Effectively planning a model layout is almost as hard as actually building it. When trying to place industries along tracks or industries that have entrances for cars/locomotives in them, it gets hard to know where the best place for them are. Another hard and difficult problem is not having a building in a location, just empty space. There is an easy solution to this problem however! By simply using cardboard, a knife, and a hot glue gun, one can represent buildings easily as they are either built or sitting aside waiting to be built.
By utilizing the easy use of using cardboard as structures, it makes many more tasks easier. Using it as a temporary structure allows one to get a better feel for a space that a building will eventually take up. It also allows for buildings to easily be moved around or changed until the final location is found. And building’s aren’t the only things that can be mocked up this way.
As seen in the photograph above, cardboard allows the modelers to easily see the space allowed by a potential building. The two boxes to the right also allowed them to know how silos/bins would look with piping leading between them and the building. The mockup isn’t that complex, just four walls with a little support and a label. Obviously this is supposed to be a food warehouse as seen by “Anderson Foods.”
Another good benefit of using cardboard is that it is easy to change and come up with different shapes and configurations for a structure. This help’s in the end if the building that will end up on the layout hasn’t been decided yet. By quickly mocking up different shapes, the ideal building can be bought afterwards. This can be done by using a model building’s footprint (or dimensions) and then cutting cardboard into those dimensions.
As can be seen in the example above, a lumber yard has been mocked up by using cardboard. Two covered sheds were constructed quickly and easily to form an idea of what was desired in this spot. Two buildings with a space in the center and areas for details around. It’s just that easy.
When cutting cardboard, the easiest way of doing it that we’ve found is by using a box cutter and straightedge. Using the straightedges will allow you to make straight, clean cuts that will make it easier to assemble and mock up buildings.
