Modelling material for cabinet shell models?

[Turnarcades]

I'm looking to create some rough scale models of our product range for taking to shows etc. but I'm struggling to think of a cheap, rigid material that won't require loads of time to put together and won't crush or damage easily.

See I could do them in wood but that would take too long, whilst normal card will be too flimsy. I have looked at corrugated plastic sheets but they are very pricey. Can anyone suggest a lightweight tough material that would work?

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

http://sugru.com/

Might not be exactly what you're looking for.. but it's a remoldable plastic-y material.


Edit: Somehow I read 'rough' as being a smaller scale. Thus this material is wholly inappropriate.

[BobA]

Baltic birch plywood is used very often for mini cabs and models.  It is thin and has more layers then regular plywood.

Baltic Plywood

[Turnarcades]

Thanks for the suggestions, but these are a little more involved than I need. They aren't proper scale models; they will just be made to the overall scaled shape of the cabinet to give people an idea of the various cabinet proportions, without the need to build a whole rack of demo machines that we may not have room for. I want to build a few about a foot high, but ideally I need something more craft-like that can be cut with a sharp knife or similar rather than tools, and be put together with a glue gun or staples or something.

[Bender]

foamboard or gatorboard would work although sheets that big get a bit pricey

[Samstag]

I used foam board for a small cab mock-up and I think it's probably what you're looking for.  I don't know where bender is buying his but the stuff I found was really cheap.

[Ond]

Artboard or foamboard as its also called.  Light, rigid easy to cut and perfectly smooth.  That would be my choice. It is available in various colors as well though usually in either black or white.

[Bender]

I used foam board for a small cab mock-up and I think it's probably what you're looking for.  I don't know where bender is buying his but the stuff I found was really cheap.

I was under the impression he wanted to make full size mock ups which would require 1/2" foamboard in at least the 40x60" size, that stuff starts getting Pricey!!!
and a 4x8' sheet crazy cash let me tell you, I've had to buy a couple

[Turnarcades]

Foamboard probably is the best solution, though I will have to check suppliers as the place I usually go for mountboard only has single-faced foamboard (ie. card front with foam backing, but no reverse card face). This should do the trick nicely - thanks all.

[gnateye]

foamboard or gatorboard would work although sheets that big get a bit pricey

i 2nd this, i work with foamboard at work all the time. the .25 inch stuff works great, is rigid, and is easily cut-able with and exacto and ruler.

gator board is even more rigid but a little harder to cut/work with in my opinion.

both can be spray painted if needed

[gnateye]

we get ours from dickblick.com or artmart.com comes in 4 foot by 8 foot pieces just like plywood. all thicknesses from .125" to 1 inch.

[wp34]

I've not tried it yet but my wife suggested I use 4x8 sheets of foam insulation for my mockup. It seems to be cheaper than foamboard.

[Blanka]

Browse the IKEA for some cheap-ass table surfaces or so. They are king of hollow paper-sandwich panels. Ever stumbled over a LACK table? Did it survive?
You can buy the board in plain format too, but no idea where. The Design Acadamy runs on this stuff for study models.

[patrickl]

I made my PocketGalaga from berch plywood. It's lightweight and sturdy. I simply glued the thing together.

[Bender]

I used foam board for a small cab mock-up and I think it's probably what you're looking for.  I don't know where bender is buying his but the stuff I found was really cheap.

I was under the impression he wanted to make full size mock ups which would require 1/2" foamboard in at least the 40x60" size, that stuff starts getting Pricey!!!
and a 4x8' sheet crazy cash let me tell you, I've had to buy a couple

Ahh I should lean to read better he clearly states a scale model in the first post
yeah regular foamboard is the way to go!
and would be really cheap for a scale model

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

I think all the confusion is stemming from a misunderstanding of the word 'rough'.. As is it the model that is to be rough, not the scale.

I'd parse 'rough scale' as meaning close to 1:1, but not quite.

[Turnarcades]

The models will be just scaled down to about 1/6 but will not replicate all the fine points like edge lips, control panel detail or anything. They will just be basically like creating a cube out of paper using a folding template (OK a little more detailed than that) and then lined up on pivoting pins along a 4 foot baseboard. This will sit on the table of my trade stand and be used to demonstrate cabinet size differences to visiting customers and can be turned round without being nicked. Something like this:

[Trap]

I made this from some 1/16" birch ply.  I cut it out with a laser cutter we have at work. It took less then an hr to cut it out and glue it together.  Worked well I thought.

[jholman76]

Contact your local mad scientist and borrow his shrink ray.

i am not kidding.