WHERE ARE THE CATTLE GRIDS?

Despite many layouts featuring rural and farming scenes, I’ve rarely seen any cattle grids installed. Are miniature versions available, or is it a case of scratchbuilding? Mike Harvey, by e-mail

George says: Cattle – or stock – grids are thought to have originated in the USA. They’re intended to replace gates where a road or track crosses a fenced or walled boundary of grazing land. The use of cattle grids only proliferated in the UK from the 1950s onwards, as rural road networks were belatedly developed. Irish railway specialist Studio Scale Models offers an excellent 4mm scale etched metal cattle grid. Priced at €3.00 each, they’re great value and really look the part. They can be easily trimmed, if desired, using a sharp pair of scissors or metal snips. The simplest option is to lay the grid directly onto the road surface. However, there should be a shallow void beneath the grid to discourage errant animals from walking across the boundary. Cutting a recess slightly smaller than the grid makes for greater realism and, as I often employ DAS clay for road building, it’s easy to cut out a suitable rectangle before the clay dries out. The waste is then peeled away and reused elsewhere. Don’t forget to include a gate adjacent to the grid for the use of pedestrians, especially on public highways. These gates often have to be wide enough to accommodate horse traffic too. Web: www.studio-scale-models.com

Cattle grids are an essential scenic feature for rural areas, especially for layouts set in the post-1960s era when increased road use meant many gated roads were opened up.

DAS clay is great for creating road surfaces. Shallow recesses can be cut before the clay dries.