[Gordon H]

QUOTE (Johan de Villiers @ 20 Aug 2007, 22:07) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I most certainly agree - to me an electric loco not running under the wires is like a rooster with its tail feathers plucked - bare! Just like a steam loco fascinates with its working gear so does an electric with its operating pantos.

Installing catenary and operating under the wires do present some challenges, but model railroaders are known to meet any challenge or problem and come up with a workable solution.

Proper planning is of the utmost importance. If track is laid properly and the catenary installed and tested before starting to operate the layout in earnest, then the problems caused by catenary should be minimal. As in real life, most of the problems are the result of human error (points not set correctly, not paying attention to the driving of your loco etc).
I have to agree with everything Johan says here. Even better if the loco is drawing its current from the wire too...

 

[Gordon H]

QUOTE (dbclass50 @ 24 Aug 2007, 18:20) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have yet to see an exhibition layout that has OHL equipment in the fiddle yards.
Carstairs (complete), Deepcar (partial), High Gill (complete, but no longer in existence) - to name but three!

QUOTE If NMRA et all insist what you are suggestion then that means only live steam & live diesel for other forms of motive power.
It would be an interesting challenge to the manufacturers if it ever happened!

 

[Gordon H]

QUOTE (PaulRhB @ 2 Sep 2007, 19:37) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne had a huge HO Swiss layout and that did have catenary in the hidden fiddle yards, it wasn't scale in the hidden bits though and was the inspiration for my Swiss HOm where I've used code 75 rail in the tunnel and to lead the pantographs onto the scale stuff on view.
All the layouts I mentioned use (or used) what we might call 'pragmatic wires' in the hidden and storage areas. This is usually a combination of welding wire, rail or whatever else suits the task (and can be soldered). On 'High Gill', upside down code 100 rail was used across non-scenic baseboard joints, with the rail mounted in metal fishplates so that it could be slid into and out of position for transport. Carstairs and Deepcar mostly depend on a slight overlap in their thick fiddle yard wires at the joints.

 

[Gordon H]

QUOTE (Oakydoke @ 3 Sep 2007, 13:22) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>That's only if you want operating OHL rather than cosmetic.
I do. It is also my purpose to persuade others to do the same, but then I always enjoy a challenge!

QUOTE There really isn't a need for actually passing current through the overhead unless it's a personal goal to achieve it. After all we're not filling our toys with diesel or putting real coal in our steamers (Large scale live steam excepted).
It's not a matter of need - it's a matter of doing it properly. To go to all the efforts that some of us do to make the OHLE look right and work correctly, it seems like "spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar" not to take the final step. It really isn't that difficult, especially if you use more rough and ready materials where it doesn't matter so much in fiddle yards and the like.
Of course, some people do use live steam in 4mm scale too - but I doubt whether a working diesel has ever been done in such a small scale. Bob Symes did it years ago in Gauge 1, but you never know - someone might take up the challenge!

QUOTE The unnecessary complication involved in making the OHLE live would put off not only the majority of modellers but almost certainly the RTR manufacturers.
As far as I can remember, all the RTR systems I have known of have had the option to make the wires live. Not interested if it puts some modellers off - they can always take the easy option.

QUOTE Then there are a whole load of issues when it comes to DCC.
No more than doing the same with DC.

QUOTE Keep it simple and it's more likely to happen.
If one of the continental maunfacturers had introduced a BR range to complement their existing European ranges, we probably wouldn't be having this discussion. It would be taken for granted that the wires could be made live if desired.
QUOTE If you want sparks, then Express Models do a sparking module that uses flashing LED's triggered by passing trains (Blue flashes too!). Useful for both OHLE and 3rd rail set-ups.
Still a bit too artificial for my liking. Especially for 3rd rail where the accompanying shower of sparks is missing.

 

[Gordon H]

QUOTE (jim s-w @ 1 Nov 2012, 21:55) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Better to worry about prototype plactice, close to scale, correct stagger, functional tensioning etc as these things effect how your model OLE looks and works
AND have it pick up from the wire as well whilst you're at it having taken all that trouble.

 

[Gordon H]

QUOTE (jim s-w @ 3 Nov 2012, 18:34) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>You tell me
No, it isn't.

QUOTE I would need overhead on this. It would almost double the storage space required, cost more to take to shows (bigger van) and add hours to the set up time.
These are issues that require consideration when the layout is being conceived. Certainly, storage and therefore transport volume is likely to be higher, but the impact on set-up time need not be excessive. Fiddle yard OHLE can be (almost) as crude as you like, and several methods exist to span FY baseboard joints quickly and easily.

QUOTE Real overhead isnt supposed to spark and when it does its a blue/white light not an orange one. Be careful of promoting as a positive something that actually detracts from the realism you are trying to create.
Sparking (of whatever colour) is not a selling point either for me either, I just like to know that the power is being supplied via the proper channel.