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Scratch building HO scale structures

Mike’s been in touch – he’s been busy scratch building HO scale structures:

“Good day Alastair:

Here are some HO scale buildings I scratch built.

I build furniture for a hobby and save every scrap of wood to use for other projects. I cut most of my “lumber” on my table saw. I cut my shingles from 1/64 or 1/32 plywood. My goal is to purchase the bare minimum to complete a project.

I buy windows from Grayline but make most of my doors. I start with a photo and render something that captures the feeling of the building. Hope you enjoy seeing these.

Mike
Clermont, FL. USA”

Scratch building HO scale structures:

A huge thanks to Mike for sharing – scratch building HO scale structures is something that comes up on the blog a lot.

I thought Mike’s buildings were packed with character!

There are so many scratch building posts on the blog now, and each of them have display a new way of making a building or weathering.

Take Richard for example. Not only is his scratch building a joy to look at, it’s N scale – how he can make them without going blind is beyond me:

N scale scratch built model

And it never fails to make me smile when I see what people have used.

Barry made a power station from card stock, and gave it that solid look by using wooden blocks:

Scratch built power station.

Anyhow, I hope the posts get the creative side of your mind ticking, becauase if you are scratch building HO scale structures, you’ll need it. Or any scale come to that.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Large ho scale layouts

There are quite a few large HO scale layouts on the blog now – Bill’s really does stick out though, it’s stunning.

(his last post is here).

“Hi Al,

Sorry its been so long since my last email. I have included a few more images of my never ending layout.

My first shot is of the entire length of my area at this time.

My initial layout started with a 19 X 13 foot area (photos from my last email), then i extended 4 feet to connect to a new section which is 9 X 30feet.

The additional photos in this email are close-up day and night of my harbor area. I will send another email with a few more of my 9 X30 industrial area section.

As you can see, i enjoy spending my time with trains!

Happy Modeling.

Bill”

Jim’s also been back in touch with another stunner (his last post is here)

“Greetings from southern AZ. Some updates and additions to the layout. Having converted some plus 30 year old Santa Fe Athearn GP7 and Atlas SD24 engines I had from years gone by to DCC by a friend, I decided to go back in time to the late seventies.

So along with some newer InterMountain Santa Fe SD40’s, new, older autos (some with led lights) and some recently weathered Athearn blue box freight cars, we’re in an older era featuring Santa Fe.

I also installed traffic lights, crossing signals and gates. The crossing signals are Woodland Scenics and the crossing signals and gates are NJ International. They both function with switches for now and the gates are not motorized. And the traffic lights are Walthers.

A great thanks to you Alastair for your site and a great thanks to the many talented and creative modelers who provide so many innovative ideas and how to’s. Your videos and photos are greatly appreciated.

Jim AZ”

A huge thank you to Jim, and to Bill for adding to the large HO scale layouts on the blog. Stunning, stunning stuff.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

PS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the store.

They are great fun to make and great value too.

HO scale L shaped layouts

Brian and Andrew have been in touch – both with HO scale L shaped layouts:

“Hi Al,

You have not heard from me before but I have been receiving your messages for years now and looking at the tips and layouts that people have sent to you from near and far, and found them inspiring and helpful in many ways.

I had always wanted to build a model railway since I was a kid but didn’t have the money way back then and the room and time as work and family life took me through my middle years, but a recent move from house to bungalow has given me a place at the bottom of the garden to be able to try my hand at doing it.

I do love building it but often wonder if I will ever get it finished, I have been working on it for about 3 years now on and off and there is only the close family who have seen it.

I have taken photos at different stages except for the building of the baseboard track and electrics, so after a good 60 years of waiting, I am about a third of the way through and would like to share some photos of my efforts so far. its a long way from being finished, but I keep chipping away as and when I can.

These photos are at the starting of it all, more will follow until its up to date, if that’s ok.

Thanks to all who send you their tips and photo/videos.

And thanks to you Al for your world wide information.

Brian”

Now on to Andrew.

(his last post is here.)

“Hi Al

Well I moved my railway out of the shed as it was too cold and damp was affecting me and the buildings on my railway, so I decided to bring it in my spare room, so started again.

I am now developing an L shape layout with half a figure of eight with an elevated section on the curve.

The village will be under the elevated section, I am at the moment doing the Station section and I must say it’s coming on well.

I have also reverted back to DC from DCC as it was too expensive. My controller is fitted under my work table as an integrated system. More pics to follow as I develop the sections.

I would welcome comments and suggestions from the plethora of great Modellers out there.

Andrew”