how to build a house from scratch

it doesn't get any simpler than this...start here...

http://www.littleglitterhouses...shanty/hl_shanty.htm

my very best regards...howard

as a first project, i'd keep it simple. draw or envision a house like those drawn by kids. start with some windows and a door or two from Tichy or Grandtline. remember the doors and windows really will cue the viewer about the scale as long as you don't oversize the structure too much. if it looks good to your eye, it probably is. you can build the walls from card stock, brace the corner wall connections with some 1/8" to 1/4" scrap wood  and then cover with wooden coffee stirrer sticks. or, get some clapboard sections from northeastern scale models. great stuff and easy to work with. if you're doing brick, I'd suggest rustystumps for their brick (wood) walls. or, n scale architect has o scale brick covering. any plastic tube can work for a chimney or again, grandtline has them (or just google it or go to ebay). glass is thin clear styrene, paper on the back for shades. the base can be foamboard from michaels or any art supply store. stairs can be made from scrap wood. if you want to get fancy with some porch and support columns, grandtline has those as well. use simple acrylic craft paints which are easy and safe for kids to use. you can get them at michaels, wal-mart or even large supermarmarkets. good luck and have fun. 

jerrman

If you really want to teach your son something, build it the way you build a full size house. Relatively easy to do with strip wood.

If it survived his teen years, it would probably be something he would save forever.

Perhaps it would be better to just build something simple--before getting into miniature stud wall construction with working flush toilets...

Jeff C

You can make this as simple or complex as you want depending on level of scratchbuilding that you really want to pursue.

As a 1st project, I'd suggest you start by finding a set of pictures of a house that you like and that's not overly complex in roof lines and shape.  While it might be attractive to build exactly as you'd build a full size house, that's a lot of sticks to assemble.  Think about all of the 2x4 framing....and floor joists and rafters, etc..  If you're doing a clapboard house, you can get milled clapboard siding from several sources - Northeastern, Kappler, Mt. Albert - to build the exterior walls, and then use some larger square stack for interior bracing and corners. 

Grandt line and Tichy make doors and windows; you can lay them out on the siding, set out the holes in advance before assembling, and after painting everything pop them into place.  Glazing, etc for windows is available.

In fact, just about everything you'll need is in the source list - if you can't locate it there, just ask here and you'll get answers

As a first project, one that is targeted towards a 10 year old, my first thought was "buy as many parts as you can - don't try to scratchbuild everything".  Buy doors, windows, stairs, etc.

I do a lot with styrene - it's gotta be the easiest material to work with.  You can get styrene sheets for clapboard or brick.  You can buy sheets of plastic shingles.

An alternate idea is to build walls and roofs out of foam core or similar, and then buy paper sheets to glue on to simulate clapboard or brick, and shingles.

The idea it seems, to me at least, is that you want for him to be involved.  Too much horsing around making every little thing yourself, which is very time consuming, might bore him and make him not want to finish.

- walt

You have been given some great tips from some of the masters (not me). I just started a laser kit building that I purchased years ago. It is a simple kit but I never realized how small it is when you are trying to glue walls and windows etc. and your fingers are not O gauge.

It really makes me appreciate the scratch buildings and details on the Sunday Scenic posts.

I would recommend a craftsman style kit to start.  Valley Models Trains has tons.  Cut your teeth on a laser cut model with the windows, doors and details included, then move on to a scratchbuild if it makes sense.  They are a lot of fun to build, can be as easy or challenging as you want.  A true 'craftsman style' kit has a fair share of fabrication of parts, whereas a lot of laser etched kits are all prefabbed.  Cut out the parts, fasten them together and finish the model.  That's where I would start.  You will get the hang of products available, construction techniques and your interest in going further.  Scratch building a model building is like building anything else.  Make a plan, a material list and build it.  It ain't rocket science, but it's fun!  Cya