Pasture Fencing in 1:160

[Noah Lane]

I am looking to do some pasture fencing -perhaps it could also be called cattle fencing, or post-and-wire fencing?  But basically wood posts, with EZ-Line representing barbed wire.

Strip wood posts in 1:160 seem like they'd be so small and fragile, that it might even be tricky just sinking them in various layout mediums. But the task doesn't seem totally unmanageable.

Any tips for making a good looking fence?  One, two, or more lines of 'barbed wire'? Might it be better to use strip styrene posts?

[VonRyan]

Northeastern Scale Lumber makes HO scale 2x2s, and they are pretty much N-scale 4x4s.

Generally for pasture fencing 4x4s are used, but the three posts at the corners are old telephone pole segments with a 2x6 or a 2x8 on the side opposite the wire as bracing going from the tops of the side of the corner post, and running diagonal down to the bottom of the other two.
That's how my neighbor built his.
And generally the fence is 3.5'-4' high off the ground and there is 5-6 rows of barbed wire (or 3' high wire fencing and 1 row of barbed wire) if it's a livestock pasture, and 4-5 if it's field for crops.

As for which side of the posts the wire is on, generally what I've seen is the barbed wire on the inside if it's a livestock pasture, and on the outside if it's a field for crops. That way, the wire staples are only there to hold the wire onto the poles and the poles are what holds back the wire to keep something either in or out, depending on what type of pasture/field it is.

One guy I knew of liked to do a mix of both, but it was in a sorta weave pattern. He was also probably crazy.

[chuck geiger]

I am using pins from Wally World painted black with thread and it looks ok.

[glakedylan]

in many places within Pennsylvania, dairy and cattle farmers
surround their fields with a single wire, at about knee height,
that is electrically active (do not ask how I know!) the posts
are round with a ceramic round piece that holds the wire.
I would think that the round wooden toothpicks would provide
something is the right size being their taper etc.
fwiw...
sincerely--

[PeyRil]

Check out some of M.C. Fujiwara's excellent work. He's got a great video showing how he used EZ line. Looks pretty amazing to me!

http://youtu.be/aU_6tj-2f50

[Snark45]

Peyril:   Thanks so much for putting Mr. Fujiwara’s work out there. Very elegant solution and a great laid-back vid. EZ-line is really amazing & versatile stuff, eh?    Best, Harry   

[Philip H]

MC's post and wire is about the best I've seen in n scale. Follow his methods to scenic bliss!

[Santa Fe Guy]

Take a look at this web site here in Australia.
Chris does a lot of laser cut items for Victorian RRs however if you contact him he has 80 laser cut fence posts Pt # SD022. these come with holes in which to feed the wire through. There are enough posts to cover 5 meters.  http://www.spiritdesign.com.au/Pricelist.htm
This might help.
Rod

[Noah Lane]

Thank you guys, I appreciate all of the suggestions!

M.C.'s method/look is the closest to what I have in mind. I forgot that he had that video tutorial, but that is perfect for what I need!

I have white N-scale EZ-Line. I bought it for power lines, and planned fencing. I read that the black EZ-Line is really hard to see in N-scale, so I purchased white. But I'm wondering how the fencing will look with white EZ-Line.

I feel like I shouldn't have to order specific fence posts -surely buying some strip material, and cutting it to size would work fine.

[peteski]

Friend of mine stuck some straight pins into the ground and cut off the heads. Those are the posts - nice and strong (steel). Then he painted them appropriate wood color.  Next he looped the "wire" around them using regular dark-colored sawing thread.  Tiny drop of CA fastens the thread to the post.  That's it.   

I think that EZ line is a bit of an overkill (the thread is plenty strong and I wouldn't expect it to be abused in the short distance between posts).  I also think that white colored "wire" will look out of place.  If you want to use the EZ Line, maybe get another color or at least color it with a Sharpie (or something similar)

[Noah Lane]

Peteski- I agree about the white line. I can't imagine it looking right. Somehow it works for telephone/power lines, but yeah, I'd want to color it if I use it for fencing.

I think I may try basswood posts first, just because actual wood seems like the most appropriate application. But if that doesn't work out, I will look to alternatives like pins or styrene.

[nkalanaga]

Most fencing is galvanized steel, which can range from light gray/silver to rusty, depending on its age.  To me, the white would be closer to new metal than the black, and neither would work for rusty wire.  I'd stick with your white.

I'm with Chuck Geiger:  Straight pins with the heads cut off and the end filed flat.  Be sure to file it flat, or the cut end will cut YOU.  I've also seen farmers use a mixture of post styles, with a wooden post every three or four positions, and cheap metal ones between, being one of the most common.  The metal ones often aren't in the ground, and appear to be there simply to keep the wires properly spaced between the wood posts.  That kind seems to be more to keep casual trespasser out than to keep determined livestock in.

I've also seen Cody's style of corner posts built with old railroad ties, including a few that used switch ties for the diagonals.  That always seemed like overkill to me...

And then there's the "tripod" fence posts used in some of the rockier areas out West.  Rather than dig a hole, the farmer builds a tripod of fence posts, wires the bottom ends together, and fills the interior with rocks.  Again, these often have the cheap metal posts between them, and would make an interesting, if tedious, model.

[peteski]

Straight pins are usually 0.020" diameter steel or brass, which works out to 3.2" diameter in N scale. That is pretty close to what would be used for a wooden post.  Just painting them wood color should work fine (IMO, woodgrain of real wood is way out of scale for N scale representation of wood).

[RBrodzinsky]

Noah,  I used a silvered sewing thread for my fence wire around the SV Station orchard. For the posts, I used N-scale ties!

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[JMaurer1]

Doesn't look that that fence is doing much to keep the people out...