I love to scratch build using scale wood products. I have built many wood structures for my current layout. I rarely buy Midwest products because they don’t offer scale sizes. Rather than trying to convert from dimensional sizes like 1/8” X 1/8”, I prefer to think in scale dimensions like an HO scale 12” X 12”. I have always found it easier to think that way especially when scratch building. I use Mt. Albert or Kappler scale strip wood products.
I don’t use wood products for clapboard siding, I prefer plastic because it is easier to work with and wont warp as easily as sheet wood products. RE size of the clapboard: 1/8” scales out to around a foot wide boards in HO scale – maybe a tad wide for most clapboard I’ve seen here on the west coast.
As for buying a lifetime supply, I find that difficult personally due to the wide variety of sizes one might need and the quantities involved. For example, I needed about 70 24” scale 2 X 12 strips for my stamp mill model – I would have burnt through my stock rather quickly and had to order extra if I was doing the lifetime supply thing…
To determine the scale of fractional inch lumber, find it’s decimal measurement, and devide by 87.
1/8 inch = 0.125 inch. 0.125x87 = 10.875, about 11 inches. How would HO 11 inch clapboard look? I really like the look of it, but I wouldn’t go any larger.
1/16 in = 0.0625. x 87 = 5.44 in, looks good as planed 6 inch lumber.
3/32 would look good as about 8 inch. It scales to 8.16 inch in HO, a tad large, but looks good anyway.
Scribed 1/16 looks good too for siding on some buildings.
Some scale lumber is actual 1/87 dimensions (Kappler, I think). I have a cache of scale lumber, some in 1/87 and some fractional. Unless you’re down there measuring with calipers, the difference won’t really be discernable on most structures.
I’m not familiar with Northeastern’s full line of products, so I don’t know on that question.
1/8 x1/8 strip = 10.875 inches in HO. bigger than a 10x10, smaller than a 12x12. Again 1/16 square looks good for 6x6. I hope this gives you something to work with. Dan
Early in my model train years, in the mid-'50s, I used basswood from Northeastern. In addition to the basswood strip material in a variety of sizes, they also offered sheet material representing clapboard and board & batten siding, along with wood sheets of corrugated steel siding, and an array of structural strip wood which included angle iron, I-beams, H-columns and Z-bar, too.
However, when Evergreen showed up with similar offerings in styrene, that pretty-well ended my interest in working with wood, at least for HO scale structures and rolling stock. There’s a much wider range of strip material, both in strip dimensions and shapes, and also in sheet material, including a variety of siding widths and styles, and an equally wide array of scribed siding for rolling stock.
The real plus, though (at least for me), is the ease with which styrene pieces can be put together, as solvent-type cements bond styrene together in seconds, usually with no need for clamps.
My last big job using wood was over 30 years ago, building the house in which I’m still living. Beyond that, I’ve built some simple furniture for myself, and a couple of large (and somewhat unique) desks for one of my daughters.
Pretty-well all of my stripwood has either been hacked-up as abandonned dunnage in freight cars, or given away to friends who still model using wood.
Wouldn’t it be better to order a few sizes to try & play with first so that it gives you the hands-on information you need before purchasing a “lifetime supply”? Even after gleaning good information here, I would want to see and try it for myself; not just take other people’s word. That way you mitigate as many unexpectged surprises and unknowns as you can.
I took a different approach. I got a Micro Lux saw from MicroMark and use it to cut popsicle sticks and coffee stirrers. If I need larger stock I either use paint stirrers, or wooden rulers which you can buy for around 10 cents at art supply stores.
Saves a lot of time waiting for wood pieces to come in the mail, and satisfies my need to be extremely frugal.
Sorry, I meant to say I am ordering from Northeastern. They are the brand I have used mostly in the past, and they offer HO scale dimensional lumber, and those super-handy corner posts.
I have never used Mt Albert or Kappler.
I only anticipate scratch-building a handful of smaller structures. If I do take on a bog project, that would require a seperate order. I am just looking to keep a good supply on hand so I can build when the urge strikes me.
Thank you. This is all very useful information.
I appreciate the time you took to type this for me.
I have only built one wooden train car. I definitely prefer plastic for freight cars. I already have a very-thorough supply of Evergreen and Plastruct on hand.
I had my cart loaded at Northeastern, just waiting for some details from this thread, and now the cart is empty. I am still logged in. I guess the cart does not store on their site.
Oh well, their loss… off to check out Builders In Scale.
Kevin now you are in my niche. I love scratch building using scale lumber! Early on I was using a lot of Northeastern Scale lumber. That is Campbell kit source for lumber.
I sorta switched over to Midwest for scale mainly because every package has the RR scale size printed on the back. When Northeastern couldn’t supply corner posts I made my own corner posts. It’s faster as well as cheaper to make corner posts.
I thought I would add that every home has room partitions and 20 Grain of Wheat bulbs driven off Arduino Random Lighting Controllers making them look lived in.
I have had good luck with Mt. Albert. Mt. Albert also sells a rotating strip organizer. I haven’t taken the plunge, but I will. And they have a really good bulk ordering system. I intend to use the bulk order feature when buying materials for a couple of long scale wooden trestles; one 900’ and one 400’.
Kevin, I am with Wayne plastic siding and lumber is easy to work with and finishes up well. There are some interesting structures built from scratch in the old Mainline Modeler magazine where Hundman built them all from styrene.
I was lucky years back and bought some one elses collection. What I have found is scale 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, 2x10 and 2x12 along with 4x’s of the same are used the most along with 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 and I use 12x12 for bracing. As far as siding scribed is used the most as it can be used for decks too so thiner is prefered here, I have both. Clapboard is great for some structures and I have used a little board and batton too.
