Make Your Own HO Scale Electric Utility Poles

Make your own HO scale utility poles. Better detail than off-the-shelf plastic poles. And more satisfying.
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#hoshelayout #hoswitchinglayout #holayouttour #houtilitypoles #hophonepoles #hotelephonepoles #scratchbuildhoutilitypoles #paulb #hartfordwhaler #berkshirejunction

[@chrissharp5073]

I am a Brit who models American railroads and found this tutorial extremely helpful. Now all I have to do is make a start and yes I will be using your technique for my power poles.. But I do have to build more than 9!!! Thank you for sharing plus the other useful comments from your subscribers.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Great to hear you found the video useful! The viewers’ comments are always great. A lot of Brit’s are modeling US railroads. Keep me posted on the poles. Would love to see pics when you’ve got them done. Thanks for watching!

[@cbrailroader642]

Good instruction and great looking poles!

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks, I really appreciate that. Thank you for the comment and for watching.

[@robingagnon9659]

very nice poles! much better than the commercial ones :)

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks! My first attempt so I’m sure they could be greatly improved upon but they’ll work for my layout. Thanks for watching.

[@billbarnes8192]

Length of pole can be found on a metal disc about six feet up from the ground. It also gives you the date the pole was made. Dead end poles have two arms, with a bolt running through to provide strength between arms on both sides. Check local power company construction techniques.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Good insights. Thank you!

[@alweinhofer5453]

I use a pencil sharpener to make points on the bottom before inserting and glueing into my foam base.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Good tip! (Pun intended). That makes a lot of sense. The nail works for me with homasote base board, but I like the idea of just sharpening the base. Thank you and thanks for the comment and for watching.

[@keithdenner9441]

Great work!

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks!

[@Death_From_Below]

Those look nice. Because I am doing a earlier era my insulator needs to be blue or green.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Check Michael’s. They may have green beads. If I find any I’ll let you know. Thanks for watching!

[@HartfordWhaler]

Yes they have what you need at Michael’s. Get 11/0 sizes glass beads. They call them Czech Seed Beads. Here’s a link to colors that might work…
www.michaels.com/product/john-bead-aqua-mix-czech-glass-seed-beads-110-10627233?michaelsStore=3730&inv=2

[@EL-nc1cs]

I've been enjoying the progress on your layout, great work and thanks for sharing.
What stain/ wash do you recommend for that older creosote look on some of the poles?
-Alex K.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks Alex. What works for me is flat black testors thinned with testors enamel thinner. Less thinner = darker poles. I paint it on then wipe it off a bit with a paper towel. Making it darker toward the bottom gives it a realistic look since often the creosote is thicker in that area. I often first paint it with thinned brown or rust before the black so there is some brown in the grain. It’s key to rough up the surface with an Xacto razor saw to give it some grain. Hope that helps.

[@brandeevelez8288]

What length are you using for the cross arms?

[@HartfordWhaler]

1.25”. They vary a lot in the real world. Some are very short and some around the size I made. Thanks for watching!