Are These Any Good?

[Topherisme]

Industries - Model Buildings

www.modelbuildings.org

Anyone have any experience with this type of modeling?

 

[santafewillie]

I have no experience with Factory Scale Models, however I have made about a dozen cardstock structures from other manufacturers. You download the file and print as many as you want for assembly.. I read that they use cereal boxes or similar cardboard, I print mine on 65# printer paper which is not nearly as thick. I use them mainly for background buildings like this one.

On this one, I added some Evergreen strip styrene around the windows and doors to give it a more 3D look.

Another one.

Some of the Factory Scale Models look to be more complex and detailed.

 

[boatwrench]

Do you use a regular printer or take to a print shop for thicker paper?

 

[santafewillie]

65# paper is not quite as thick as a business card and goes through my Epson ink-jet printer just fine. I got the paper at one of those office supply stores. Since it is an ink-jet, I spray everything with clear matte finish before assembly.

 

[boatwrench]

Thx Willie. I have an Epson also. There are a few of those buildings would make a good background for my planned layout.

 

[Horn Hooked on Tyco]

I have Evan Designs Model Builder software that I used to create free building models for the website (now defunct) of the model railroad club I used to belong to before I had to move away for work ... I scanned in several unassembled PIKO/Tyco/AHM vintage building kits and modified them significantly to avoid copyright complaints. I found this was the software a lot of card stock building sellers use to create their products. Like santafewillie, I use 65# paper to print out the buildings on my HP OfficeJet printer. A lot of people use Gatorboard to glue their printouts to for the walls to strengthen them from warping ... I just went to Dollar Tree (now Dollar .25 Cent Tree) and got foam poster board. I used colored chalk to cover any white where the walls met. You'll probably laugh, but my family is addicted to Hostess and Little Debbie snack cakes. After they ate all the cakes, I cut the cardstock boxes down and carefully printed roofs on the unprinted side and glued that to my poster board walls. IMHO ... card stock buildings look good in the background or as background flats, but up close they still look like paper craft buildings if they're just 4 flat sides and a flat roof without any 3 dimensional additions to them.