Utility Poles that work...

1/5/2019

In this tutorial I'll step you through the exact process I use to build these extremely realistic utility poles!
Utility poles like this are found just about everywhere on the planet however more often than not when I see a great looking scene of a model railroad town it is missing these common details.
Utility poles tend to blend in with the environment and go mostly un-noticed which is why they are often forgotten about when creating our layouts but when you do add these details to the scene you'll be very surprised at just how big a difference it truly makes!

Tutorial Video:

There are a number of 3D printed details included in this build and I understand that a lot of you will not have the ability to 3D print your own details... but that shouldn't stop you from being able to recreate these awesome utility poles, I have included an area on my website with extra information that will show you a company called shapeways where you can upload 3D files and they will print and post the printed objects right to your door.

3D files, Templates and Extra Info

Additionally on that page you'll also find all the 3D printer files as well as specific measurements, templates and materials.

One of the details that makes the biggest difference with these utility poles apart from the 3D printed details are the actual electrical lines. Getting them looking just right can sometimes be a bit of a challenge however as I'll show in the video it's not as difficult as it seems.

If you are enjoying the videos and would like to help support the YouTube channel and this website feel free to check out my Patreon page here:
https://www.patreon.com/join/luketowan?
You can also support me by buying a t-shirt if that's what you'd prefer:
https://teespring.com/stores/boulder-creek-railroad

1 Comment

robin

4/5/2019 05:14:56

Hey Luke, I admire the work and efford you´re giving, but you have to stick to the ol´fashion way, not everybody can get his hands on 3d printers (even though they´re getting cheaper) or a 3d printer shop around the corner, you must know it, you live in the outback, jaja.
Poles can be made out of chopsticks and stripwood and the transformers can be bought at any hobbyshop online.
As I said earlier, I like your work, but keep isimple.

Leave a Reply.

Future plans:

In the upcoming months I'll be working on a new eBook about getting the most from static grass.
It's only a short 30 page eBook but it will be packed full of tips on using a static grass applicator to get the most out of you scenery!
Once complete this book will be available to purchase or if you become a patron it will be available to read depending on your level of support.
In the mean time, if you want to learn how to build your own static grass applicator and make home made static grass tufts you can check out the tutorial here:

Automation Setup

Iron's “Automation” feature allows you to easily change the video background of the “Iron” page layout and the 3 text elements that lay on top of the video background.

Video Background URL

To change the video background on the "Iron" page layout, add the URL of a video to the input box below. You can use the URL of a video hosted on another server, or upload a video to your Weebly site by going to “Theme>Edit HTML/CSS>ASSETS>Videos”, click the gear icon, and then select “Upload File(s)...” to upload a video from your hard drive (e.g., /files/theme/videos/paint.mp4). The video format must end with “.mp4” and make sure to set the Theme Option "Video" to "Custom" to use your own video.

Video Background Text Input

To change the text that appears on top of the video background, add your text to the input boxes below.

Note: You can hide this box under "Theme>Theme Options>Automation [Editor Only]".

Need support? We've got your back!