How to scratch build a O scale cabin - 19 photos included

[perry1060]

Hi all,

For those interested, here are some pictures with step by step instructions of how I'm building cabins for my model train layout.

*************************************************************************

First I created a cardboard cabin design that I liked, then I traced the lines onto balsawood for the balsawood framing of my cabin. You can see I changed the window design in the photo.

Photo 1

Photo 2

 

 

After cutting the balsawood sides and drilling holes for my cabin logs, I glued my frame together. Carpenters glue and white glue work great with the use of pins to hold things in place until the glue sets. You can also use gap glue.

Photo 3

Photo 4

 

 

After the framing was done and the windows were cut out, I glued on the basswood plank siding of my cabin using many bags of planks that I purchased at Walmart and also at a hobby shop. I randomly cut them to size as I glued them onto the balaswood frame. I will glue stones around the logs so that's why the framing near the logs is left exposed for now. I carved the ends of the logs a little bit so they don't look too fake.

Photo 5

Photo 6

 

 

 

The roof was shingled with thin strips of balsawood that I cut into shingles with a regualr pair of scissors. They make nice cedar shingles and take gray stain nicely. I started at the the bottom of the roof and overlapped them as I worked up.

Photo 7

 

 

Once my cabin was planked and shingled, I used the same planks to create the decking around my cabin base which is a piece of 1/2 inch plywood I had in the garage and cut to shape. By building a plank deck around the cabin, it helps keep the cabin lights from comming out around the floor area and looking too fake. Holes are drilled out for wiring inside lights at a later date.

Photo 8

Photo 9

Photo 10

Photo 11

 

 

 

I finished my cabin by aging it as I pleased with a combination of weathering powders, stains, charcoal, sand, wood burning tools and other art supplies. How you finish your cabin is just a matter of what you like. The windows are strips of acrylic plastic held in place with clear silicon along the inside framing. You can see how I added stones around the logs.

Photo 12

 

 

 

I also built a rail around the decking with balsawood and added some porch covers and other little details that I like. The stove chimney is a ink pen casing cut to size and painted flat black with cotton in the top.

Photo 13

 

 

The last thing I did is finish my doors. I first cut out the framing where the doors will go.

Photo 14

 

 

I then made doors with new balsawood and finished the coloring with the powders shown here.

Photo 15

 

 

 

Photo 16

I trimmed off the leftover cross sections with a knife after they dried.

 

I then attached my doors in a half open position to let out the light from inside.

Photo 17

Photo 18

 

Here is what my cabin might look like once I give it some roots on my layout.

Photo 19

[Jumijo]

Cool tutorial, Perry. The cabin looks great and I like where you've placed it on your layout.

Jim

[Dr. John]

Very nice work, indeed! Thanks for the how-to photos.

[FJ and G]

Great ideas, photos, creative work indeed. My favorite types of posts. Guys in larger scales modify bird houses, btw, the type you get in Home Depot

[nitroboy]

Great work!!! I enjoyed your layout in CTT. I can't get over how good the mountians looked!!! Shear beauty.

[thatboy37]

nice photos and job. hopefully one day i can do as good as you