Scratchbuilt

Scratchbuilt refers to models or devices constructed from raw materials rather than purchased kits or preassembled components. In hobbies such as scale modeling, model railroading, ship modeling, and robotics, scratchbuilding is valued for creativity, customization, and historical accuracy. Builders design and plan the model, source materials, and fabricate parts to match a chosen prototype or concept. This can involve wood, plastic sheet (styrene), brass or copper, resin, and nowadays 3D printed or laser-cut components, assembled with adhesives, solder, or fasteners.

The process typically begins with drawings or measurements, followed by cutting and shaping parts, assembling the frame or hull, adding details, and finishing with paint and weathering. Tools range from hand knives and saws to hobby lathes, files, and, for some projects, CNC machines or 3D printers. Scratchbuilt projects may be purely hand-built or incorporate ready-made subassemblies, but the distinctive element is that most components are made from basic materials rather than bought as a complete kit.

Compared with kit-built models, scratchbuilt work emphasizes design freedom but requires more time and skill. It allows replication of specific prototypes, period-accurate details, or custom configurations that kits do not offer. The practice also intersects with kitbashing, where builders combine scavenged parts with scratch components to reach a desired result.

Examples include a locomotive designed and built from scratch for a model railroad, a ship hull carved and planked by hand, or an architectural scale model crafted from sheet materials.