Modelling with foamboard

Drawing of four house elevations set out on a sheet

Setting out the elevations

First, plot out the different elements of your design that will make up the three-dimensional model. You can draw them on computer and print them out, or draw them by hand on paper, and then photo mount the paper onto the foamboard. Alternatively, draw the design directly onto the foamboard.

Drawing the design on computer makes it easy to add extra detail, such as brick patterns.

Drawing of four house elevations set out on a sheet

Photo mounting

If your elevations are on paper, it is best to photo mount them onto the foamboard. Spray a light, even coat onto the back of the design and let the glue become tacky. Then apply the paper to the foamboard, working from one end and smoothing out any trapped air.

For a very strong bond between the paper and the board, use the spray mount as a contact adhesive: spray both the paper and the board, and let the glue become touch dry before sticking them together.

Drawing of spraying photo mount onto the back of a paper elevation and laying it onto foamboard

Cutting out the elevations

Place the foamboard on a cutting mat. Cut out the elevations by holding the steel rule firmly on the foamboard and holding the scalpel fairly upright.

Make a cut through the top layer of card, then repeat several times until you have cut all the way through the board. You are much less likely to cut yourself by making gentle cuts than by trying to cut all the way through in one go. Keep the scalpel as vertical as possible, so that your cut leaves a right angle between the top surface and the cut edge.

Repeat until all the elevations are cut out.

Drawing of cutting elevations out of foamboard with a scalpel against a steel rule

Gluing the elevations together

Use UHU glue as a contact adhesive. Run the glue down one surface, touch it onto the other surface, then quickly pull the two apart.

Let the glue become touch dry, then firmly place the elevations back together. This forms a strong joint. Repeat until you have completed your design.

Drawing of running UHU glue along the edge of a foamboard elevation to join it to another

A stronger, neater joint

When you cut out the elevations, on one side of the joint cut away the thickness of the board, cutting only through the top layer of card and the foam and leaving the bottom layer uncut.

Then glue the pieces together as before. This gives a greater gluing area and a concealed joint. If you use this method, you need to make an allowance for it on the elevations.

Drawing of the stronger joint: the top card and foam cut away so the bottom card laps the other piece

What you need