I've been hoping that some of the new(ish) Dapol or Peco Catenary, would come up on that well known auction site as 'used' and a bit cheaper, but no such luck. There also doesn't appear to be many recent applications of either system documented on the web. So I bit the bullet and ordered some Dapol masts, they being the cheaper of the two. Not a very good picture, but I'll try and do some more later. My scratchbuilt (sort of) resembling Mk1, Dapol Mk3 with the longer arm which is push off and Dapol Mk3 with the shorter arm which is pull off. (Think I've got that right). Initial thought are the Dapol versions are very springy, much better detail than my efforts, but not as robust. The distance between the contact wire and catenary wire (encumbrance) at the registration point (mast) is different for Mk1 and Mk3. Dapol are probably right for Mk3 and I'm a bit out for Mk1, but I'll have to solder up some new Catenary wires to try out a section of track using the Dapol version. Ed
Interesting project Ed I only have the basic Hornby and Triang catenary but I'm not too bothered with the detail. But will follow with interest. Ian vt
I still reckon yours look pretty good Ed... You must have to be careful though when working near either version?????....they look like they would break easily.??? http://www.clickGormo
All my wires hook on Gormo and all I've done is accidentally knocked them off, so I just hook them back on. The Dapol masts only cost £10 including postage for 10 masts and are held on with a wing nut under the baseboard. It actually suggests in the instructions not gluing the wing nut, to make it easy to replace a mast if it gets broken. Ed
Sounds like you`ve got it worked out Ed... Thinking ahead always pays dividends and you`re prepared for any mishaps. http://www.clickGormo
I've only really bought these as a test. If I don't like 'em, it was only £10 and I can probably sell them on that Internet auction site for more or less what they cost me. Well, any I don't break that is Ed
Yes .... I acquired a couple by accident in with something I bought off the bay. They are quite delicate but I guess they are also reasonably easy to glue back together for round two.???? http://www.clickGormo
I had heard that Dapol are probably not going to venture further with their catenary so may be worth going with Peco ?
Peco are more expensive at £8.50 including postage per mast from the same supplier. Different system as they're made from Nickel Silver and steel, and the wires need to be soldered once fitted. Probably far more robust than the Dapol version, but if anyone wants to donate a couple I'll try 'em out I'll probably stick with my scratch built version, just nice to know what the RTR stuff is like since it's been so long since there's been any. Ed
First attempt as some Catenary made from 1/0.6mm hook up wire, for the Dapol Masts (terrible trouble trying to take some pictures). Bit bent, not quite on the registration arm properly and needs the solder filing down, but not too bad. Far more fiddly than my Mk1 Catenary I made, as the distance between the contact wire and the Catenary wire is about half. For comparison... Struggling a bit with 10mm droppers, think I use my magnifying visor for the next attempt. Ed
