Woodland Scenics fencing

◆ SCALE/GAUGE ‘N’, ‘HO’/’OO’, ‘O’ ◆ MODEL Woodland Scenics fencing packs A2980-2985 (‘HO’/‘OO’), A2990-2995 (‘N’), A3000-3005 (‘O’) ◆ PRICE From £12.50 per pack ◆ AVAILABILITY Bachmann stockists Web www.bachmann.co.uk

Ican’t think of many model railway settings that would not require some form of fencing. Fencing is everywhere and has been for generations, employed for decorative, privacy, security or for farming purposes. Timber remains the most popular fencing material, whether it be in the form of neat pickets, utilitarian timber rails, rustic logs or simply wooden posts linked with wire. The choice of fencing can help to set a rural, urban or industrial scene within certain periods, while its condition can also dictate the nature of a location: scruffy and unkempt for a down-at-heel area, or pristine for an aspirational suburb.

There are already countless forms of miniature fencing on the market, but Woodland Scenics has just released a new range of high-quality, handpainted and weathered modular components. Integral planting pins are incorporated into the plastic mouldings for easy installation and each pack provides 192 scale feet of fencing. Six different types are available for ‘N’, ‘OO’ and

‘O’ gauges: Barbed Wire; Log Fence; Rail Fence; Chain Link; Picket and ‘Privacy’ fencing (timber planks).

Installation is straightforward. Simply lay the fence sections on the layout and use a fine marker pen to note the positions of each of the mounting pins. Drill a set of holes just larger than the pins and fix the fence in place with PVA glue. The pins are also stiff enough to be pushed into softer substrates, such as foam or plaster cloth, without the need for a drill.

The pre-strung barbed wire fence is particularly useful and can be installed in a similar manner, although there is a greater degree of flexibility over where each post can be located. Gradients or uneven ground pose no problems and extra bracing posts are provided to give enhanced support and realism at corners. As with each of the packs, a set of gates is also provided.

Each of the packs, in every scale, features realistic-looking components and the combination of the impressive moulds and authentic painted finishes, produces attractive results. The ‘Privacy’ fencing has a pleasingly distressed aspect, with random gaps between planks and a generally run-down appearance, and the Chain Link version is ideal for modern layouts and industrial locations. The ease of installation is another point in favour of these packs, and I can see them proving popular for modellers in the three main scales. (PM)