Card is a strong, yet under rated medium when it comes to modelling. Lately the trend has been for more detail in models, and card has been replaced my other materials. Models in these other materials are dearer and more complicated to manufacture. Most models used in railway modelling create the back drop, and therefore do not necessarily require high levels of detail, although these are possible to add.

Card models are strong when used with modern glues. Card is often free and comes in various thicknesses and various qualities. 

Making models in card gives you the opportunity to produce realistic looking models on a low budget. In most cases card can be free. We each throw away lots of card, whether it be cereal packets, or larger packaging items. In the past I have used all types of card to make a model, including the corrugated card used for cardboard boxes. One major advantage of using card is If you make a mistake, each part can be remodelled at very little cost.

To bring a flat card model to life is easy. Windows and doors should be recessed in the walls, and roofs should overhang the walls. With the advent of computers and home printing it is now within the reach of everyone to print and build their own card models at a very low cost.

If anyone has any doubt about the quality that can be achieved with card as a modelling medium the buildings on the Pendon museum layout will put those doubts fully to rest.

All of the models produced by Railwayscenics can be assembled by anyone with basic modelling skills, the minimum of special tools and a little bit of patience. Our models are not printed onto card, therefore everyone can print them using a home colour printer. All that is needed is good quality matte photo paper and a colour printer. We do recommend printing at a high resolution as this gives better results. Once your model is complete it will need to have a thin coat of matt varnish either painted or sprayed on it. This prevents it marking should it get wet, and will prolong the life and looks of the printed surface.

Each of our kits comes in two main sections. The first is the printed exterior of the model. These we call the texture sheets. Each texture we use is taken from a photo of the actual texture. They are then converted into a usable seamless texture, then added to the model in the design stage.

The second section is basically the templates which need to be stuck to your card, then cut out. These card pieces are then wrapped in the outer layer to produce the actual model. each of our models have been assembled firstly by myself, and then by a couple of friends, who happen to be railway modellers. If needed alterations are made to the design of the model. This does mean that another model has to be made to ensure that each part fits with the one next to it. It can be a long process from design to actual model to be released. For our 4mm scale models all the designs are based on using cardboard 1.5mm thick. Problems will arise if you try to use either a thinner or thicker card.

We do also include a set of basic instructions. These explain methods used, and the order of assembly. These instructions do not need to be exactly followed and are there as a guide.

All we can say is to give it a go. See what can be made, and enjoy a revitalised hobby. If you need any further help or advice please contact us.
 

Card - A guide to weight (gsm) and caliper (microns)

Card thickness or caliper is measured in microns (1000 microns = 1 mm) but frequently sold or described by weight or gsm (grammes per square meter). Paper and Card is manufactured and sold by the metric tonne in Europe, so weight has always been the dominant format when specifying paper and card.

Card, or board to give it it's proper name is sold using both caliper and weight to give the buyer more information. Commercially available card for printing and craft use usually starts at around 200 microns and finishes at around 500 microns. This is about the limit for conventional paper machines, so 2 or more sheets of card are laminated together to make thicker card.