What are your thoughts about using cardstock structures?

[tgindy]

On eBay, I just ran across a forgotten source for structures that was standard procedure 40-50 years ago along with the newer plastic models: cardstock structures. I now have an eBay bookmark: n cardstock.

The quality manufacturer that I noticed in particular was Metcalfe Models & Toys, and they even have N Scale buildings & materials. In fact, Metcalfe's website http://www.metcalfemodels.com/ has plenty of brick, wall, paving, and roofing materials, and; it seems these cardstock structures are a staple on many European layouts.

Since we seem to be so used to plastic models...

Wouldn't cardstock structures make great flats next to a scenery backdrop?
What is your experience using cardstock structures and materials?
What other ways have you used cardstock in scratchbuilding?
What are the best adhesives and construction methods?
How would you weather cardstock buildings?
What sources of cardstock are good?

The cardstock kits brought back memories of a Suydam structure that I purchased in the mid-1960s for my high school HO layout.

[reklein]

Man!! Theres a ton of cardstock models out there. Some very good ones too. Check out PaperCreek, Papermodels.net ,and Fiddlers Green for starters. All on the internet. Theres tons of other stuff too which you'll see when you Google up these guys.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I have several cardstock structures I built myself. I built them with wood frames so they would stand up well to daily wear and tear.

[DSchmitt]

I once built an NTRAK module where the total cost of structures (14-15 of them)  was less than $15.  They were Fiddlers Green (mainly their old west town) which I bought in a package deal before that company went internet.  Although more caricatures than real models, they made a very effective scene. 

About 50 years ago my first decent scratch built model were was an HO meat packing plant based on photo of a Frank Ellison O scale model in a book promoting Loinel trains. 

I have scaned a number of the Dover HO building (as well as others)  into my computer.  I plan to print them in N scale for use on a future layout. 

Here are some sources of paper model kits:

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/

http://www.papermodels.net/

http://www.erichotz.com/whitewash.html

The next two are makers of more expensive very detailed models:

http://www.clevermodels.com/

http://www.papercreek.com/main.html

[BR60103]

Most of the buildings on my layout are card kits. My wife likes the look of them better than plastic.  At train shows I do a demonstration of building the kits.

I build in OO scale, but there is a marvellous N layout Limpley Wharf that is all Metcalfe buildings. Metcalfe have a nice product where they provide row houses either full or in low relief, with the choice of fronts or backs, backs being what you usually see from the train.

For OO (HO) British style, there are also Superquick, Bilteezi, and Prototype. Prototype are a more time consuming kit as details are built up in layers.

 

[mikelhh]

Hi tgindy

I have the Metcalfe goods shed [first pic] on my oo layout and it's terrific, even if I was the builder!  

 

 It's strong, well-detailed, affordable, has easy to follow instructions and I've even put a light inside and because the card is so thick - double thick in many places - the light does not shine thru the walls.  I don't know how long it will last. I suspect it would last ages in the right environment.  I weathered it to a degree with artists pastels. Emphasising painted-on shadows like those under window sills works well. I was very surprised how tough the building is. The scored edges of card e.g. corners of buildings need special attention because they lack colour and must be worked on to disguise them.

 The Superquick brand Swan Inn in the 2nd pic is also card. It's thinner, easy to build and nicely detailed. It too is lit successfully. Of the 2 I'd rate the Metcalfe more highly, but both are excellent. I toned down the bright whites of the inn with artists gesso, and painted acrylic blue on the trim to alter the hue a bit. No adverse effects from  that.

 I used white glue on both but be careful not to spill any on the outer surfaces.

 Mike

 

[E-L man tom]

tgindy

The light bulb has just gone aglow! I am building a small switching layout and I need some buildings that I can paste against the backdrop as background. That's the idea! just use either scratch built or kits as these structures. I am thinking, with all the paints and with the help of the computer, one can make some quite convincing and interesting background structures.

Thanks for the idea!

 

[reklein]

For backdrop buildings in HO scale one can scan photos of buildings of any source and print them in the appropriate size,mount them on foam core and Voila!!!. Bob Boudreaux even scanned a whole barn and built it. Photographically they are great. Its hard to tell if the detail is 3D or not. If one uses several layers they can be made 3D. Paper Models International has a really good book on building paper models from kits ,but the rules apply to any graphics you might wish.

[Anonymous]

I am also using Cardboard for modeling!!

The support for this Bringe and the tunnel portals ar made from Cardboard

Also the Grainelevator far in the background is made from Cardboard!

 

[Anonymous]

I been building with cardboard for years, mostly the cerial box kind.  Here are some of my favorites that are 100% cardboard. Fred

[tgindy]

This topic's highlights are what I like about this forum...

1st, there are "light bulbs" going off with this overlooked modeling technique and source of layout construction.

2nd, the links provided by many of you are appreciated. The responses keep building up steam, so to speak. And, have you noticed the global aspect of this input? The cardstock pictures are just superb.

I just reviewed some early sixties Model Railroader back issues purchased with paper route earnings and MRR's "Easy-to-Build Model Railroad Structures" ($3.50 1976 7th printing). Do you remember how balsa wood & cardstock were at one time the way you scratch-built a project?

...who would have thought in this day of plastics! Cardstock has certainly become "a new source" in my layout planning. By using paper, manilla folders, and cardstock: What was old has once again become new.

With today's computer graphics-reduction capabilities...
How about enhancing a forced perspective scene?

[Anonymous]

I have built a number of the Metcalfe kits, and they are really good with very clear and helpful instructions.

The main issue, I think, is what glue to use.   Metcalfe themselves recommend 'Uhu' which is a strong, fast-drying solvent glue.  It does dry in a few minutes, and creates a strong joint.   However, it is very stringy (as most solvent glues of this kind are - at least the way I use them!) and the only time I tried it on a card kit I ended up with it all over the place!    White PVA craft glue is easier, but takes a lot longer to dry.

You could also check out http://www.scalescenes.com/  - you can download kits and print them off yourself, as many times as you like!    There's a free sample download too, which I will make at the weekend.   Their road surfaces look particularly useful (at least for U.K. or European layouts).

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Check this site out.

http://home.wanadoo.nl/schatborn/index2.html

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks - that's also excellent!

[BigRusty]

I recently bought an HO Paper model of the New Haven Union Station fom Westport Model Works. It is full scale, over 4 feet long. It is beautifully printed on heavy paper ready for mounting to card stock or sheet styrene. It has EVERY BRICK of that building which has a very unique brick pattern.

Check out his web site www.westportmodelworks.com for his catalog of solid and background buildings based on actual prototypes. I can't wait to get my layout started and add dozens oif these great buildings.

[mikelhh]

Steady on, fellas!  My list of favourites is getting HUGE!

 Thanks for all the helpful links.

 Mike

[leighant]

I have been trying reply for two days but could not get my picture to post.  Today I posted to another thread the same way I always do and it worked so here I go again. (And sometimes I can paste material I have pre-written on word processor, and sometimes I cannot paste....)

Johnston High School in my fictional East Texas courthouse square town of Johnston.

Home of the Johnston Lumberjacks.

 

Cardboard structure came from plans in Railroad Model Craftsman.  I made a photocopy of the plans onto COVER STOCK (slightly thicker than regular copy paper)  and sized in the photocopying for N scale.  I used that monochrome (black-and-white) photocopy for the doors and windows, using a Hiliter marker to color them.  Then I used Walthers N scale brick paper (They made it 20 years ago and I still have a small stock) and laminated it over the brickwork.  Then I took heavy cardboard to make -what you call em?- lintils- architectural dividers.  Painted them gray before gluing on.  And used a "sailing ship" eagle figurehead for the concrete patriotic eagle decoration over the main entrance.

 

This is the front and about 25 scale feet of one side in a triangular wedge for a narrow relief building against the treeline divider down the middle of my layout.   That treeline had little wood stobs holding it to the tabletop base.  (Yeah, sorry, I have a mostly flattop layoiut table)

 

To hide one of those wood stobs, I built a small school annex building to suggest the school's mechanical room, a tiny structure 10 by 15 scale feet, built from bits and pieces of leftover bashed plastic kit--- but I covered the plastic structure with the same BRICK PAPER so it would resemble part of the school building.  Sorry, I don't have the picture of that annex up on "Railimages" any more where I can show it.

 

I don't think the brick paper is available any more but I have easily and successfully "rolled my own" drawing two or three bricks in a computer drawing program, "copying and pasting" to make my own brick paper to print out.  And I have drawn up and printed out completre sides of building, to assemble onto cardboard....It's fun!

 

 

 

 

[leighant]

One detail I forgot.  The semicircular arches over the doorway are cut from fiber washers I found at the hardware store.  Painted them to match the other "cardboard" brickwork.

The picture I posted was before I covered up the wood stob at the far left end...

[BobbyDing]

Great Subject. Just for fun, and since Halloween is just around the corner, try these. They're free, and can be size up/down for your scale if your printer supports it:

http://www.haunteddimensions.raykeim.com/index301.html

 

Bobby

[Anonymous]

I had a bag of DPM parts and wanted to figure out how to fit them together best.  It came with some paper designs to cut out for testing purposes.  I ened up copying multiples of the pages and gluing them to index cards for test fits.

Once I had the building test fitted together with the card stock I decided to paint it and use it!  I've made a few buildings with just index cards.  It's cheap and with a little work they look pretty good. (be careful though.  One got wet and it didn't survive very well)

[BR60103]

I have a Superquick engine shed that I made in high school. I'm now retired and the building is as sturdy as ever -- a bit of wear on some corners.

Metcalfe has made a difference to the kit market. Superquick refurbished a number of their kits and came out with some really good new ones.

I use yellow carpenters glue for mine, and Krystal Kleer to hold the windows.

I plan to be demonstrating at the Toronto Christmas Train show in November.

 

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I remember somewhere on the net was downloads of patterns like tin roofs, brick walls, etc. that you could print off on color printers and use for buildings.  I've been looking but no luck.  Has anyone else seen the site or is it my wishful thinking.
Thanks,
 Jim

[Anonymous]

Jim, I had put some of these on my web site and you can download them here.
http://www.elgincomp.com/train_prints.htm

Steve