! Let's see them weathered.

[@boomerdiorama]

I`ll have to hang a pair of shoes from one . . . Lol.

[@lilactreehouse]

Wow. I'm impressed. Good stuff.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You. Coming from a successful artist like yourself I accept your compliment well.

[@williambryant5946]

Everything that you build is a model in itself. You are a very talented modeler that's for sure. Awesome work. I hope you continue to do model railroading related modeling when finished with this diorama/layout. I have enjoyed watching you work this masterpiece. Great tips in this video. Thanks for posting. Stay well. -Wil 👍

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You Will! All the best to you and family as well.

[@josephcosta5161]

Your work I've been watching your videos... They are up on top like miks smith and others wow great/Excellent work

[@boomerdiorama]

Wow, thank you!

[@ThomasKlimoski]

Excellent tutorial on how you built the utility poles. Very impressive modeling, you are a true artist. It adds that extra bit of realism to your layout. Thanks for posting.-Tom

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You Thomas. I really appreciate the compliment! Cheers.

[@josephcosta5161]

Wow best poles I've seen yet,,, BOMMER......

[@boomerdiorama]

They turned out better than I first thought. ;-)

[@jimstrainsandstuff9539]

Excellent scratch build. Cant wait to see what you come up with next.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You!

[@zerogscott2976]

These are amazing, thank you for sharing! When you mentioned the birds I had the thought of having a small mini of each specific bird actually modeled on the pole that corresponds to the name, that would be neat!

[@boomerdiorama]

Yes. That is a cool idea.😁

[@mgamga9476]

Amazing. Just found your channel. I am subscribed.

[@boomerdiorama]

Awesome, thank you!

[@normstrains]

Very nice work! I build a lot of my own utility poles in O scale. Your use of styrene tube gave me an idea for routing LED leads for street lights in future builds. I snagged some 7/32” tube today because of your vid!

[@boomerdiorama]

Glad to hear it Norm. "O" Scale was my first passion and I still have a soft spot for it. Cheers.

[@albertofranchi6408]

Great work

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you so much 😀

[@davestrains6816]

That is artwork. great build, thanks for sharing. Dave

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You!

[@trentonlee9700]

I used to hang cable on poles and the ones that had the ladder pegs were very beat up missing pegs or they were bent down or ripping out of the pole. A lot of those poles had a pink x on them cause they were danger poles as we called them. Rotten and ready to fall. I've been on similar pole to the ones you built very nicely done. If you add cable or phone lines it's 40inches down from power.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You for that. I`ll probably beat them up a little in the paint shop ;-)

[@MRR_Shadowolf]

Absolutely amazing!

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You! Cheers.

[@tp6212]

When I clicked on this video, I fully expected to find out which manufacturer produces the kits, and see how you'd 'kitbashed' them.. and find out which Shapeways vendor makes the transformers (or "ballasts"s). Imagine my surprise.. This video made me feel like I could do this.

[@boomerdiorama]

I know you can do it! Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@mr.e1944]

Looks Great!

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You!

[@ronhill5118]

Ambroid Pro-Weld is another good glue for styrene components.

[@boomerdiorama]

Yes it is but hard to acquire in Canada now.

[@ronhill5118]

@@boomerdiorama I have found Micro-Mark Same Stuff operates the same way.

[@gregbeatty5638]

Thank you

[@boomerdiorama]

You're welcome!

[@Vman7757]

Wow fantastic. Can this be done in N scale. I guess if I cut the sizes in half. Made my own angle and I beam? Can't wait to see you paint these.

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You. It sure can be done in "N" scale if you have the eyes for it. Cheers.

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

Do you have a suggestion on how to build a meter pole with a disconnect and weather head? Every signaled crossing has one of those and a relay bungalow. Yet I never see those on models that claim to have every detail covered.

[@boomerdiorama]

Find a good photo on (Google Images) and scratch one.😁

[@Miniboss-Modellbau]

Hello, can you tell me where to get the saw blades that you use in the video. I wish you all the best for the year 2022. Greetings Detlef

[@boomerdiorama]

The saw blades are from "Zona Blades" You can use a Jig Saw blade equally as well.

[@jamesbradford1815]

I am curious how you built the top of the poles with the mitered cut. I am going to undertake this build as they look superb.

[@boomerdiorama]

I just lay the cross member over the pole and mark with a knife (Exacto # 11 blade). Then I "nibble" out a sliver of plastic (from the pole). If I cut through the tube it's O.K. Then I glue in place with solvent. Nothing fancy. Cheers. ~ Boomer.

[@jamesbradford1815]

@@boomerdiorama One final question....sorry. You mentioned the bottom of the transformers are made fro .010 sheet styrene....how did you cut perfect circles given their radius.

[@boomerdiorama]

@@jamesbradford1815 You glue the tube down onto a larger piece of scrap (square, whatever) larger than the tube diameter. After it cures, you just nibble away the extended excess and light sand the outside edge to the outside diameter of the tube and you have a perfect fit every time! You can make loads of copies in no time this way. Cheers. ~ Boomer.

[@koosfockens1707]

Very nicely done, and has inspired me to try and build a few myself. Would like to know what evergreen materials you used for the cross members (beams) , support struts and transformers? I am in the UK so not familiar with the US sizes of these, but I do model US railroads. Thank you!

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You. All the materials are listed down below in the "read more" section and throughout the video tutorial as well. The cross members would be like a 4"X4" or (6"x4") depending on the rule in the real world. Do you have a model railroad ruler by chance? Cheers.

[@koosfockens1707]

@@boomerdiorama thank you, yes I have such a ruler. I had seen the other parts and materials, but was missing a few, but doesn’t seem complete hence my question.

[@boomerdiorama]

@@koosfockens1707 No problem. I`ll try to be more descriptive and thorough. Thanks for pointing that out. Cheers.

[@chrisdraper5067]

Great stuff - you mention beads for the insulators - these are bought as beads from a craft shop - or did you make them?

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank you! Yes. My wife picked them up at a Thrift Store or Michaels Craft shop.

[@conecuhvalleyttrak]

Nice work! Seems you could also use colored glass beads for the insulators - if you add them after painting.

[@normtaylor3240]

Are the cross beams 6x6 inch on the poles?

[@boomerdiorama]

I believe they are between a 4X4 and 6X6 size. Some of them varied like 4X6 as well. Cheers.

[@djscrizzle]

@@boomerdiorama All Western Union spec and Bell System "B" arms are 4 inches high, 3 and a quarter thick and 10 ft long. Usual woods were Douglas Fir, Chestnut, or Southern Yellow Pine. With 10 pin positions, at 8 inches apart, with a 18 inch gap at the middle, climbing space. All arms are treated, many were creosoted, and more now are Pantanal or CCA Treated.

[@Justfor1day]

Boomer..Hi. I am going to try and build some telephone pole models..yours are fantastic..my question after picking up the evergreen SCALE products mentioned in.the video I do not recall seeing any # used for the TRANSFORMER cans and the arm Brace supports that you say are 14' across in real life..for the round tube I looked at #229..230..231..for the square brace supports I found #353..354..355..356..now you made me laugh along with your wife when you RE SHOWED the evergreen products you use but I swear I did not see any Reference # for tube and braces you used on your poles ..my apologies if i missed them...ty..michael

[@boomerdiorama]

Hi Michael. Sorry if I missed that. The material for the wooden pole arms (cross braces) are #365 .080" x .100." This can vary of course depending on personal choice. The "metal" angle braces that hold them up are #291 .060" Angle. The Tubes for the cans are #228 1/4" Tube (.250 Dia.) capped with .010 sheet. I hope that helps. Cheers.

[@Justfor1day]

@@boomerdiorama awesome....TY!

[@boomerdiorama]

@@Justfor1day Thank You as well! Cheers. - Boomer.