How To Make Cheap Fences - Model Railway Tutorial

Here's a quick tutorial on how you can build some cheap and easy fences using sandwich bag ties! A real scratchbuilding project for beginners!
When building Pickwick Yard I needed a way to hide the join between the baseboard and backscene and an old fence seemed like the perfect solution. Rather than buying something off the shelf, I wanted to have a go at scratchbuilding something myself and so this idea of using sandwich bag ties started to form in my mind.
I can't take full credit for the idea as I feel like I've seen someone do this before, but despite searching I've haven't been able to find anything to confirm that! Anyway, it was fun little project and so thought I'd pass this modelling technique on for anyone else who fancies having a go at a beginner level scratchbuilding project!
Thanks for watching :)

[@speleokeir]

I like this a nice (and cheap!) way to do fences, particularly garden fence panels or around old yards, etc.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks, yeah I was surprised at how good they turned out considering it was so cheap to make. Definitely works well to hide the joint to the backscene. Thanks for watching 😃

[@Benji_transport_vids]

Nice idea! I used one of those Hornby platform fences that come in the starter packs, cut the platform connector thingy from the underneath, painted it in brown and then stuck it in - quite good if you've got any of them lying around!

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Oh cool, yeah that's definitely a good idea if you've got a few going spare. Thanks for watching 😃

[@stephenfoster7257]

I love the attitude that this is simply a way to do it. No pressure.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Yep, I’d hate for anyone to think my way is the definitive way to do it. Thanks for watching 😃

[@railway187]

I did fences with strips of wood. They are OK, but it was a lot more work than your system. What a wonderful idea 👍

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Yeah that was my original plan too until I tried this - much easier! 😂 If I do it again though I’d probably add a few fence posts next time. Thanks for watching 👍

[@dibley1973]

Wow, that is a neat and cheap solution! Thanks for sharing.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks! This was one of my very first scratch building projects and I still think it was one of the most effective. Thanks for watching 😃

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Thanks for the information on making a fence would never think of using twist ties

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

My pleasure, it's a good little technique and one that doesn't cost the earth either! Thanks for watching 😃

[@bukpenguinnews9996]

Never thought of this, and might be the cheapest. I know of people who used matchsticks then drilled tiny holes in them with one of those slightly expensive mini manual screw-type ones. This way of making fences is indeed much cheaper it seems! Looks really good and I'm glad I came across this channel. You deserve more views and subscribers really! Stay with it!

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks, yeah it makes definitely a cheap way of doing it and also a great way of getting into scratchbuilding too. After all, if I can manage it anyone can 😂 Thanks, glad you’re enjoying the videos, there’s certainly more in the pipeline 😊

[@JonWhitton]

Great idea

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Not everything for model railways has to cost an arm and a leg 😅 Thanks for watching 👍

[@jvanamb]

Great idea. I will give it a try. However, I do have a question. How do you Incase the top edge of the fence? Doesn't the paper separate from the wires exposing the materials inner side? My quick and dirty solution was to snip off the damage & repaint! But even that opens up to more snip snap repair jobs. Any ideas? I just found you channel by misspelling the channel I was searching. I like your humorous flippant style so much I'm going to subscribe when the post is finished. LIKE NOW! Jim in N.Y., U.S.A.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Hey there, perhaps there are different types/brands of sandwich bag ties out there as the ones I was using were plastic not paper. This made them a bit more sturdy and I didn't have any trouble with them separating, especially once the paint was on as that essentially sealed it. Great to hear you enjoyed the video after stumbling on the channel by mistake. It's great to have you! Thanks for watching and subscribing too 😃

[@modelrailwaysandme]

Wheres the best place/option to get sandwich bag ties, no store in my are has them available

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

I used these for my fences: ebay.us/o9IGEj (affiliate) Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃

[@ewoodrailway]

Great video, I've subbed

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Ewood Railway Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@ewoodrailway]

That Model Railway Guy certainly did, please return my support

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Ewood Railway Was literally checking out your channel when your comment came through! 😂

[@ewoodrailway]

That Model Railway Guy lol it's an omen

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

@@ewoodrailway A good one I hope! 😆

[@goldkeycars]

Hi please where can I get the plastic card strips? Thanks

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Hi there, most model shops will have them in various lengths/sizes. Plastruct or Evergreen are the most popular brands I believe. Thanks for watching 😃

[@goldkeycars]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy thank you

[@tico360]

What brush do you use

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Certainly nothing special, I bought a pack of brushes from Asda for about 50p a while back and they've been great 😂 Thanks for watching 👍

[@35o125]

looks great. where can I get those?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Hey there, which parts do you mean? The sandwich ties can be got from most supermarkets I imagine (although I got mine from eBay). Everything else you should be able to pick up either in a model shop or online and then you'll have everything you need to make plenty of fencing. Thanks for watching 😃

[@35o125]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy I've tried ebay but it shows me only the separate ties, couldn't find any sheets. do you possibly have a link for it?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Here you go, hope this helps 😊 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324135079130?epid=1128405580&hash=item4b77f4ccda:g:dbsAAOSwme9elPGd

[@35o125]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy Thanks! Unfortunately the shipment is about 30 AU$

[@davidsheriff8989]

I used old matches....

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Yep that's another way to do it. That's the beauty of the hobby, there's multiple ways to do everything. Thanks for watching 😃

[@davidhewlett2197]

Can you say clearly what u used apart from sandwich ties……all a bit rushed….please?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Hi David, the other main item used is 0.8mm x 1.5mm plasticard strips. PVA glue to holds it all together, various brown/grey paints for colour (acrylics or enamel are both fine) and a little bit of green flock along the bottom - personally I use Woodland Scenics Turf in medium green. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃