right+for+the+job

There is a wide range of materials suitable for building models. Which material you use depends upon which type of model you are building and what shapes you need to make. In general terms, the softer the material and easier it is to cut, then the harder it is to maintain accurate lines.
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=__MATERIALS - SOFT & ENGINEERING.__= Materials such as foamed plastic or wood are easy to work with but cannot be held to precise definition - they cannot be cut and shaped accurately and as planned. Engineering materials such as metal and rigid plastic are more difficult to cut and shape, but they are capable of fine definition and do not damage easily. The surface on these engineering materials needs little finishing compared with foamed plastic and wood, and it is easier to achieve a professional looking model with them.



Because of this, soft materials are useful for sketch models, which need to be built quickly and where surface finish is not important. But hard materials should be used whenever possible for precise block models.

The size and shapes you need to achieve are also an important factor when deciding which materials to use. There are some shapes that can not be built in metal or plastic. It would be quite impractical to produce some large, very curced shapes in anything harder that wood, even for an accurate block model.

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