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Miniatures Adventure => Post-Apocalyptic Tales => Topic started by: zizi666 on 26 March 2014, 10:03:31 AM
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So, I got my 20 Lionelville telephone poles last week.
Started cleaning, basing and painting 10 of them and... got stuck on how I should paint the beams and struts.
As a Fallout nut I'd like 'em to resemble the ones in FO3 as close as possible, but those only have 2 metal beams and no struts.
So, time to aks the LAF hivemind :)
This is what it looks like so far :
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd388/zizi666/WP_20140326_002.jpg)
and the real deal :
(http://arsludica.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/fallout3-2008-11-26-16-25-07-00.jpg)
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I doubt the physical difference would be noticed. Paint the metal beams a dark steel colour and the.. Bits on top a dark bronzey colour, paint the wood a nice piney-brown.
c:
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Looks exactly like the telephone pole that is in the alley in the back of my house. The struts are wooden.
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the isolators would be white porcelain or glass. Metal only where necessary, so probably beams wooden or metal, struts metal.
the key is isolation towards the ground
forget the CGI, these are not the real thing
(http://www.dreilicht.de/Telegrafenmast.JPG)
(http://www.trixexpress.info/trix_bilder/trix_zubehoer/trix_telegraphenmasten_20234.jpg)
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I agree with former user there should be some porcelain on the poles. For the FO Look I would weather them deeply and use some rustlanes rinning down the wooden pale from the Metalparts. The best weathered Porcelain in FO is always to find in the bathrooms :-)
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Hah, I think I finally have a use for the KFC corncob sticks I'd been gathering...
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We had this type of pole in my home town, it's def all wood. I've only seen the white porcelain in Russia and some parts of Europe. In the States they look like this, at least anywhere I've ever lived and traveled.
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Here is a better image of a pole itself. Note, the darker porcelain.
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But I must say, your paintjob looks great! I'd personally go with that.
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ok its brown porcelain in the states. Im from europe and here are those isolators white. But except from this different in the look, I would take the white in any Case to give it a bit more contrast from the overall brown in brown
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ok its brown porcelain in the states. Im from europe and here are those isolators white. But except from this different in the look, I would take the white in any Case to give it a bit more contrast from the overall brown in brown
I agree, the white looks much nicer from the tabletop.
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Zizzi, will you glue a fried squirrel "on a stick" up there? Some rodent, or fruit bat? :D
Id vote for all wood (perhaps metal bracing) with white/creme ceramics.
:D
Cheers
Matt
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Zizzi, will you glue a fried squirrel "on a stick" up there? Some rodent, or fruit bat? :D
Id vote for all wood (perhaps metal bracing) with white/creme ceramics.
:D
Cheers
Matt
Hmm, I know there are roadkills available in 28mm, but they wouldn't do the trick because of the flattened part where the tire ran over 'em.
It would be an eyecatcher to put something in the top of at least one pole.
Personaly I was thinking of a cyclist with his bike, blown up there by the blast of a nuke >:D
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In the US all wood is the most common. As to insulator colors, white brown, and red porcelain were common, as were semi transparent glass ones in clear, green, and purple.
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not that it matters, but porcelain is by definition white, unless it is painted, which is pointless in this case, but modern ceramic isolators can have any kind of chemical glaze, as have some ceramic sewage systems too.
but since we are on the postapocalyptic board, insulators on modern looking poles can be of coloured plastic too, but usually ceramic ones are cheaper and more durable
never heard of the purple glass though, sounds cool.
Anyway, it appears it is about how old one wants them to look, I've seen concrete poles from the seventies and sixties too (that's when we had circular dials and chords on the phones, and all the same ringtone ;))
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In the US all wood is the most common. As to insulator colors, white brown, and red porcelain were common, as were semi transparent glass ones in clear, green, and purple.
I can confirm the folowing colors. As a redneck kid who lived near the tracks in the Midwest we picked up and "collected" a large number of these (in our local vernacular they were "insulators") isolators. The oldest ones seemed to be the white and green clear/translucent varieties while the newer ones were brownish and opaque. My brother and I had a crate full of these things. Mind you, we collected ours 25+ years ago.
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A big "Thank you" for your input, guys.
I think I got what I need. struts will be metal and I'll go for white insulators to create a bit more contrast and possibly some rust streaks on the pole.
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maybe a bit of green mould near the bottom?
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maybe a bit of green mould near the bottom?
I've considered using green on the base, but as I'm aiming for an arid wasteland look, I've dismissed the idea.
They already have a reasonable amount of dried grass glued on them.
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how do You prevent them from tipping over?
will You link them with string?
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how do You prevent them from tipping over?
will You link them with string?
They came with plastic bases, but I cut off the washer like part and glued the cilinder part onto a 30mm washer (only slightly bigger but being metal heavier) so that should provide enough stability, as long as they don't get knocked over in the heat of the action.
I'll probably let some strings hang on some of 'em but I reckon linking them would restrict access to the table somewhat and risk a domino effect should one get knocked over or get stuck in a players sleeve...
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They came with plastic bases, but I cut off the washer like part and glued the cilinder part onto a 30mm washer (only slightly bigger but being metal heavier) so that should provide enough stability, as long as they don't get knocked over in the heat of the action.
I'll probably let some strings hang on some of 'em but I reckon linking them would restrict access to the table somewhat and risk a domino effect should one get knocked over or get stuck in a players sleeve...
Sounds like a good plan. I'd def not connect more than say two and then use those in a lowtraffic part of the table. What brand?
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Here is a better image of a pole itself. Note, the darker porcelain.
I was wrong in my first post, they do clearly show all metal struts on this pic.
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They still need a coat of anti-shine and some more dangling power lines, but they're decent enough to show :
group shot :
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd388/zizi666/scenery/IMG_4578.jpg)
top close-up :
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd388/zizi666/scenery/IMG_4580.jpg)
base close-up :
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd388/zizi666/scenery/IMG_4579.jpg)
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they are just perfect.
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Nice! BUT lol The isolators are too bright. Maybe some light brown/sebia ink. Then mattvarnish the whole thing and after drying gloss varnish just only the isolators, then its perfect :-*
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Ooh, those look good. Might I suggest cutting up a length of balsa wood and using that for some broken ones too? I was going to make my own telephone poles, but those look just the thing. Is the company still in business, or did you pick these up from Ebay? I can't find any sets for sale. =(
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Awesome!! Thanks for sharing. Some great inspiration for some of my games now too...
Regards,
Hitman
8)
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I like the rusty bolt heads :)
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Ooh, those look good. Might I suggest cutting up a length of balsa wood and using that for some broken ones too?
Already considered that and moved it way down on my (want) to do list ::)
Is the company still in business, or did you pick these up from Ebay? I can't find any sets for sale. =(
They're from a Lionel kit of which I bought 2 on Ebay : http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Lionel-Telephone-Poles-6-62181-NIB-/390676947891?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item5af62923b3 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Lionel-Telephone-Poles-6-62181-NIB-/390676947891?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item5af62923b3)
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Nice! BUT lol The isolators are too bright. Maybe some light brown/sebia ink.
True.
Then mattvarnish the whole thing and after drying gloss varnish just only the isolators, then its perfect :-*
Well, personaly, I think the gloss would contradict the dirty look. Either they're shiny white or they're dirty, dusty and matt (and save me extra work ;))
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How much spacing are you going to place between the poles? I usually play on a 50x50 board (I think), so I'm trying to work out how many would look suitable. I suppose in a town board there'd be more in use than say by the roadside out in the back o' beyond. What's the material like? I may see about hacking up a few of any I buy.
$9? What really? Those are 28mm? Damn that's cheap.
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How much spacing are you going to place between the poles? I usually play on a 50x50 board (I think), so I'm trying to work out how many would look suitable. I suppose in a town board there'd be more in use than say by the roadside out in the back o' beyond. What's the material like? I may see about hacking up a few of any I buy.
$9? What really? Those are 28mm? Damn that's cheap.
Not sure about the spacing. I probably thought it over before I ordered 20 of those poles ::)
Material rather hard plastic. I glued everything with 2C-expoxy as modelling glue didn't seem do the trick. (so probably no styrene)
They measure 7" so definitly 28mm material.
They do need some cleaning up :
some displacement of the mold halves mainly noticable on some poles and horizontal beams.
imprints of the ejector pins on the beams (I filed those away) and a big one between the 2 sets of bolts on the pole (can be seen in the closeup since I felt these are to deep to cover up)
Also the isolators are flat on the back (front left pole in the group shot)
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Added some dirt to the insulators as wall as more broken lines and gave it all a coat of matt varnish.
The initial power lines were made from 0,4mm brass wire and proved to be a pain in the lower backside to hold their paint.
Only afterwards did I discover that the roll of brown wire standing on my desk (in plain sight no less) was actualy of a thinner type and lend itself better for this purpose with the added bonus that I didn't need to paint it ::)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd388/zizi666/scenery/IMG_4584.jpg)
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Those turned out nice and the brown wire is perfect. Thanks for the link as well!
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Finished another 5 but decided to make 'em stand out a bit more (well, at least 4 of those)
scratchbuilt some transfos and decorated one with a poor chap that had the misfortune to encounter the wrong crowd...
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd388/zizi666/scenery/IMG_4672.jpg)
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Nicely done 8)
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Ha! lol
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Very nice!
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I bought the same set and well, I plan to steal your techniques! Just great stuff here!
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I bought the same set and well, I plan to steal your techniques! Just great stuff here!
It ain't stealing if I'm sharing it :)
Most work crept in the isolators on the tansfos. I made those of stacks of styrene dics alternating between a small and a large one (small = 1,5mm diameter)
There's yet another 5 poles to paint up, but i'm out of (fender) washers abd they didn't carry the type/size I want in the DIY around the corner.
I'm thinking of doing at least one with more transfo's like this :
(http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1566/200806/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1566-428160.jpg)
Dismemeberd body pieces dangling from one would be nice too, or maybe some gore sacks left by mutants...
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Something that I've wanted to do since I played Spec Ops: The Line (go play it!) is make some lamp posts turned hanging posts. ...But I've considered it may bother people a tad, so I haven't really pursued it. Hmn, with the telephone poles perhaps something similar could be achieved. However the actual crucifixes in New Vegas are just cut down telephone poles, so I guess the way that you've already done that's more in keeping with the games. Still, I these are a visually appealing (if you're into uh...corpses) idea.
(http://www.stillatspawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/6.jpg)
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Well, I think that is a great image to create a dark ambiance in a game.
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Well I'll say that anyone looking for great post apocalyptic visuals then Spec Ops: The Line has plenty. I won't post them here in fear of going off topic however (and well not to upset people either. There's the infamous white phosphorous scene). ^^
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Well I'll say that anyone looking for great post apocalyptic visuals then Spec Ops: The Line has plenty. I won't post them here in fear of going off topic however (and well not to upset people either. There's the infamous white phosphorous scene). ^^
Just googled that for a video : that is some serious intense shit.
Gonna pass though : I'm losing way too much painting time already playing World of Tanks, Titanfall and Survarium...
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Survarium's out? Huh, didn't catch that. I mean I can't actually play the game right now as my PC's tanked, but I'd wondered when that'd be released.
Oh, and that whole Spec Ops game's a commentary on other mainstream first person shooters, with the whole semi-post-apocalyptic style thrown in to tie it all together. If you're looking for a game which makes you think (not so much in the actual gameplay, which is deliberately generic at times, but rather thinking about what the hell you're doing-"hey I'm currently shooting up a bunch of US soldiers who're protecting refugees because I think they're bad guys. ...Wait, how the hell did I end up in this situation?"), its damn good.
^^ But I think I may be derailing your thread about telephone poles a tad here.
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I'm losing way too much painting time already playing Titanfall...
Argh!~ It's got me in its grip like some kind of giant mechanical monkey.
But I like it that way. ;D
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Survarium's out? Huh, didn't catch that.
Nah, I bought a faction pack (€10) so I could join in the closed beta.
Cool S.T.A.L.K.E.R. vibe, lots of bugs and only 1 server so rubberbanding against Russian players :-[
^^ But I think I may be derailing your thread about telephone poles a tad here.
No problem there. Always keen to find out what games are worth my time.
Argh!~ It's got me in its grip like some kind of giant mechanical monkey.
But I like it that way. ;D
I know that feeling. I get torn out of my Titan a lot too lol
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Zizi Sry for Highjacking your Thread but it fits so perfect that I had posted it here.
Yesterday I was in a 1€ Store from a Europewide spreaded Company called "T€di" Dont know in which contries exactly they all have their stores, but in Germany and the surounding Contries they are well spreaded imo. They have a Railroad Toyset atm. for 3€ which is a absolutly BigDeal. I´ve made a Photo with the content and a 30mm Fig as Sizereference. My Fallouttable planned in the future is well equiped since yesterday :-)
(http://www.deltadog.de/webpics/GWFW/Railroad_tedi.jpg)
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Zizi Sry for Highjacking your Thread but it fits so perfect that I had posted it here.
Yesterday I was in a 1€ Store from a Europewide spreaded Company called "T€di" Dont know in which contries exactly they all have their stores, but in Germany and the surounding Contries they are well spreaded imo. They have a Railroad Toyset atm. for 3€ which is a absolutly BigDeal. I´ve made a Photo with the content and a 30mm Fig as Sizereference. My Fallouttable planned in the future is well equiped since yesterday :-)
(http://www.deltadog.de/webpics/GWFW/Railroad_tedi.jpg)
Wow, that is a good deal.
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What is the train it came with? I think that's the set I bought and it came with those powerpoles too.
Cheers
Matt
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No Train with that Package only the stuff you can see in the picture.