Pylon King

This thread certainly shows the diverse range of pylons/towers that inhabit this green and pleasant land. The photos show a rather unusual British pylon modelled in 4mm scale . The SF60 M30 quad line carries 400kV (L6 designation)  .Found at several major substations as a “feeder” but also as an underpass tower at L6 junctions , probable designers being either Balfour Beattie or BICC .

 

 

 

If you use Google maps, street view, it would appear that its is still outside the old Hornby Factory.

. The 132kV substation nearby feeds this 33kV line which then runs across several fields before ternimating at Reading Street business park .

Ohh droool.... I love the PL1b... and I have been thinking the same if it could be made from the Hornby model, which in itself appears to a mash of two PL1 towers. I have been pondering about how to make my own PL design towers using the drawings that I acquired online some years ago and I asked a question on how best to make models e.g. etching or 3D printed only to be 'slapped down' by some other members. And so the idea remains on my back burner.

Please show more photos of any other towers you might have modelled. As you might guess I am quite into my pylons too lol.

Cheers Paul

. Regarding the single phase PL1 , adapting the Hornby model would be the easiest option . As three towers are in each box there is room to allow for any experimentation.

In the towns the towers will mainly be the 132kV PL or L4 type towers but if you see smaller ones say half the size ish then these will be 66kV or below voltages and although they aren't rare yet they have tended to be replaced by pole lines or even underground cables. So I take photos when I see them around when possible.

Yes they would have originated mostly from the original Local Area networks and often connected several towns. For example a Stockport Corporation line used to run from near Portwood power station and ran to Macclesfield. To my knowledge the only surviving part of this line is a string of 4 towers in Hazel Grove not far from where I live and now part of the 11kV pole network.

Cheers Paul

Also many of the smaller PL1s and “polons” would be running at 33kV.

Thanks Pylon King, lovely PL1S indeed.

I did a survey of some in the field near Hartford and Stalybridge some years for my project to identify the tower designs as the set of drawings for PL towers is missing the Single circuit tower drawings.

I have done many 'fieldtrips' to different places to bag different designs but my favourites have to be L2s.

Cheers Paul

Favourites - L6s .

On 23/06/2018 at 17:43, pharrc20 said:

Ohh droool.... I love the PL1b... and I have been thinking the same if it could be made from the Hornby model, which in itself appears to a mash of two PL1 towers. I have been pondering about how to make my own PL design towers using the drawings that I acquired online some years ago and I asked a question on how best to make models e.g. etching or 3D printed only to be 'slapped down' by some other members. And so the idea remains on my back burner.

Please show more photos of any other towers you might have modelled. As you might guess I am quite into my pylons too lol.

Cheers Paul

Nice to know there are other pylon appreciators out there .

 

 

Hornby still make the set of 3 pylons first introduced under the Triang banner but I suspect you already know that.

These were part of the Triang Model-Land range released back in 1966.

Very nice models indeed, especially the substations. Presumably professional commissions?

Thank you. L6 tower was constructed from blueprints supplied by the National Grid as my model sample . With the substation this was purchased from the Astolat Model Railway Club stand at their show for only £20 . Completely scratch built it must have taken many weeks to construct , measures 24” by 17”. The other models were also constructed by myself to expand the “grid” collection. All are 4mm/scale.

On 23/06/2018 at 18:46, russ p said:

Are the Hornby pylons scale size or too small?

 

They are scaled to 50’ which is correct for the early 33kV towers. Today the most common and recognised designs are the L2 and L6 towers at around 130ft / 170ft , these would dominate all but the very largest layouts .

This is a subject that has often made me think as they seem to be a feature close to many railway lines /sites, and never seem to feature. But as stated above like many large structures and trees etc a true scale model would most definitely overpower the scene, so maybe scaled down models that look visually correct is the way to go.

As welly has pointed out above, the backscene is probably the best option for including such structures. I have done this on my latest layout and on several of the Scarborough and district railway modellers club layouts,...see nick skeltons great little Scottish TMD themed layout in BRM magazine last summer(just forget which exact issue ).

I will try and get some photos uploaded here when I find them out.

I am considering creating scale 2D CAD templates for the various pylons etc, as construction jigs, for those wishing to scratchbuild.

Also, I may well consider other templates if there is an interest.These would be for more obscure or everyday structures that are seldom ever modelled. I have already created streetlighting template drawings for the old concrete type lamposts which there are many styles. Which, again are a very common sight in real life.

Obviously,a small charge would have to be put in place to cover the usual things. But,as with scale scenes etc once you have the file you can print off as many as you need.

This is just something I'm considering at the moment...maybe some feedback on RMweb would be useful to see what others think.

(Sorry if I've gone a bit OT here)

Cheers, Rich

 

Generally it’s agreed that many of the tower designs can be too imposing (L2 -L6) ,but there are smaller versions which can blend into many scenes. The PL1 dates back nearly eighties years and in many cases is only fifty feet high .

Both the 2D CAD templates and printed back scene options would be interesting , affording modellers either space or scratch building development. Poles or “polons” would be the other route although sadly ready made British outline versions appear to be non existent .

Over the last seventy years these structures have become evermore commonplace on the British landscape, yet seldom modelled on home/exhibition layouts. Photos show the variety and detail that can be achieved in 4mm scale.

That is a quite astonishing piece of modelling Mr. Pylon King, and thanks for reminding me why I model the steam age!

 

Do you have a topic on the forum we can see?

 

All the best, Dave.

. Thank you . Mostly scratch built by myself , 4mm/1:76 collection which focuses on “British grid” models. The substation was found back in January at the Astolat Railway show in Guildford for only £20 , purchased on the spot.

 

Do you have any similar to these ? Although very prolific structures , electrical grid models are largely overlooked .

 

It would be interesting to find out about the views on this forum .

That's superb work PK!

. Thank you.There are so many amazing photos throughout this topic.

Thank you . Yes the pylon is scratch built , L6 400 kV tower.