Scratchbuilding an HO Scale Chicken Coop

Here is a simple scratchbuilding project that one could complete in an evening or two. This would also make a great project for your first scratchbuilt structure. I have included plans for the chicken coop which can be downloaded below.

Tools Needed

• Hobby Knife with Blades (#11 blades will work, but I recommend #24 blades)
• Sanding Stick or Emery Board
• ACC Glue
• Formula 560 Canopy Glue (Carpenter's Wood Glue will also work)
• Aleene's Tacky Glue (optional)
• Rule (HO Scale Rule is also helpful)
• Glue Applicator (toothpicks work in a pinch)
• NWSL Chopper (optional)

Materials Needed

Above are the materials I used in the build. You will also need:

• HO Scale Corrugated Roofing Material (I used K&S Engineering brand material) or Cardstock
• Alcohol and India Ink Wash (AI). (I use the following recipe for my AI wash:  2 teaspoons of India ink to 1 pint of 91% Isoproply alcohol.)

Step 1

You will use the clapboard siding material for the walls. Measure and mark the outlines for the walls, windows, and door.  Carefully cut out the walls and the openings for the windows and door. Save the window and door cutouts. These will serve as window covers and the door.

Step 2

Use the 1/16” stripwood for bracing the walls. Attach the stripwood pieces to the walls with canopy glue. The photos below show the stripwood placement.

Be careful to leave a 1/16” gap on the two side wall pieces to allow for the front and back walls to fit flush against the side walls.

Step 3

Now you can apply a wash of alcohol and India Ink (AI) to the front and rear wall pieces. Once you apply the wash, weigh down the wall pieces to prevent the wood from warping while the AI wash dries.

TIP: Use wax paper (above and below) to keep the parts from sticking to the weight and the work surface.

Step 4

(optional, skip to step 5 if this item is not desired on your model)

To add some interior detail to the chicken coop, you can add a row of nesting boxes using the 1/32” x 3” x 24” basswood sheet material. There are no set dimensions here, just be sure to leave a 1/16” spacing at the ends of the nesting boxes to accommodate the wall bracing. Attach the nesting boxes to the wall with canopy glue. After the glue has dried, you can add your AI wash to the nesting boxes.

Step 5

Glue the 4 wall sections together using a square and weights. Be sure the walls are square and plum.

TIP: Glue the front and left side wall first. Let it dry, then do the same for the rear and right side wall. Next, glue the combined sections together. Be sure the walls are square and plum for each step of this process.

Step 6

Cut out the 2 roof pieces from the basswood sheet using the dimensions shown in the attached plans. Attach these to the structure with canopy glue. Take your time and work carefully. Trimming and beveling the edges of the roof pieces may be needed. Even the slightest skew in the 4 walls of the structure will affect the placement of the roof pieces.

Optional
Use card stock instead of the basswood pieces for the roof. See attached plans for dimensions. Use canopy glue to attach the card stock to the structure.

Roof sections attached.

Step 7

Attach the 1/16” stripwood to the 4 corners of the structure. Fit and cut these pieces in place by eye. Use the sanding stick to bevel the top of the stripwood pieces to accommodate the angle of the roof. Attach these pieces with canopy glue.

TIP: Apply an AI wash to the 1/16” stripwood. Let it dry, then fit and cut the pieces in place.

Step 8

Give the whole structure another wash of AI solution. Let it dry, then proceed to step 9.

Step 9

Now you can apply a coating of your favorite stain. Follow the manufacturers' directions for their product.

Step 10

Now we can attach the corrugated aluminum roofing material to the roof. I cut the material into HO scale 3' x 6' pieces. Attach these pieces with Aleene's Tacky Glue, being sure to overlap each piece.

Next, cut a piece of corrugated aluminum roofing material for the ridge cap. Apply this piece to the roof using Aleene's Tacky Glue.

Roofing material installed.

Step 11

Attach window covers and doors to the structure with ACC.

Step 12 Final Details

I have added supports for the window covers using 1/16” stripwood cut into (approximately) scale 2” x 2” pieces. I attached these to the structure with ACC.

I also made hinges for the door and windows from aluminum foil, painted with burnt sienna acrylic paint. I cut these out to an appropriate size, and then attached them with ACC. Next, I weathered the roof and walls with weathering powders.

Here is the finished chicken coop.