Metcalf buildings for homes

**ianpallen** · 09-04-2014, 06:02 AM

I have been looking for ideas on buildings for hamster homes and I would like a farmhouse for Screech to go with the waterwheel house.( i would love one in real life too. lol ) Does anyone build their own railway scenery. I found a Metcalf 00 gauge farmhouse and the price is not too bad. The door can be cut out for entrance and the plastic could be left out of the windows for ventilation. I think it will make a nice scenery in Screech's cage. . Here is the building. There are loads to choose from, from terraced houses, to railway stations. They are cardboard so can be chewed.
PO250 Metcalfe OO/HO Manor Farm House Card Kit | eBay

Has anyone built these. If so, how are they built. Is is safe to use glue or hot melt glue ? I wouldnt want to buy one then find out PVA would not be strong enough for it. I have not built 00 gauge scenery before.

velma · 09-04-2014, 06:13 AM

What a great idea Ian. I've not built any railway scenery myself but my dad has a railway he's built & i think that might be 00 gauge. Is that the 1:76? I'll ask him what he used when i speak to him next. They're not usually very thick card, i know that much.

**ianpallen** · 09-04-2014, 06:22 AM

I dont know the exact scale, but it is the normal hornby railway kits. I have not seen a hornby set since I was a kid really. I was never into trains. I had scalextric as I was into cars. To big to set up though.

I have seen some set ups of trains on youtube, but not found one building a metcalf house or station. Only reviews and they look big enough for a dwarf hamster to live in.

velma · 09-04-2014, 02:36 PM

You've got me intrigued now! Will be speaking to my dad in a day or two but interest got the better of me in the meantime & I had a look at the Metcalfe website. In the details for the manor farm they have a schematic with sizes, if that helps work out the suitability. Also, I had a look at their tools & they are selling Uhu solvent free glue, if that helps work out what you could safely use. Here is the link with the plan in it,
00 Gauge Town & Country Railway Kits - Manor Farm House - Railway Models & Toys from Metcalfe - Ready Cut Card Kits

**ianpallen** · 09-05-2014, 12:49 AM

Thanks Velma.
After looking at the plans, I think it might be a bit small. The farmhouse is only 5" x 5" in total and the cottage is smaller. It might be ok for a robo. Might just be ok for a russian dwarf. Not ideal for a syrian. I think Screech would be a bit cramped in it. She is a russian dwarf.

I think the 'N Gauge' will be bigger. I will have to look at the difference.
Pictures are so decieving on size.
I have been caught out on stuff off ebay a few times where the pic of an item looks to be a good size and when received, the item is a lot smaller than expected. lol