Suggestions please to simulate wires for transformers and other equipment

I've used sewing thread for overhead wires and deep sea fishing string which is like miniature steel cable for high tension lines.

I like Dave have used brown sewing thread. I have also used some fine copper colored wire I bought at Hobby Lobby. I colored some of this green to show oxidation. I used this wire at sub stations that I constructed.I ran them from transformers to insulators that were mounted on the structural steel.

I used a silver gray sewing thread.

For large conductors, try solder.

Try EZ Line from Berkshire Junction and others (Amazon, Fleabay, etc) Google it. Very realistic and easy to work with.

I second modeltrainparts suggestion of using EZ Line.  It looks realistic, is easy to use, and has an abundance of give/flexibility ... so when the line is accidentally bumped by hand or other object EZ Line flexes, not pulling telephone poles down.  

I used to use sewing thread, however, occasionally  a visitor would point at something on the layout their hand would hit the sewing thread which was taught between the poles.  Because of the tension on the thread several telephone poles would go down and that was alway a mess.  EZLine solved this problem AND it looks much better than sewing thread IMHO.  

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. They are much appreciated!

Donald

Trumptrain hit the nail on the head !   Try it.     Jp

You can improve the look of sewing thread for this kind of application by drawing it across a wax product, like a candle, and then pulling it between your fingers to "rub" the wax into the thread.

@Richie C. posted:

You can improve the look of sewing thread for this kind of application by drawing it across a wax product, like a candle, and then pulling it between your fingers to "rub" the wax into the thread.

Thanks for the tip Richie. I still have a square of bees wax I used to use when I tied flies for fishing. Depending on the pattern, I would pull the thread thru the wax.

My bother details naval ships and started with thread, but moved to EZ Line like stuff instead because it was so much better for looks and durability.  EZ Line is what I'll be using to string all my lines once I figure out where all my power towers and poles are going.

There is wire and there is cable. Wire is bare...all transmission wire (the conductor you see on what you call high tension poles/towers ) is aluminum. It is accordingly a silver color. Only in applications where the transmission or distribution wire is next to the shore and up to 2 blocks from the sea shore is this conductor copper. That's because copper resists oxidation from sea air/spray. Even a bare aluminum wire 30ft above the Pa. Turnpike at the Somerset tunnel oxidized so badly it had to be replaced with copper. Shows you how traffic creates clouds of salt spray. Your transmission wire feeds into the substations and the connections to the arrestors and various electrical apparatus ( the 3PH xfrmrs and various switchgear) is via BARE SOLID COPPER WIRE . The distribution wires that feed out of the substations into your neighborhoods are normally cable (insulated covered wire). Remember when you model wood poles through your area you normally see 3 wires (the conductors) and 1 bare wire (the static or ground wire).That is 3PH power. Your city street may have just 1 cable, that is 1PH.But you still have a static/ground up on the poles.  The wood poles you see are WOOD UTILITY POLES not telephone poles. The connections from the distribution lines via the cutouts that drop down to your 1PH pole mounted xfrmr are again solid bare copper. The electric wires are normally 40/45 up in the air per US Elect. code.All your other conductors, tele. tv coax and wi fi are always below.  Also wire and cable are supplied from the mfgs. to the utilities on REELS not spools. Spools are for thread.

Regarding utility line power transformers, @John Sethian has an excellent thread that I just saw earlier today which has among other scenery tips, a excellent looking Electrical Substation.  It appears to be scratch built.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...red-fences-and-trees

   Good question 3rail

   We had a wild cat that adopted us and moved into our house and more specifically liked to sleep on my layout to escape the dogs.

   I've always wanted to string some wire on my utility poles but with the cat roaming the layout this was not possible.

   She lived a good long life but sadly expired.

   I'm now able to let the linemen get to work on stringing some wires.