How to build a model house out of cardboard
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COMPLETE PACK ONLYIf you ever wondered how to build a model house out of cardboard, then you’ll be pleased to know the plans have numbered parts and putting them together with card is really easy to follow. You’ll also discover lots of demonstration videos on this website, and customers also get free access to a Printing and Assembly Guide showing how to construct houses and other structures from cardboard.The 5 house plans (3 houses and 2 bungalows) in this series feature brickwork designs so would look at home in the same residential neighborhood with other brick homes from the same era. The neighbours in the miniature street scene you are creating would likely have similar residences, which is usually what you see when visiting actual neighborhoods in real life. In the real world the homes would most likely have been constructed by the same builder around the same year, so having 5 brick homes and bungalows in one street is logical. The builder probably did a bulk buy on materials and bought a big quantity of bricks for a special price. That’s the likely real life scenario, so replicating that in miniature makes perfect sense for model railroaders and people creating dioramas, or for children completing school projects.
You can create an entire street scene with by printing out duplicate copies of these paper houses, so 5 homes could easily become 15 homes, with each one looking unique with the help of some clever positioning of miniature scenery elements such as trees, bushes, gardens, driveways, plastic people and animal figures etc.
How To Build A Model House Out Of Cardboard – Materials and Supplies Needed
Not much is need to make up these houses from the downloaded plans. Print the plans on regular photo copy paper, and glue the printed plans onto card-stock (cardboard from an old muesli / cornflake pack is definitely suitable). The video below of the small general store show the basic construction process for these house models.
Cut out the plans which will now be mounted on the card, and glue the individual pieces together. So as you can see materials required for making these miniature homes is minimal. The whole construction process for making these 5 scale model houses out of cardboard takes only minutes and they are unbelievably sturdy when dry. That’s not to say you couldn’t add additional cardboard supports for additional strengthening if you feel it necessary. Take a close up inspection of the model houses and you’ll spot the intricate detailing of the brickwork texture is already finished for you. So you won’t need to spend hours adding realistic touches or painting brickwork trying to make it look genuine.
Each of the plans for making these cardboard model houses has been pre-weathered to add character and true realism to the street scene. You can still add your own weathering or finishing touches if you like, however the photo-like images used in the designs are just like looking at “life-like” real world structures.
If you enjoy making model houses out of cardboard, then you might also be interested in getting started in the wonderful hobby of rail modelling.
After downloading and saving the files to your computer, print the designs out on a home printer. Print one copy, two copies or more – the decision is over you how many copies you print because you will still only be charged for the one download. The only stipulation is; the copies much be for you personally. The international copyright laws are strictly enforced to prevent people selling, trading, or giving away unauthorized downloads.
If you haven’t downloaded a PDF file before you’ll be pleasantly surprised how little time it takes (usually less than a minute). The file for each paper model can be saved in a safe place on your computer so you can access it whenever you want to make more scale model houses out of cardboard.
Making miniature cardboard model houses using paper plans is economical for rail modelers wanting to add a touch of reality to their HO scale railroads, N scale layouts, or OO gauge railroads. They are also popular with craftspeople and artists who enjoy making highly detailed dioramas, and with teachers and students for school projects.
Join a Local Model Railroad Club and Network
Most scale railroading enthusiasts are more than helpful and gladly give you the benefit of their experience and introduce you to others with a similar interest in the hobby. Joining a local club is a great way, you can learn insider secrets and tricks.
Don’t think that everyone in a club is experienced. Most clubs enjoy a mix of long-time experienced rail modelers and new members. It is a good place to learn, because most railway clubs encourage the exchange of ideas between members. They swap photos, show films, discuss construction techniques, network with other railroad clubs and even have guest speakers from time to time. Joining a model railroad club can be truly rewarding experience in terms of what you can learn, the people you meet and the fun you have.
Visit Model Train Shows and Exhibitions
Model Train Shows have become very popular in the last 10 years. Train shows start with a promoter who rents a large space in a hall, convention center, or perhaps a local fairground. The promoter usually invites the local train clubs to put on displays.
Space is rented to “out of town” dealers so that they can show off and sell their ranges of model train sets and model train accessories… in fact, anything that might be of interest to rail modelers. However be aware that some of the displays exhibited are have be created over many years, and often at considerable cost. Some of the exhibits will feature downloaded constructed paper models, but others will display the much more expensive plastic kits. The plastic variety are very good especially for those in the hobby that have an unlimited budget and possess really proficient airbrushing skills. Surprisingly, many rail modelers grew up with plastic kits and don’t actually know how to build a model house out of cardboard. Some in the hobby have never downloaded plans to build cardboard model houses, so are unaware of how strong the buildings can be, and how real the photographic images are when compared to using a paint brush or spraying the plastic kits with an airbrush to try and make them look real. Many experienced railroaders are very accomplished with these techniques, so produce some fine results to be proud of.
The selection of items on offer at model train shows is usually far more extensive than a model railroader could expect to see at a local hobby shop. The train shows often feature exhibits from dealers specialising in particular scales such as: HO scale, Z, OO gauge, O scale, and N scale railway supplies and accessories. Also, these model train shows can provide a good opportunity to pick up a bargain as they usually feature a range discontinued items at discounted prices. But, that’s where you may need to be particularly careful.
Used or second-hand model trains and accessories are a popular attraction at Model Train Shows. This is where buyers need to be careful and know exactly what they are looking for and what they are buying. Used items don’t usually come with any type of money-back guarantee. A dealer selling items at a model train show could be 500 miles away in a few days. This could provide little (if any) opportunity to return or exchange items, or to get refunds. This is where a local Hobby Shop can offer an advantage because the shop can’t hide from you… and, if the hobby shop management is efficient, they will get to know the wants and needs of each individual customer.
So, Model Train Shows can be both inspirational and confusing at the same time. And they can, potentially, be a minefield of danger for an inexperienced beginner to this hobby.
However, in saying that, there are many excellent “out of town” dealers at model train shows who will do their best to help and who will stand behind their sales. The key is to ask each dealer about guarantees, replacements, servicing… and to get accurate contact details. Many reputable dealers will gladly supply a phone number to call if you have a problem with something you bought and will work out an exchange via mail.
Model Train Shows are a wonderful experience and a great venue if you want to expand your knowledge of the hobby and talk model trains with like-minded people. The displays of model trains and running layouts put on by the various clubs that participate are usually well worth the entry fee, even if you buy nothing at the Model Train Show. Train exhibits can also be a great way to get ideas for making scale model buildings, especially now that you know how to build a model house out of cardboard. You’ll be able to compare the noticeable quality apparent in the unique photographic designs for sale on this website. Making miniature cardboard model houses has never been easier with such realistic results.
Start Building Model Houses and Working On Your Railway With the Right Tools
Constructing cardboard models requires very little in the way of tools or materials: ordinary photocopy paper for your printer; some discarded card, adhesive (maybe some reasonably fast drying clear glue and some Super Glue for smaller parts); a steel ruler; craft knife and cutting surface; and a few clothes pins (pegs) to use as mini clamps. The cardboard model houses you make can be strengthened internally by gluing a few strips of scrap cardboard inside the finished model, but this is entirely optional, as is spaying the assembled cardboard house model with artists matt clear varnish. Watch the demo videos, read the free customer Printing and Assembly Guide that is available after purchase, and you will be a pro at making cardboard model houses and buildings in no time. You’ll be able to construct the printed models in HO scale, N scale, or make them to OO gauge.
For collecting trains, few tools are really needed, although a some screwdrivers and needle nose pliers are useful for securing parts. However, anyone planning to build a railroad layout should obtain clamps, drill, electric saber saw, hacksaw, hammer, hot glue gun, measuring tape, motor tool, pin vise, safety goggles, soldering iron, utility knife, and wire strippers.
Even a small mirror or mirror tile can be helpful when looking for kinks, dips and misalignments in track. To check alignments simply set the mirror on the edge on the track. The mirror will enable you to inspect the alignment of the rails, not by looking directly along the train rails, but instead by looking into the mirror at the image of the rails. This will save you from stretching or bending over (no so easy as we get older) or getting track imprints in your cheek. When you bend down and sight along a rail the track can appear to be very smooth. However, by looking at the image of the rail in a mirror, kinks and dips are often easier to spot.
The mirror can also prove useful when placed alongside the track to view the action of trucks and wheels while the train moves over a trouble spot. Also, consider using a mirror when laying track in difficult locations and even track that is out in the open.
Plan to Expand Your Railroad With More Track, Trains, and Cardboard Model Houses and Buildings
As already mentioned, you don’t need to start off big. You can expand your train set as needed. Take your time and add your own personal touches along the way. Building a small train layout to start with, will give you a chance to assess your strengths and weaknesses. You’ll learn what you can do with ease and what is more of a challenge.
Some people get put off by attempting difficult projects too early and become overwhelmed by a vast array of details, choices and problems. It is much better to start with something you know you CAN do to get immediate results and instant gratification. You can develop your skills and your layout from there by adding new features, extra rolling stock, new accessories, maybe some additional track and another locomotive.
The same advice applies to making model houses out of cardboard. Just start by downloading and building a couple of the printable scale model plans. The more cardboard model houses and structures you make, the more proficient you’ll become. When you see how good these photographic replicas look when assembled, you’ll be confident enough to download, print, and build more model houses and buildings for your N scale, OO, or HO scale railroad.
Enjoy Your Hobby
Don’t lose sight of the objective of the whole exercise i.e. to enjoy yourself and have fun! Model railroading and diorama model making can be more than just a hobby – it can become an addiction and you don’t want to get so involved in the process of problem solving that you forget to have a good time.
And remember, you never stop learning. Even though you now know the basics of how to build a model house out of cardboard, there are still some techniques you’ll learn along the way to make the process even easier, and the completed cardboard house model even more sturdy and realistic. Have a look through the wide range of plans for scale model buildings for sale here and select two or three designs to get started on. You’ll have a lot of fun creating real-looking miniature scale models for your railroad layout, diorama, art and craft activity, or school project.
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