Scratchbuilding: Don't be Intimidated!

Links to items mentioned in this video. (Note: I am NOT endorsing any particular product(s), nor am I compensated by or connected to any of the companies mentioned.) I do NOT guarantee that these links will give you the best available price! Consider these links to be a starting point for your search.

The article “Grain Elevator” appeared in Model Railroader magazine, May, 1949. If you can't find the original article, it was reprinted in a book titled "Easy to Build Model Railroad Structures" by Willard Anderson. That book is long out of print, but you can find used copies on Amazon, eBay, and other sellers.

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This video was edited using Shotcut for Linux. Video footage and still images were recorded using a Galaxy A10e phone and a Nikon D7100 camera.

[davidtavener]

Fantastic structure! I love grain elevators and I can only dream of scratchbuilding such a worthy example!

[JerseyHighlandsBruce]

Beautiful craftsmanship, coloring and weathering!

[garyjackson]

Thanks for this! I’m just beginning and like seeing all the possibilities. You have an easy voice to listen to and appreciate you identifying the sources of your materials.

[CassidysWorkshop]

Beautiful job, and was clearly laid out in the video. Thanks for showing your techniques.

[josephseverino]

The weathered wood looks beautiful.Wood kits are superior, you did a fantastic job i like the aged and faded decals.A master craftsman 👍👍👍👍👍

[craiglowrey]

GREAT workmanship!
Many years ago I scratchbuilt all my buildings. I was young, had excellent eyesight, steady hands...you know. Over the years my eyes have dimmed, my steady hands aren't as stesdy. But, I still like building an occasional project for my logging railroad.
Thanks for your insight and encouragement.

[wabisabi]

Yes! Very informative and inspiring, thanks for sharing. I use leftover sprues for pipes, too.

[MisterCreamyDude]

Excellent work! Greetings from the UK! Thanks for posting. 👍

[pdrrengineer]

Great job with that scratch-build and an excellent description of the progressive steps in the build. Thanks for sharing your project experience with us.

[SteveWillming]

Nice work. I have built 3 N gage railroads in my life but now I enjoy building scratch model more than the trains. I also selected HO and O scale for building models. I am currently moving my railroad from my shop to the living space so I can use the space as a model shop. Your work on this grain elevator is superb. I am hoping to purchase a 3D printer soon to model my windows, doors and other features that are too detailed to scratch build. Thanks for sharing and I will look for more of your work soon.

[walterego]

Congratulations. This is a beautiful piece of work. I will be referring to this video as I progress with my build.

[TonyTitleGuy]

Wow! Wonderful weathering and finish! You're very artistic.

[kenvandevoort]

I love it! I have the parts and need to do something with them.

[w.rustylane]

I'm scratch building my very first HO scale house and I'm using an old English Leather redwood box I got many years ago, the one with the dovetail ends. It's a little thick but taking my time and being patient I got the door cut out and 4 windows. I'm using Tichy windows and doors just like you have in the grey building 2/2 double hung windows. I measured the inside of the window frames and door to get the proper dimensions for the holes. So far, so good. I've painted a couple of cards with black paint to go between the rooms so you can't see through one window and out the other. I made some tabs on the ends of the card stock to glue into the structure. For the roof I'm planning to keep it simple and just use a couple of triangles on the ends and put in some false rafter tails. No details on the back side because it will not be seen. Why waste parts & time for something that won't be seen.
Not only will I be building in HO scale but I will also build some O scale buildings and structures because I've acquired enough Lionel 027 rolling stock & engines to start an O scale layout. For my O scale corrugated siding I've been cutting up beer & soda cans and putting them through my toothpaste squeezer I got from Amazon for about $10.00. It makes great O scale corrugated roofing & siding. I save everything even sawdust I've made cutting strip wood. I color it and use it for ground cover.
I recently built a Walthers Cornerstone chicken coops and farm buildings and I'll need an interior since I made the roof removable. I searched around on the internet and found Rusty Rails and he has some resin casting work benches in HO scale that are below $10.00 so I probably will order a few from him. I get my brick card stock from Scale Rail as it's not over $14.00 for a big sheet and has sticky backing. You can order it both ways with or without.
Cheers from eastern TN

[paullindell]

Excelant work. I do some scratch building, but I do far more kit bashing. I know what I'm looking for, so I try and get there as easily as posible.

[MrCookster]

Enjoyed watching this, and learnt something too! Thanks.

[FBMRR]

fantastic job... detailed enough to to know what it is and enjoy.

[jhoodfysh]

Very well done, Gratz. My ears perked up at the mention of making your own decals for the sacks. Do you have additional information about that?

[Christiane]

Excellent work. You make it look so easy. Question: I see that you layout is in front of a window. Are you planning to set up a backdrop?

[railmus]

Beautiful job! Any thoughts about interior and exterior lighting?