Shop model building materials and boards for architectural model making, presentation models, design projects, classroom assignments, and physical scale model construction. This category includes foam board, foam core, basswood, chipboard, cardboard, model building boards, and other materials used for architectural models, landscape layouts, and design presentations.
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Basswood Strips
Midwest Products$7.55 - $21.15Basswood is desirable because of its economy, workability and finishing qualities. Its tight homogeneous grain structure makes it ideal for a wide variety of hobby, craft and miniature projects. Basswood may be stained or painted to represent any wood... -
12" x 2" x 3" Basswood Block
Midwest Products$22.00A domestic wood desired because of its economy, work-ability and finishing qualities. Ideal for a wide variety for hobby & craft projects. Thin Basswood may be cut with a hobby knife, thicker Basswood requires a saw for cutting. Basswood may be... -
1/2" Thick White Foamboard
FOME-COR PRO$73.85 - $402.00Lightweight and flexible, 1/8" foam core is best for projects where thickness needs to stay minimal. It’s easy to cut and ideal for temporary displays or layered work where multiple sheets are stacked. Features: White... -
1/8" Thick White Foamboard
FOME-COR PRO$255.00Lightweight and flexible, 1/8" foam core is best for projects where thickness needs to stay minimal. It’s easy to cut and ideal for temporary displays or layered work where multiple sheets are stacked. Features: White... -
26" x 38" Chipboard Sheets
$170.00Lightweight 26 × 38 kraft chipboard pads give drafters, architects, model makers, and artists a rigid, eco‑friendly backing for sketches, scale models, blueprints, posters, and presentation boards. Crafted from 100 % recycled pasteboard and... -
3/16" Thick Black Foamboard
FOME-COR PRO$77.05 - $519.40BulletsFeatures: Black surface with black coreCFC-freeWarp-ResistantSmooth, black, clay-coated surfaceResilient coreAvailable in multiple sizesAvailable in 3/16" or 1/2" thickDescriptionThis rigid, warp-resistant foam board with its smooth, black,... -
3/16" Thick White Foamboard
FOME-COR PRO$49.95 - $704.85Lightweight and flexible, 1/8" foam core is best for projects where thickness needs to stay minimal. It’s easy to cut and ideal for temporary displays or layered work where multiple sheets are stacked. Features: White... -
3/8" Thick Cork Foam Board
FOME-COR PRO$30.80 - $169.30BulletsDescriptionLight-weight and sturdy construction makes this a great alternative to heavy cork boards. Perfect for school related presentations, art and photo displays, memory boards, business needs and more. It is thick enough that push-pins or... -
Balsa Wood Sheets
Midwest Products$29.70 - $38.85Balsa wood is the premier wood for modeling, matting, jewelry making and more! Balsa cuts easily with a hobby knife and can be stained or painted to represent any wood type making it a versatile material for fine artists, jewelry designers,... -
Balsa Wood Strips
Midwest Products$15.20 - $60.60Balsa wood is the premier wood for modeling, matting, jewelry making and more! Balsa cuts easily with a hobby knife and can be stained or painted to represent any wood type making it a versatile material for fine artists, jewelry designers, students,... -
Basswood Sheets
Midwest Products$17.75 - $89.75Create carved toys, artwork, crafts and gifts with this highly workable sheet of basswood. The tight homogeneous grain of this wood makes it ideal for a wide variety of hobby, craft and miniature projects. Stain it to represent any wood type or transform... -
Birch Hardwood Dowels
Midwest Products$23.65 - $33.80Bullets Features: Ideal for hobby, craft, and educational woodworking projects Birch hardwood dowels for reliable strength Available in a variety of diameters for different applications Takes paint and stains well for custom... -
Chipboard
Art Alternatives$213.00 - $240.00This chip board is sturdy and rigid with a smooth finish. Ideal for framing or as a base for mounting architectural models. -
Chipboard Packs
Borden & Riley$26.55 - $66.55This double weight pasted chipboard is packed and sold in 25-sheet packages. -
Double-Weight (.06") Chipboard
Seth Cole$102.35 - $1,045.10Seth Cole's Chipboard is a 100% post-consumer recycled brown chipboard.Features: Double Ply - 0.06" thickRecycledAvailable in multiple sizes and package quantities -
Model Building Materials-Graph Layout
Miscellaneous$1.80For use with PDK900 or on custom models. Scaled 1/4" = 1 ft. Sheet size: 18" x 24". -
Modeling Pulp Board
Art Alternatives$317.00This versatile board is ideal for architectural model making and sculpting. It cuts like soft butter at any angle allowing for precise detail work. The edges and surface can be sanded to correct mistakes or add texture and it accepts a variety of media... -
Single Weight (.03") Chipboard
Seth Cole$60.85 - $227.10Seth Cole's Chipboard is a 100% post-consumer recycled brown chipboard.Features: Single Ply - 0.03" thickRecycledAvailable in multiple sizes and package quantities -
Wood Planking Sheets
Wee Scapes$7.20Unpainted and embossed styrene plastic sheets used to create roofing, flooring, siding, rock, stone, and other architectural model effects. The sheets are demanded by architects and hobbyists for their accurate embossed detailing and...
Model Building Materials & Boards
Every model starts with a choice of material, and that choice shapes everything that comes after it. Foam board cuts fast and forgives mistakes, which makes it the right pick for early concept work. Basswood holds detail and finish, which makes it the right pick once a model needs to look finished. We stock both ends of that range, plus the chipboard, cork, and specialty boards that fill in the gaps.
What You'll Find Here
Our model building materials category covers the core materials behind most architectural and presentation models:
- Foam Board and Foam Core for lightweight construction, study models, mockups, and quick mounting work
- Wood Sheets and Strips including basswood and balsa for structural models, framing details, and precision construction
- Chipboard and Cardboard for economical concept models, massing studies, and classroom projects
Choosing the Right Material
Foam board is the default starting point for most model builders because it is lightweight, cheap, and forgiving to cut. It works well for early massing studies, terrain bases, and anything that does not need to survive much handling. Once you move into a presentation model, basswood becomes the better choice. The clean edges and consistent grain make detailed structural work look intentional instead of improvised.
Chipboard and cardboard sit somewhere in between. They are sturdy enough for backing and mounting, and cheap enough that classroom projects do not need to be precious about waste. Most experienced model builders keep more than one material on the bench at once and use whichever fits the part of the model they are working on.
Built for Students, Studios, and Hobbyists
We supply these materials to architecture students working through studio assignments, design professionals building client presentation models, and hobbyists working on scale projects of their own. The mix is different for everyone, but the underlying question is the same: what does this part of the model need to do, and which material gets it there.
Complete Your Model Making Workspace
Materials are only half the job. A sharp blade, a real cutting mat, and the right adhesive make as much difference to the finished model as the board you started with.
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