Are you interested in adding HO scale buildings to your model train layout? Adding building scenes are an excellent way to provide a strong level of realism to your layout.
There’s several different ways to go about adding HO scale buildings. First off, you can add buildings that suit the time period of your model railroad. You can also add buildings to a specific scene that you’re looking to add. Another great option to utilize kit-bashing, which combines a variety of buildings together or simply add background buildings.
Check out three popular types of HO scale buildings including a steel mill building, coal mine building plus background buildings that do not require any construction.
HO Scale Steel Mill Buildings
This HO scale steel mill building is a local prototype based out of Cleveland, Ohio. It’s a metal building that also produces coke on site. The diesel locomotive helps bring in the raw material that will be melted down and converted into steel.
The building does an excellent job of creating a realistic perspective in the model train layout. The larger structures properly outsize the smaller ones. It also contains power lines, which sets the era into a modern time.
Other types of buildings that can be added to help compliment steel production mills include a sinter plant and blast furnace.
HO Scale Coal Mine Buildings
Coal mine buildings are suppose to be dirty and this building is no exception. The weathered look along with the coal tipple provides a realistic perspective. The coal mine building also contains two train tracks loading chutes.
It works very well in-conjunction with mountainside coal mine. It also has a conveyor from mine to screen building.
HO Scale Background Buildings
Background buildings are an excellent addition to your layout. The backdrops help add a level of realism to the layout that actual buildings are unable to produce. Also, background buildings are much cheaper than purchasing model train buildings or kit bashing.
This particular background building scene is of a more modern time period. It includes an art supply store, an apartment building and a local store below. You’ll also notice the Uncle Sam sign that’s promoting the draft.