Pylon King

Latest build based on the PL1 D30 tower in Westwood Kent.

Possibly these were installed to use as work stations when repairs/upgrades are required.

Probably a platform to enable work & equipment storage when required.

Another part of the 1:76 scale collection features these Oxford Diecast Power Grid utility vehicles which are used for running and maintaining British power lines and substations. The National Grid Transit van is due for release later this year.

I always start with a flat 2mm thick base , attach the corners , then the top horizontal and any other girders . This is placed over the template and Magic tape applied to keep the structure from moving . Once the front and back are completed the side base sections are added (4mm shorter in width to form the square . The process is then repeated left and right , at various stages it’s worth detaching the model from the template and place over your cutting mat to check and maintain the towers symmetry. Once I’m happy that section is completed then the “X” girders are welded together. Regarding girder sizes - for the PL1 towers each corner comprises of Evergreen 2mm girders with Plastruct 1.2mm girders attached inside to add stability. The majority of the tower girders are again made from Plastruct 1.2mm “L” beams. All the best, Paul.

Approximately 45 feet in height this 33kV terminal/sealing end tower is probably nearly eighty years old.

Your Hornby adaptations show great observation/modelling skills, these could easily be utilised in recreating scale model versions .Using the engineers drawings as templates which are then brought up to scale I’ve found Plastruct/Evergreen Plastics work well . Starting with the front/back facings, girders are cut in groups of four sets for each side . Once completed the left/right sides are built up from the attached front/back facings. It takes time and rather a lot of fine tuning but building them really gives a structural insight to these towers.

Probably the reason behind this choice was for stability as the standard tension towers are rather slim . However the Hornby version does possess latticework based around the tension prototype.

Westwood/Margate power line.

The power line running past the factory appears to have PLI deviation/terminal based towers . The tension pylons are a different 1930’s design , more than likely Hornby decided to release a scaled down wide base interpretation . Indeed there are 33kV lines which are approximately 50 feet in height dating from the same period .

These are early PL1 & PL1S designs (1928) from the original engineers drawings . Photo L to R - Hornby , PL1S & PL1 towers, all are in 1:76 scale.

Thank you Paul (pharrc20) , this information will greatly help in developing future projects.

PL1 in Scotland .

Just set these up to demonstrate both the various standard tower sizes and power ratings. All models in 1:76 scale. . Left to right- L6 BICC 400kV, L3 275kV, PL1 132kV, PL1S 132kV.

Another project completed - the PL1 . Along with the PL1S these were some of the very first CEGB approved grid towers, first appearing back in 1928. B&W photo from the Science and Industry Museum archives.

L3 tower - New telecommunication antennas just built and installed . There are one or two model companies manufacturing these but choice is rather limited.

First launched by Triang back in 1966 under the Model-Land range , it would have been good if they produced different versions with extra detail. The kits are relatively straight forward to adapt and paint for added realism.

Really Useful Boxes - perfect for long term storage/transportation.

These might be useful.

Excellent photo & model !)) These kits are also great to adapt and create alternative versions including deviation and terminal towers.

It’s definitely worth having a go at scratch building using Plastruct/Evergreen Plastics .The latest model is scratch built from the original drawings featured to achieve both accuracy and realism.

I managed to locate these .

Great photos Paul ! Along with your information and several engineers drawings from the museum website I’ve managed to build a 1:76 scale version.