GEC's Scratchbuild Summer '09 Challenge

[Green_Elite_Cab]

I will be watching this thread, as my layout as being planned will have about 100 feet of 3-4 track PRR catenary... I will need all the tips I can get from this thread!!

Ahh, I'm jealous! i wish i had the space for that!

I wouldn't copy me though. I have the basic idea going here, and I'm just going for the generic form of the catenary, that is economical for my 4x8, and something that will hold up to being hit. A good thing you can steal from me is that jig built on that 1x4. this if for making the trolley wire, and you're going to want to make it with the auxiliary like the prototype, its much more sturdy. I just set up a bunch of pins around some super thing .020 steel wire spacing them 1/32nd of an inch apart. it looks good enough, you can see the wire hanging in the photo with the E44.

However If you're going to be making a layout based around the Northeast Corridor or any other Pennsy Line, I would invest in some real catenary. there are the kits from Model Memories, or if you want to scratch build, I've found a bunch of good stuff on the catenary, and if you PM me your Email, i can dig out for you a fantastic article on scratch building PRR catenary, and it gets right down to the ladder, intricate braces and supports, and how to make particular jigs and things.

Its by Andy Rubbo, and you'll find that his PRR catenary is the best anywhere.