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

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

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

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

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

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

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