I am very satisfied by several foam block structures I built using cardboard templates and a hot wire. My small layout now has some height and is no longer completely flat.
I'm encouraged to build more to get a feel for what fits. I've already learned several things from my mistakes and how to make them fit better. Foam is more easily correctable. While I have the Campbell Suppy Company kit, it may be years before I complete it or any other kit. So these will be in place for a while.
Now I'm wondering if they are worth improving by: adding cardboard sides, painting them, adding handdrawn or separate window and door details, finer roof and other details?
surely others have built stand-in structures before investing in something more permanent.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
I did the same Greg. Once the major land forms were "foamed" in, I painted the backdrop, then started to make building mock-ups with cardboard. I knew I wasn't using any out-of-the-box kits because of the spaces I had and the industries I wanted to use. After I was satisfied with the mock-ups, I started the building using many DPM and Walthers modular kits, and other detail parts from other kits, along with a lot of scratch building.
Mike.
My You Tube
A Google image search for "HO building mock up" yields some examples, as will a look through past issues of Model Railroad Planning.
Around here, many folks (including me) have made their structure mock-ups from foamcore. Some modelers print out photos or computer drawings on paper and spray-glue those to the foamcore before cutting out the walls (or print on self-adhesive page-size labels).
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
I've mentioned using small boxes (Kleenex, cereal, shoe...) as 'placeholders' for buildings to come (or, in my case, 'temporary' timetable-identified stations on to-be-hidden track in the netherworld.)
Another semi-permanent or permanent use of little building-shaped objects with paint and Sharpie details - underscale representations in forced-perspective scenes. They're well back and supposed to be even farther back. Museum-quality work on a 1:160 scale building up the valley from my 1:80 scale rails would be gross overkill. A light misting of blue-grey 'humidity' to dull the paint and it's good to go.
As for detailing 'foobies,' that depends on how long they might be in place and the impact of the details on operations. If your warehouse doesn't have doors, where exactly do you spot the box car? A little stripwood and a scrap of close-lined paper - Viola! Industrial roll-up door into the Nike distribution center (re-purposed shoe box.) Personnel door and office windows? They're on the side away from the aisle.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
cuyamaSome modelers print out photos or computer drawings on paper and spray-glue those to the foamcore before cutting out the walls
I found the google search (with the appropriate keywards) and your comments above very encouraging. Now I wonder if I could make them detailed enough that I wouldn't want to replace them.
At least for now, I now have a building to spot a car next to, much less a particular door. I guess I now need names for the industries.
thanks