The local HO club layout had some tunnels whose portals were not protected from falling rocks, so I felt obliged to use my prototype inspiration from my favorite rail line. Yes, it is HO scale, but no, I'm not going to the "dark side"! Here's how I did it! I started with some cheap BBQ skewers (somewhat smaller in diameter than 1/8" dowels), tiny 11/0 gloss black beads, Minwax Dark Walnut stain, .5mm elastic beading cord, tiny sewing pins, and a load of patience. I built a jig, to hold the poles at estimated 50' centers, and the wires were marked at 12" centers. Without an HO scale rule, I guesstimated. With the jig built, I drilled .020" holes for each pin. I then installed a single bead on every pin, inserted into the hole, and nipped the sharp end off with sidecutters. I took the elastic line (no fuzzies), and strung it along, wrapping a loop on every "insulator" to keep it all in place. CA drops on every "insulator" keeps it all in place. Here's what it looks like, awaiting installation: More pics to come!
i know it's not to scale, and I had to work from photos in a book to get the dimension close, but it captures the flavor. Besides, this fence will be installed at least 3' from the viewer--it'll look great from that far! However, if I used a product that would scale out correctly for the wire, it would be imperceptible at that range.
OK, how I did it! Michael's had nearly all the materials needed, except some BBQ skewers I had laying around. They are slightly less than 1/8" dia: The "wire": The "insulators": The pins that hold the "insulators" on the pole:
Based on 50' estimated centers, and minus a scale ruler, I built a jig to hold the poles in place. The wires were marked at 12" centers, also guesstimated. Here's the jig: The assembled fence, in the jig: Closeup of the insulators and wires installed: Another view:
They sure look nice. How will you hold the rocks behind them? Looks like they will stretch. How do rock slide detectors work? Are they electrical? It is occurring to me that these are detectors and not fences. OTOH, those rocks are so big in DRGW country that no fence is going to hold them.
Electrical indeed. Slides will break the connection, and set block signals to red. They are stretchy, but that is to allow a margin for error from elbows, thumbs, etc...
Overkill, I guess. This is an 18-scale-foot-tall model, I have seen some only 8' tall. The ones in Byers and Gore Canyons are sometimes afford overhead protection:
If the fences were meant to protect the ROW against rocks, then the canyons of the Moffat Route would have to be built under slide sheds! The side of the fence is much less dense with wires, while the top is spaced much closer. Check out this close-up of the fence installed at Tunnel 40 in Gore Canyon:
I get it. I really had no idea they were constructed like that. It's a really good detail and more complex to model than I thought. Those rocks up there are not going to be stopped by a fence! Thanks, Hemi. BTW, that is another tunnel picture, isn't it? :yes9rq: :wink3ed:
My reputation proceeds me.... I will try another fence, this time with overhead protection. Should be interesting!
Thanks hemi You did a good job with the picture tutorial I now have the wheels going. Our club did a retaining wall and I think this idea will work look good in that area.:thumbs_up:
