Chain Link Fence

[chuck geiger]

i found this kick a$$ video and replicated it for the first pass. This section will
be in the back of my oil depot. I need to get the wire straighter and solder down
to a dot. But this works.

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[Philip H]

Luke is a regular over at MRH and does really good stuff.

[chuck geiger]

Better job on second section, less solder and better straightening of wire. Second is
standing upright in the foam.

[chuck geiger]

[SandyEggoJake]

Nice job.  Don't forget the corner supports (vertical bars that run from the top of the corner post to the base of the adjacent posts).   Such are the little details that make it look real to me.


Of course, a PE fence might be far easier.... and I'm an N scale guy, so the Nylon Tulle I've looked at all seems far to large.

Some other thoughts. 

a) a quick jig would make cutting uprights true much faster - especially if doing a dozen or more.
b) straightened rod would seem the way to go.  the harder the better.
c) waxing the ply board prior to glue should keep the fence from sticking to the board (and bits of wood from the board sticking to your fence).

Now for smaller scales, one fabric I've found which seems promising is actually a very fine mesh from a specific tea bag made by http://www.mightyleaf.com/.  Not ideal, as it is made of a biodegradable PLA (cornstarch) but also long as it doesn't get too wet of have a lot of UV exposure, it should last for years.  The gauge is so fine it might even pass for z gauge and yet has a nice transparency.  The rub?  They won't sell it in a roll... just as a tea bag.  Wouldn't tell me their supplier or even the tech specs of the mesh.  But each bag yields a nice chuck suitable for my purposes.  Just wish I could find something a similar rigid mesh but a non-decomposible transparent resin.

[chuck geiger]

Jake great points. This mesh is too large for N. The smaller ribbon mesh is too small and there is
no depth and you can't see through it. The rod or small round styrene rods would be great. Going
to do that the next time. Thanks for the idea on corner supports. I've heard about the tea bags. One
idea I was thinking about using wire fence and cutting out what isn't needed with snips and you
have a rigid, ready to go frame for the mesh. There is also this product.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pipe-Fence-Silver-1-150-N-scale-Casco-YP-305-/361457371777

[chuck geiger]

After re-watching the video and Jake's point, I believe we have success. The missing "link" (no
pun intended) was to straighten the wire with a drill and needle nose pliers. I also used water
soluble flux for a better solder spread. Only glaring point now: Tulle is still to big for N.

 

[Catt]

Chuck, if your near a Jo-Ann Fabric store check out their tulle.I actually found some with holes small enough to look right for Z scale. Only problem I have is my fingers don't want to hang on to the soldering iron any more.

Almost forgot they have just about any colour you would like to use.

[SandyEggoJake]

Sweet.  Love the corner posts (though that one on the far end seem to be in the wrong orientation).

Not sure the tulle is that oversize when on your layout.  Especially if you go for a rustier color as it will blend more into the background.  My eyes more go to the loose ends of excess tulle on the bars.  If knife trimming the tulle back is not working well, perhaps melting them back with the iron might?

[Mike C]

  You can also get real wire screen . This place http://www.twpinc.com/wire-mesh-material/stainless-steel/fine-stainless-wire-cloth has a 90 mesh that may work in N scale .

[chuck geiger]

Thanks for the extra eyes guys. See that corner post needs to go the other way.
It's on the layout now and looks pretty decent. Excess tulle has been trimmed.

[chuck geiger]

[carlso]

Chuck,

I think your fence is great. I have been making chain link the same way except that I used brass rod or wire and tulle. The tulle is fairly large but when mounted on the layout that seems to fade away. It is much better looking, IMHO, than the etched available and a whole lot less expensive.

I attach a photo of my fencing as installed on my refinery scene on club layout. I had to make 15', not scale feet, of fencing to encircle the refinery.

Nice work and thanks for the posting.

Always have fun!

Carl

[Lemosteam]

@chuck geiger Getting better each installment.    I have over a thousand liner feet to make for my layout in the future, so thanks for sharing and experimenting.  Have you considered making a gate yet, either slide or hinged?

[chuck geiger]

Doing that this weekend. Gate is coming.