Above: Moreton bin built from card by Marc Witten.
If necessary, card models can be built using a single-sided razor blade, a cutting board and a glue stick. However using a sharp-pointed scalpel blade, steel straight edge, self-healing cutting board and good quality white wood glue will result in a much better model.
Files can often be rescaled during printing to build models in any scale from N to O. Most kits are set up to be easy to cut out doors, windows and other details and apply them in layers to create a 3D effect. While any of the kits can result in quite reasonable models at normal viewing distance, newer photo-realistic kits include weathering and other details that enhance the appearance.
Card models are great for attracting new modellers into the hobby. I've several times built a Moreton bin (with minimal tools) in a couple of hours at local train shows while talking to visitors... then given tham away to young viewers, along with a print of the Comeng diesel.
I've also kit-bashed commercially available card buildings, both through computer modification and using more traditional modelling techniques. More of my photo-realistic card buildings can be found on the Capricorn Sugar Rail Museum (CSRM) page.
The photo above shows an operational bin as built built by Marc Witten. He printed three copies of the bin onto light card. The first forms the basic kit, with the floor and top reinforced with artist's mount board. The framing and related parts were cut out from the second copy and overlaid onto first for a three dimensional appearance.
The small brackets and corner plates, etc., were cut out from the third print, then overlaid on the second print after touching up all cut edges with a felt tip pen. He cast a chassis from whitemetal and added that to the base.
The card was coated with 50/50 pva glue/water which stiffened it and made it durable.
Marc has posted photos of his models on both the On30 and On30 Conspiracy web sites, and indicates that he will be applying the same technique to the other bin kits, as well as motorizing the Porter loco.
last updated: 15/02/11.