What scale wall thickness should I use?

Real UK house walls are 230mm (single brick) or 330mm (cavity wall). At 1:76, a 230mm wall scales to 3mm — use 3mm styrene or foamboard. For interior partitions (100mm real), use 1.0-1.5mm styrene.

How do I scratch-build a simple building?

Start by cutting four wall panels from sheet styrene. Score brickwork or stonework before assembly. Glue the four walls into a box using liquid poly cement. Add a roof from card or styrene. Fit windows and doors using strip offcuts or commercial window frames.

What height is a typical UK building storey?

A standard UK storey is 2700-3000mm floor to floor. At OO gauge (1:76), this is 35-39mm. For Victorian buildings, storeys are taller at 3000-3600mm (39-47mm at OO). Ground floor commercial premises can be 4000-5000mm.

Should I add internal walls?

Only if the building is lit or you plan to have visible interiors. If the model is purely external, internal walls add unnecessary weight and complexity. If lighting, add key partition walls to prevent light bleeding between rooms.

ModelCalcs

Structure Calculator — Scratch-Built Buildings

Calculate framing, panel sizes and dimensions for scratch-built structures.

Building Type

Scale

Real Width (mm)

Real Depth (mm)

Real Height (mm)

Wall Thickness (mm real)

UK brick: 230mm, cavity: 330mm

How We Calculate This

Scales real-world building dimensions to your chosen scale and calculates the sheet material needed for wall panels.

Formula

Scale dimension = Real dimension / Scale ratio
Wall area = Perimeter x Height
Perimeter = 2 x (Width + Depth)

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.