Fences

[Cyclone]

Started building some fences.
My biggest problem is getting the height and proportions/scale correct.
Started with some picket fencing.

I think station fencing is a lot a taller I based this on the height of my own fence.
I think it looks Ok.

Looking at some L&B photos, there is a lot of fencing made from steel poles/pipes.
had a go and making this. I think the posts are a bit thick but its smallest square section I could find at wickes. I could use smaller stuff from model shops but its quite pricey.
Im not sure whether to make it taller or shorter? Also whetehr to make it look like concrete or wood post. The rails will be painted green. (need to find out what green is SR green. (or perhaps GWR cream)

Seems most fencing posts are 3"x3" which in 16mm is about 4mm, though.

Gonna make some wire and post fencing, when I work out how to attach the wire and also some 4 or 5 rail wooden fencing. Dont want to have to use 5mm square wood unless I can finda cheap source.

 

[nicebutdim]

Looks great. Just out of interest, what supply of stirrers/sticks did you use for the picket fencing?

 

[Cyclone]

Coffee stirrers from ebay, will look at which ones next time I pop into the garage. Its difficult buying them as they dont tell you exactly what size they are. Could do with a sticky thread on recommended brands etc.

Edit: Plastico stirrers from Rinkit (via amazon actually)

 

[nicebutdim]

Excellent, thank you. I obtained some from fleabay but they're slightly too large. I found the ones that are a good size in McDonalds and BHS restaurant, but a little difficult getting the (large) amounts required.

 

[Gizzy]

They are very good mate!

I don't think that they look too chunky at all, and besides, it would be better for the fencing to be more robust for a G scale railway....

 

[Philbahn]

Looks good to me

 

[minimans]

I find old rail makes very good prototypical fences.

But then we don't need no stinking fences!!!!

 

[The Devonian]

The fencing being fashioned by Cyclone is of the type usually found near stations. Its paint colour will depend upon railway and era.
Wire fencing was usually made with timber posts which were strengthened every often by old rail used as a post. This old rail was Barlow, Vignoles or MacDonald and lighter weight bullhead types, again dependant on the railway and when it was put in place. Concrete is used later on in the 20th.c:the Southern Railway being famous for its concrete works and structures.
Another type, much favoured on the Great Western was the metal, 'unclimable' fencing frequently made from old boiler tubing.
A web search will find details of all these types.
The fencing, required by law, of UK railways is an old one from the early days of railways. For those of us following the American scene it is one feature that we can overlook.

 

[Cyclone]

But then we don't need no stinking fences!!!!

Didnt know that, I think that why US pictures always look strange to me, the line is totally open
As said above in the UK we do and they were made from anything. I think fencing is very important for UK lines, but getting it right is tricky. It needs to be the right size and distance from the line and in a place that you would normally find a fence...this is what Im constantly looking for on google.

Ive not heard of the GWR fencing, will look into this thanks.
I love the rail fencing, I have some r1s I might straightened and chop up but codee 332 might look wrong next to a 250 line.

I grew up in the Southern region so concreter fencing seems very normal for me but I've always preferred GWR styling.

McDonalds coffee stirrers are great, if anyone knows where to source them other than the restaurant, let us know.

In BandQ I found 6mm square pine strip wood at 48p for 600mm which is cheper than hobbycrafts 4mm square basswood. I think it will be a good compromise and as stated robustness must be considered. Especially as the line homes four cats and a family of hedgehogs.

 

[trammayo]

I find old rail makes very good prototypical fences.
But then we don't need no stinking fences!!!!

That looks a lot like a streetcar - where and what Paul?

 

[trammayo]

Your fences look fine to me and as for the 6mm sq, that'll be fine. I made some post and rail fencing for my trailer layout because I too like fences. Mind you, this is on the Irish side of the trailer - the US side is bereft of fencing (guess that's why they needed the cowcatcher)

Made from the "tongues" of Vee groove cladding. Some, if not most, post and rail fences have the rails slotted through the posts so the posts would be rectangular in cross section. Mine of course is just glued on to represent nailed on.

 

[Cyclone]

How have you got it to curve. Gonna have to google this cladding not sure what it is.
Its very nice fencing, just what Ive been trying to get images of.

Edit: see what youve used.

 

[yb281]

There were some UK railways that didn't have fencing - tramways. Of course they had to have their engine's motions covered etc., but towards the end of it's existence the Glyn Valley didn't seem to bother.

 

[trammayo]

Ed - I made the whole section of fencing (the rails are in one piece as long as the section). Having determined overhangs on locos and coaches (sometimes called the "swept path" or kinectic envelope) by drawing a pencil line and then determining where the fence will start and drilling a hole for the first post. Gentle bending and more holes (and glue) gave what I required.

Are you wanting fences outside? Plasticard might be the long term answer.

 

[Glengrant]

There were some UK railways that didn't have fencing - tramways. Of course they had to have their engine's motions covered etc., but towards the end of it's existence the Glyn Valley didn't seem to bother.

The Fraserburgh - St Combs Light Railway, away up in the far corner of Aberdeenshire, had no fences, and therefore, because of wandering sheep, the locomotives had to be fitted with cowcatchers

 

[Glengrant]

I'm watching this with interest because I want to build some fencing. I wondered about this plastic plant label which I got a few of last year, can't remember how much they cost. How do you think this would do for fencing. It is 150mm long, OK the length doesn't matter, the width is 13mm. Does it just look a bit overscale?

 

[trammayo]

Its a foot wide Cyril! You could cut it down middle to make three 4" palings

 

[Glengrant]

Its a foot wide Cyril! You could cut it down middle to make three 4" palings

Probablt too much trouble, I'll maybe think of something else, but thanks for the advice

 

[gregh]

Made from the "tongues" of Vee groove cladding. Some, if not most, post and rail fences have the rails slotted through the posts so the posts would be rectangular in cross section. Mine of course is just glued on to represent nailed on.

Great minds think alike and all that. I used the tongues of T&G flooring for the rails - it's been outside for 15 years now. The posts are plastic garden irrigation pipe, slotted to take the 'rails'. As with all fencing, it's too fragile and easily damaged by a wayward foot or animal.
(sorry about all these pics - it's hard to focus on fences!)

Here's some other types I've tried. All have to be used in places where they are less liable to damage
Cyclone wire from flyscreen and styrene rails and posts

Corrugated iron - plastic sheet made with my paper corrugator. Brass rod posts and superglue. These are common in towns along railway lines in Australia

Wire fences using old rails for the main posts and HO rails for the smaller intermediate posts. Fishing line 'wire'.

And some totally unprototypical safety fencing on my high trestles. Fishing line (double twisted) on 4" nails. I make the inside of the curve fence higher that the outer as derailments inwards are 'tip overs' whereas outwards the loco just seems to stay upright so the low wire catches it.

 

[trammayo]

Nice fences Greg
The corrugated one looks good - never thought of fishing line for fence wire (although I use it for my points) - the rail posts and the wire look so prototypical.