Large Scale Central

Electrical Substation

Modeling
#1

I spent the past few days assembling the 10 Aristocraft power transmission towers that had been sitting forever on the “some day” pile (talk about exciting!). This gave my mind lots of time to wander.

I started to think, “How am I going to get power from the towers down to the good people of Anitaville?”

Why, A substation, of course.

I did some research on substations. Turns out, they come in all different sizes and shapes. Some have a small building (probably used to house the wire wheel that the giant hamster runs on in order to make electricity) and a “cage” structure (I thought “cage” sounded better than “jungle gym”). Others just have the “cage.”

So, while waiting for paint to dry, I started searching around for various pieces and parts that could represent some of the basic features found in an electrical substation. As luck would have it, the guy that originally owned our house was an electrician and left a bunch of electric gizmos (another technical term, sorry).

EXHIBIT A: ELECTRIC GIZMO SAMPLING (plenty more where these came from)

After more hunting, I also came across this item that the Diesel Queen was using to store some cherished, priceless, important items in. Knowing that she probably wouldn’t give it up willingly for the sake of my modeling endeavors… I stole it.

EXHIBIT B: SMALL PLASTIC STORAGE BOX STOLEN FROM THE QUEEN (The beatings will begin)

At this point, PLEASE BE WARNED: This is a freelanced structure. It is not meant to be an exact replica of anything. So, any purists out there might just want to turn your heads in disgust right now. All others… STAY TUNED…

-Kevin.

#2

That box is perfect and the gizmos are oddities that will look right at place on the roof or beside the building.

All you need is a flat roof with gravel on it and a door. Paint it grey and protect the bits from rusting and you will be in business.

Your wife can use any old box but that one needed to be commandeered for the good of the RR.

Keep us posted.

#3

I doubt too many people pay much attention to all the “Gizmos” in a sub station anyway, so whatever’s handy will work just fine…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#4

Those elek trickel gizmoz look just fine, to my eye.

If you paint that box fast, the Queen will never know it was oncet herzn.

#5

Pay attention to the prototype. Anything else is just not right and will earn the wrath of the prototype gods.

I just hope you include the appropriate glonkulator.

#6

Yer gizmos are mostly old tube radio parts. Good stuff for what you have in mind. If yer gonna put wires on the towers, those big insulators on the top center gizmo look like a perfect place for them to land.

#7

I am not sure that the transformers will work, but the selenium rectifiers will work real nice with the fin detail on them. The box, with the ribs molded into it looks like it was begging to be used as a prefab metal building.

#8

Cool I like the plan…I will dig around my garage and bring you some junk(York) that you could use. I know I have some heat sinks and so forth in my junk pile at my garage.

Also here is a quick primer to get the mojo going and get you in the groove …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXW0bx_Ooq4

#9

Wow. An old variable capacitor and selenium rectifiers? Haven’t seen those for 40 years or more! Great use for them. Can you find some of those capacitors in the can with the big ceramic insulators and screw terminals? They’d fit right into a substation.

#10

What scale s this… just kidding. I am always amazed at what people see in stuff. That crate box will will look just like the sort of building one would find at a substation. I second the gravel roof.

#11

David Russell said:

Cool I like the plan…I will dig around my garage and bring you some junk(York) that you could use. I know I have some heat sinks and so forth in my junk pile at my garage.

Also here is a quick primer to get the mojo going and get you in the groove …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXW0bx_Ooq4

We used these in the Navy, to reduce the gas turbine speed to drive the shaft.

#12

Bruce Chandler said:

Pay attention to the prototype. Anything else is just not right and will earn the wrath of the prototype gods.

I just hope you include the appropriate glonkulator.

Thanks Bruce,

I had no idea there is such a word as “gonkulator”, but it is very handy. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

Now in regards to substations, I’ll have at least one of the RhB type. But there will be no “innards” required, they were built for the severe mountain climates in the higher regions.

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And the construction drawing looks like this

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#13

It’s handy because there are so many ways to spell it and maybe no way to misspell it? It was gronkulator in this post back in 2013. Perhaps it’s a regional spelling? (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)

#14

David Russell said:

Cool I like the plan…I will dig around my garage and bring you some junk(York) that you could use. I know I have some heat sinks and so forth in my junk pile at my garage.

AWESOME! Looking forward to it! BTW- Do you happen to have a spare glonkulator as per the prototype?

Also here is a quick primer to get the mojo going and get you in the groove …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXW0bx_Ooq4

Thanks, I needed that. Mojo is now fully engaged.

-Kevin.

#15

Hans-Joerg Mueller said:

Thanks Bruce,

I had no idea there is such a word as “gonkulator”, but it is very handy. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

Now in regards to substations, I’ll have at least one of the RhB type. But there will be no “innards” required, they were built for the severe mountain climates in the higher regions.

HJ- Too bad it doesn’t have any cool “innards” or better yet, “outards” to model- that’s where the fun’s at. In any event, it looks like it would be right at home as a “Rigi Duo” cable car loading station.

-Kevin.

#16

I knew I had seen a gronkulator in use on someones railroad. I believed it was on the famous IPP&W. Bruce confirmed my fears. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)

Of interest has anyone asked Fr. Fred how well the gronkulator worked and did it assist in disposal of the sludge in a suitable manner?

#17

Alan Lott said:

I knew I had seen a gronkulator in use on someones railroad. I believed it was on the famous IPP&W. Bruce confirmed my fears. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)

Of interest has anyone asked Fr. Fred how well the gronkulator worked and did it assist in disposal of the sludge in a suitable manner?

It was working just fine last summer during the Invasion. It was getting lots of loaded tank cars on the siding and the discharge was crystal clear…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

The gronkulator was working as advertised.

#18

dieseldude . said:

…

HJ- Too bad it doesn’t have any cool “innards” or better yet, “outards” to model- that’s where the fun’s at. In any event, it looks like it would be right at home as a “Rigi Duo” cable car loading station.

-Kevin.

The two stations for the aerial tramway are unfinished on the virtual drafting board. They will be more modern, since there was a recent renovation and the '60s spirit took hold.

#19

Perhaps you want to model this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIkNY5xjy5k

#20

Yikes!!! that is cool! I guess that 'splains why those things are outside!

As a teen My brother and his buddy set up a deep space transmitter complete with high voltage arcing…though not as cool as that one!