2
Try Veissmann catenary, I used it for my (now-dismantled) Route's End 2 layout:
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Hope this helps,
Dave
Hope this helps,
Dave
Tramway overhead (catenary)
Can anyone recommend a simple i.e. non-solder tramway overhead. Is Sommerfeldt the only option?
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Sommerfeldt do make tramway over head. Dave has used railway catenary on his layout.
The tram poles are really nice and all you need to do is string a wire between them. There is no leader (?) wire above the singlt strand tram wire. Luna tram track (made by Tillig?) is supposed to be really good.
Personally I have soldered the joints but if you are not going to use it electrically then super glue would do.
Cheers
John
The tram poles are really nice and all you need to do is string a wire between them. There is no leader (?) wire above the singlt strand tram wire. Luna tram track (made by Tillig?) is supposed to be really good.
Personally I have soldered the joints but if you are not going to use it electrically then super glue would do.
Cheers
John
Dave and John: thanks so much for replies - and what an exquisite diorama Dave. I have actually put together an experimental length of Luna-tram track (not an obvious improvement on the old Hartel system methinks and treble the cost) with Sommerfeldt poles plus copper running wire. Not quite the success I hoped for since interconnected wire loops attached to the poles are so obviously crude and the track still has that Hartel jigsaw-puzzle effect!. I'll try super glue on the running wire though.
Rather a shame that Viessmann don't make a simple overhead version of their mainline system.
My good wishes
David
Rather a shame that Viessmann don't make a simple overhead version of their mainline system.
My good wishes
David
Thanks David,
I regret scrapping that layout, but it just lacked appeal at exhibitions. Besides, it got damaged so many times at exhibitions (usually by uncontrollable kids and their equally dumb parents), I got fed up repairing it and it had to go!
Nottingham Express Transit, Midland Metro and Manchester Metrolink all use a lightweight variant of main line OHLE on their out-of-town sections.
Cheers,
Dave
I regret scrapping that layout, but it just lacked appeal at exhibitions. Besides, it got damaged so many times at exhibitions (usually by uncontrollable kids and their equally dumb parents), I got fed up repairing it and it had to go!
Nottingham Express Transit, Midland Metro and Manchester Metrolink all use a lightweight variant of main line OHLE on their out-of-town sections.
Cheers,
Dave
QUOTE (Piermaster @ 22 Jan 2009, 22:55) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Nottingham Express Transit, Midland Metro and Manchester Metrolink all use a lightweight variant of main line OHLE on their out-of-town sections.
Cheers,
Dave
I didn't know that Dave. My exposure to trams is pretty limited and I have only seen them with the single wire.
On day I hope to string the wires from the buildings in my town.
John
Cheers,
Dave
I didn't know that Dave. My exposure to trams is pretty limited and I have only seen them with the single wire.
On day I hope to string the wires from the buildings in my town.
John
Soldering tramway overhead IS simple. Try it - its very easy. So long as your trams are bow collectors or pantographs then all you need is your running wire fixed to your crosswire. Once you have got it strung up from poles or buildings put some flux on the underside of your crosswire and run a soldered iron along it.(if you are using copper wire remember to scratch the coating off it first) Then pull your running wire up to the crosswire and determine roughly where they are going to meet. Then flux and iron the top of the running wire. Then just bring the two wires together, hold your iron to the top of the two touching wires for a second or two and Bob's your uncle, they will be stuck together. The only thing you have to make sure of is that there isnt any solder anywhere on the underside of your running wire (cos the pantograph will snag on it)
I hate soldering and would never attempt even the meanest soldering job on a loco or piece of electrical equipment but I have soldered tramwire on all three of my tram layouts like this with no problem whatsoever. I wouildn't advise superglue as I doubt if it would cope with the tension especially at exhibitions where the heat makes the overhead expand and contract like nobody's business.
Read David Voice's book How to Go Tramway Modelling for a simple no nonsense guide to putting a tramway together.
I hate soldering and would never attempt even the meanest soldering job on a loco or piece of electrical equipment but I have soldered tramwire on all three of my tram layouts like this with no problem whatsoever. I wouildn't advise superglue as I doubt if it would cope with the tension especially at exhibitions where the heat makes the overhead expand and contract like nobody's business.
Read David Voice's book How to Go Tramway Modelling for a simple no nonsense guide to putting a tramway together.
Ingram: that's hugely helpful, thanks very much. There used to be an old Bowser O gauge clip-together single trolley wire system, a pity there's no HO equivalent.
David
David
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