Sadly Bruce passed away last year, he is greatly missed by us modellers in Ontario.

Here is his last email to me concerning his way of making the pole pick up is here

Hi Chris
Wheel is turned from brass rod in lathe. A more simple way is to use a shoe of shim stock.

The post is not threaded (poor scan). I usually use 1 mm diameter (.039") diameter brass rod as the post. This makes it simple to remove the poles from the model for safe keeping and/repair. They slide into a brass bushing which is fastened to the roof and electrically insulated from it and wired to one motor brush. If the roof is plastic or wood the bushing is just a press fit or cemented in place.

The attachment is a good starting point. I used this drawing myself to get started but since have made a few modifications in measurements and design. It is readily adaptable to the modellers' skills and possible design changes. It can be found in the MR.April,1982 issue.

Let me think about an article "How To Make Poles" although a few can be found in past issues of the modelling press. I do have a listing of these.

You made the comment "a bit of cutting and soldering"...you must add AND DRILLING.

Regards,

Bruce.