"How to create Barbed wire obstacle?" Topic

I am not sure if I am on the right board, but I will give it a shot. I was wondering what you folks thought, would be the best way to recreate a barbed wire obstacle for 15mm WWII scale? Thanks for any advice.

I've been using picture hanging wire (it has a neat texture sometimes) – and I wrap this around a pen and cut it.

I have seen some nice wire done by cutting up plastic or metal window screens. Just cut along one row leaving a little extra at the intersections. It would look something like this:

--|--|--|--|--

If metal you can then twist it around a nail or pencil to get concertina.

If you want wire I would recommend this company….

wymac-development.co.uk

The stuff you want (it has the texture on it) is

GLW 9

0.25 mm dia Core wire 0.25 mm dia Wrap wire with 7 wraps per cm

The last time I ordered some it was £4.00 GBP for a Kg Roll. There is 700 metres of the stuff on the roll…..

I still have about 500 metres left !!! Oh and I bought some of the thicker stuff for 28mm figs.

Its really easy to use as long as you have some pliers to cut it with. I Use matchsticks for posts and place them in a MDF base, texture the base and then wrap the wire around each post and dab a bit of superglue on the post where the wire sits….

MH
:-)

I use jewellers wire wrapped around a pencil and stuck to strips of flocked card 6" long.

I use the same technique as Lord Billington Wadsworth (above).

There's a good little article with a couple of options here – I like the first one which should scale well to 15mm:

link

I start with stiff wire. I get it from a friend who works in the aircraft industry and he calls it safety wire. Unlike screen mesh for example the safety wire, although quite thin retains its shape much better than aluminum mesh.

I take a length of the wire and secure one end in a vice. I then take another length of wire and weave it back and forth across the first wire at about 1/8 inch intervals securing it by looping it around the first wire twice. Once the first wire is woven along its length with the second wire I then put a drop of super glue at each intersection. With a wire cutter I then cut the second wire 1 or 2 mm away from the first wire at each intersection. When the 2d wire is cut away at all the intersections the result is barb every 8th inch along the first wire. Paint, and then add some rust, wrap around a pencil and voila.

Of course this is rather labor intensive but the results are well worth it IMO.

As an alternative you might try bying pre made wire. Google "preiser barbed wire kit" Here is one result

link

Also google Roco barbed wire.

Here is one result. Considerably less expensive than the Preiser and just as good IMO.

link

Waco Joe's system works a treat, just look out for metal mesh that is woven rather than being single piece. The woven stuff comes apart unless you seal it befor cutting. It also has the added advantage of being readily available for cheap at most DIY places.

We carry two thicknesses.
Take a look.

Bob
link

I'm lazy, I buy the GW stuff and stretch accordingly ;-).

But I might try one of these techniques to see how it goes…

Don.

I made a great one (IMHO). I wrapped some thin wire (I actually used some old trip wire)around a pencil and then pulled out the pencil. Nice coiled barbed wire . I cut up several bamboo skewers into about two inch long pieces. Glued them together in a rough x shape. Glued the x pieces onto my base (Matte board 8"x4") and the glued my coils. Looks good. I have a photo but I don't know how to pot a photo. I will email it to you if you would like.

Thansk everyone for the advice, greatly appreciated.