A well-made model building can be used for a school project, add background detail to a model train set, or help you visualize a construction project.Piecing together your own model buildings is not that difficult if you have a plan and a few inexpensive materials.Once you have a basic design for your building, trace its individual planes onto your material of choice and cut them out.Once you have prepared each component, glue them together and add the finishing touches.
Step 1: Determine what kind of building you want to make.
You need to have a clear idea of what your model building will look like before you start putting it together.Take note of different types of buildings while you are out and about to get inspiration, or use your imagination to come up with your own one-of-a-kind structure.You can build it if you can envision it.If you plan on modeling a real building, take plenty of photographs so you have something to reference throughout the design phase.On your first attempt, a simple house, barn, or other traditional structure will be the easiest to create.As your skills improve, you may be able to work on mansions, skyscrapers, castles, and other types of buildings.
Step 2: From a number of angles, sketch your building.
A rough rendering of your building can be created with a pencil and a sheet of paper.You should include at least one view of the roof, along with any other prominent design features.You will be able to see your building more clearly if you draw it.Once the time comes, it will help you transfer the structure's individual planes onto your work materials.Your sketch doesn't have to be perfect, it will just serve as a preliminary visual aid to guide you through the process of cutting and assembling your model building's various pieces
Step 3: If you are recreating an actual structure, scale your model to the correct size.
To build a replica with accurate dimensions and proportions, begin by finding the height and width of the building you want to model.Pull up a modeling scale conversion chart online and use the figures listed to translate your recorded measurements to a given scale, which you will then use to build your model.Scales are fractions that show how big a model is compared to the object it is based on.It would take 125 of your model lined up end-to-end to match the length of the actual building if you were building a model to a 1/125 scale.It is possible to see the exact dimensions of a structure in your local building records.If you want to pull up the original building plans of the building you are looking for, you need to run a quick search.
Step 4: Each plane of your building is marked on a sheet of heavy cardstock.
It is time to transfer your designs to your actual work materials after you know what you want your building to look like.An outline of each of the building's main components, including the floor, walls, roof, and any outlying features like chimneys, gables, flower boxes or downspouts, should be drawn.Styrene, mat board, gel foam, or balsa wood can be used instead of cardstock.All of these materials are soft enough to cut and shape easily.If you want doors and windows in your model building, be sure to draw them in.
Step 5: Use a utility knife to cut out the components of the building.
Use a metal ruler or straight edge to guide the point of your knife.Rather than trying to force the blade through the material, use light pressure and make multiple passes.If you are working with a stronger material like wood, you may need to go back over your outlines several times.You can protect your work surface by placing a piece of scrap cardboard underneath it.A self-healing cutting mat is a good investment if you want to get into modeling seriously.A pen-style knife has more control than one with a wider handle.
Step 6: It's easier to punch out doors and windows if they are scored.
Start with the tip of your knife inside one corner of the outline and drag it slowly to the opposite corner, stopping just before it reaches the line.Turn your material, reset your knife, and score the next side of the outline.Press down on the excess material at the center of the opening to free it from the surrounding piece.If you have trouble, you can extend your cuts all the way to the edges of the piece, snap them apart, and glue them back together.You won't be cutting into the surrounding material if you score your doors and windows this way.
Step 7: It is possible to make a roof from a single piece of material.
It can be difficult to piece together a roof.A simpler solution is to draw an additional line onto the outline for your roof piece where the two sides will come together, then fold the cardstock along the line to form the point of the roof.Make a shallow cut down your roof point line and bend the sections of material on either side away from one another to create a hinge if you are using gel foam.For basic gable, gambrel, and skillion roofs, this technique works best.If you have chosen a more complex roof style for your model, you will have no choice but to cut and paste.
Step 8: The blade on your utility knife needs to be changed.
After a while, the friction of cutting and scoring will dull your cutting tool.If you notice that your cuts feel rough, stop what you are doing and remove the blade from your machine.You will feel the difference right away if you replace the dull blade with a fresh one.Lift the old blade from the rear edge of the knife to avoid accidentally cutting yourself.It is possible to extend a brand new, ultra-sharp tip with some newer blades that have pre-notched blades.Cutting with a dull blade can tire you out quickly, and is more likely to damage your work materials.
Step 9: Glue the model together.
Attach a thin strip of craft glue to the edges of your first piece.Press and hold the two edges together as you line up the glued edge with the corresponding edge of the neighboring piece.Allow the glue to dry for 15-20 seconds before moving on to the next piece.A hot glue gun, super glue, or ordinary white glue can be used.Start by putting the outer walls in place around the floor piece, then attach any interior walls you want to include, saving the roof for the last part.
Step 10: You can apply a thin layer of clay to the outer surface of your model.
Soft modeling clay can be pressed onto the skeleton of your structure.Once you have covered the entire structure, spread and flatten the clay with the pads of your fingers until it is an even thickness all over.Don't bend or damage the underlying material.The planes of your model come together to create sharper corners and edges.Most projects will work with any type of modeling or air dry clay.If you want to paint your finished model, be sure to pick a neutral color.
Step 11: Use a utility knife to carve fine details into the clay.
Hold the knife the way you would a pen or pencil, and use the point of the blade to etch masonry stones, staggered board lines, or tiny brickwork patterns.Take photos of the surfaces and materials you are replicating to make sure they look authentic.You can use your utility knife to draw on realistic features.If you don't want to go to the trouble of carving everything by hand, you can purchase a sheet of Embossed vinyl or plastic printed in the exterior finish of your choice.Cut them to fit the shape of your building's walls, floor, or roof and smooth them on.
Step 12: Add realism to your model with paint.
A detailed paint job will make your model look better.Pick up as many shades of color as you can.You need gray for raw stone, dark red for brick, brown or tan for wood, black for roofing tiles, silver for metal, bright colors for siding, shutters, and other painted portions.You need to heat-cure the clay before you apply paint if you use air dry clay.If you want to prevent the clay from burning, place the model in the oven on its lowest setting for 15-20 minutes at a time.Continue until it feels dry and solid.The best way to apply clay is to use poster paint.