| Most of us have no desire to become an architect, but | | | | healthy dose of imagination. |
| most model railroaders wind up getting into the act at | | | | Some materials that are useful for creating your own |
| one point or another. It's sometimes impossible to find | | | | building include balsa wood, foam, wood glue, mat |
| exactly the building you need to complete your layout, | | | | board and cardboard and even lightweight plastics. |
| leaving you to come up with something of your own. | | | | Corkboard and plaster, gold or silver foil, glitter and |
| So what's involved in making your own buildings? Do | | | | spray adhesives can also be helpful. Most of these |
| you need to be a master carpenter or will you be able | | | | materials are available relatively inexpensively at your |
| to get away with the basic tools you can find in most | | | | local hobby shop. |
| homes? | | | | Where To Find More Ideas |
| The fact is, building a quality replica can take some | | | | There have been numerous article in various |
| intricate miter cuts and may require some advanced | | | | magazines over the years, explaining how to work |
| woodworking skills (and tools). But an alternative is the | | | | with these materials. Your local second-hand |
| "kitbashing" method, where you take an existing model | | | | bookstore or library can be a great resource for |
| and use them as the foundation for your building, | | | | finding them. And remember - look to other hobbies for |
| modifying them to suit your needs. | | | | ideas as well. These skills aren't solely the realm of the |
| When kitbashing, you can often get away with some | | | | model railroader. |
| simple tools such as an X-acto knife or scissors, plus a | | | | |