UPDATE - "How To" series: Homemade (HO) Light poles (Rev. 1.1)

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Started by tstage at 06-05-2006 11:54 AM. Topic has 38 replies.

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06-05-2006, 11:54 AM

tstage

Joined on 06-11-2003
Northeast OH
Posts 7,651

UPDATE - "How To" series: Homemade (HO) Light poles (Rev. 1.1)

	I was able to finally put together a step-by-step instruction sheet for fabricating the scratch-built light poles that I posted on this past Weekend Photo Fun thread. The top pic is a visual reference sheet; the second, the written step-by-step process: Click diagram to enlarge Click tutorial to enlarge Link for updated information: http://home.earthlink.net/~tgstage/id3.html Cost: Materials for the above dual light post: ~$3.25; a single light post: ~$1.80. Materials: 4-1/2" long piece of brass tubing (2) Miniatronics 1.5V incandescent bulb (with 8" leads) (2) Miniatronics brass HO lampshades 3/64", 1/16", and 1/8" OD heat shrink 22 ga. stranded wire Hoping this is helpful for someone. Tom Tom's New York Central HO Layout Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
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06-05-2006, 11:57 AM

jeffrey-wimberly

Joined on 06-21-2004
Leesville, Louisiana
Posts 8,949

RE: Homemade Light poles

	Well, now we're going to have home-made light poles popping up all over the place. Good post Tom. Jeffrey Wimberly, Leesville, La. The Spray Can Rembrandt HO railroad modeler, west central La Space Mouse for president! Running Bear for vice-president!
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06-05-2006, 12:00 PM

GAPPLEG

Joined on 01-07-2002
ERIE PA.
Posts 1,633

RE: Homemade Light poles

	Have you made any [?] Got pictures of one installed on the layout, sounds feasable to try it for some areas where I need light. Jerry SP FOREVER http://mypeoplepc.com/members/gapplegate/jerryslayout http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/ http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/2nd%20life/
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06-05-2006, 12:01 PM

SilverSpike

Joined on 08-11-2002
Wake Forest, NC
Posts 2,625

RE: Homemade Light poles

	Tom, Thanks for the instruction sheet. I just copied the images and then pasted them into a Word document then adjusted the orientation to fit the page. Was the diagram made from Visio? Ryan Boudreaux The Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era 31,000 hits and counting Cajun Chef Ryan RYMO Creative Services
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06-05-2006, 12:15 PM

tstage

Joined on 06-11-2003
Northeast OH
Posts 7,651

RE: RE: Homemade Light poles

QUOTE: Originally posted by GAPPLEG

Have you made any [?] Got pictures of one installed on the layout, sounds feasable to try it for some areas where I need light.

Gerald,

How's this:

Tom

Tom's New York Central HO Layout

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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06-05-2006, 12:22 PM

tstage

Joined on 06-11-2003
Northeast OH
Posts 7,651

RE: RE: Homemade Light poles

QUOTE: Originally posted by SilverSpike

Tom,

Thanks for the instruction sheet. I just copied the images and then pasted them into a Word document then adjusted the orientation to fit the page.

Was the diagram made from Visio?

Ryan,

Probably water under the bridge but I redisplayed the pictures in the post and provided a link for easier viewing. I actually drew the diagram in Word. Took a while but it works. Trust it will come in handy for you.

Tom

P.S. Ryan, if you want the actual Word file, just e-mail me and I'll be glad to send it to you. That goes for anyone else. [:)]

Tom's New York Central HO Layout

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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06-05-2006, 12:31 PM

GAPPLEG

Joined on 01-07-2002
ERIE PA.
Posts 1,633

RE: Homemade Light poles

	Great tstage, looks good, I'll have to try that, it looks good for the old back streets areas where money is an object and they just throw a light up. perfect. tks. What's great for me is I have a bag of 50 bulbs laying around, unemployed, brass tubing everywhere equally unused right now. just need those shades, dang and I just order a bunch of detail parts from Walthers. Jerry SP FOREVER http://mypeoplepc.com/members/gapplegate/jerryslayout http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/ http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/2nd%20life/
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06-05-2006, 1:15 PM

scubaterry

Joined on 12-18-2004
Gainesville area
Posts 1,336

RE: Homemade Light poles

	You do such neat work Tom. Your lights look great. I have four poles done now using LEDs and have decided I might just make another diorama just to see how much light they actually put out. I used your idea and did a dual light pole. I'm thinking with 3mm LED light poles all over my little people are going to need sunglasses on the grave yard shift.[:D] Terry[8D]
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06-05-2006, 1:23 PM

Milwhiawatha

Joined on 08-08-2002
Somewhere here and there
Posts 1,034

RE: Homemade Light poles

	Kalmbach had a book out Realistic Lighting and Animation. And in this book they have a single version of this light with details how to build them. But I do like the dual lights better means less bass poles. i did build a few of the ones in the Kalmbach book with standard grain of whear/ or rice cant remember and they light up a lot. One question tho, are these HO scale? Owner & Operator of Midwest & Northern RR and Midwest Intermodal (freelanced HO)
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06-05-2006, 1:31 PM

tstage

Joined on 06-11-2003
Northeast OH
Posts 7,651

RE: Homemade Exterior Light poles

	Martin, Thanks for the reminder. Even though it's eluded to within the document when referring to the size of brass lampshades to use, I neglected to clearly mention that in the subject line and have now remedied that. Yes, they are HO scale. Thanks again, Martin. [:)] Tom Tom's New York Central HO Layout Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
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06-05-2006, 2:39 PM

simon1966

Joined on 07-07-2003
Metro East St. Louis
Posts 3,819

RE: Homemade (HO) Light poles

	Very Nice Tom! A good document to add to my "projects to try" file. Thanks for going to the trouble of putting it together. Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains
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06-05-2006, 2:47 PM

SilverSpike

Joined on 08-11-2002
Wake Forest, NC
Posts 2,625

RE: RE: RE: Homemade Light poles

QUOTE: Originally posted by tstage

QUOTE: Originally posted by SilverSpike

Tom,

Thanks for the instruction sheet. I just copied the images and then pasted them into a Word document then adjusted the orientation to fit the page.

Was the diagram made from Visio?

Ryan,

Probably water under the bridge but I redisplayed the pictures in the post and provided a link for easier viewing. I actually drew the diagram in Word. Took a while but it works. Trust it will come in handy for you.

Tom

P.S. Ryan, if you want the actual Word file, just e-mail me and I'll be glad to send it to you. That goes for anyone else. [:)]

Tom,

Looks great! Wow! Graphic design in Word, I'm even more impressed that you did all that in Word! I have copied it all already, thanks!

Ryan Boudreaux
The Piedmont Division
Modeling The Southern Railway & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era
31,000 hits and counting

Cajun Chef Ryan
RYMO Creative Services

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06-06-2006, 2:42 AM

bush9245

Joined on 04-02-2006
Jakarta
Posts 351

RE: Homemade (HO) Light poles

	Tom, Those night time photos a few posts up are really cool. Thanks for your effort in posting the instructions. I have taken a copy. Cheers, John
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06-06-2006, 10:29 AM

Milwhiawatha

Joined on 08-08-2002
Somewhere here and there
Posts 1,034

RE: Homemade (HO) Light poles

	Tom, your welcome I try to remember these things. I personally like yours better than what is shown in the Kalmbach book. wish I didnt have the 10 single light posts. But who says I cant add the two lights and mix it up a little right? again great job on those lights. Owner & Operator of Midwest & Northern RR and Midwest Intermodal (freelanced HO)
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06-09-2006, 9:25 AM

GAPPLEG

Joined on 01-07-2002
ERIE PA.
Posts 1,633

RE: "How To" series: Homemade (HO) Light poles

	Well, you hooked me Tom , placed an order for those lampshades, ten or twenty poles here I come. Tks , for the idea. Jerry SP FOREVER http://mypeoplepc.com/members/gapplegate/jerryslayout http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/ http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/2nd%20life/
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06-09-2006, 11:22 AM

Brunton

Joined on 02-08-2001
New Jersey, a founding member of the USSA
Posts 1,736

RE: "How To" series: Homemade (HO) Light poles

	OUTSTANDING, Tom! I'll be able to use these all over the place, in one and two-light versions. This one's bookmarked! Mark B. Early morning passengers in Laurel MT awaiting the daily train to Frannie. Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.com Blog: http://thecbandqinwyoming.blogspot.com I told Orville, I told Wilbur, and now I'm telling you - that thing'll never fly!
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06-09-2006, 11:52 AM

SpaceMouse

Joined on 12-27-2004
Indiana, PA
Posts 9,662

RE: "How To" series: Homemade (HO) Light poles

	Thanks for taking the time to write that up. Think of the knowledge base we'd have if everyone photographed their projects and posted explanations. Chip Rock Ridge and Train City Indiana Branch PRR 1950 Space Mouse's Beginner's Guide to Layout Design
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06-09-2006, 1:26 PM

GAPPLEG

Joined on 01-07-2002
ERIE PA.
Posts 1,633

RE: RE: "How To" series: Homemade (HO) Light poles

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

Thanks for taking the time to write that up. Think of the knowledge base we'd have if everyone photographed their projects and posted explanations.

I's too bad the forum doesn't have a sticky place to put worthy project info like that.

Jerry
SP FOREVER

http://mypeoplepc.com/members/gapplegate/jerryslayout
http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/
http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/2nd%20life/

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06-09-2006, 1:41 PM

scubaterry

Joined on 12-18-2004
Gainesville area
Posts 1,336

RE: "How To" series: Homemade (HO) Light poles

	There is a thread buried somewhere of a collection of useful threads. I can find it but I don't know how to attach this thread to it or what to copy? Terry[8D]
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06-09-2006, 2:22 PM

NZRMac

Joined on 09-02-2004
Christchurch New Zealand
Posts 1,620

RE: RE: "How To" series: Homemade (HO) Light poles

QUOTE: Originally posted by scubaterry

There is a thread buried somewhere of a collection of useful threads. I can find it but I don't know how to attach this thread to it or what to copy?
Terry[8D]

Right click on the address bar at the top and then left click copy. Then just paste into the useful threads reply.

Nice poles Tom, I need 20 thanks the cheques in the mail!!

Ken.

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