Types of models
| Model | Purpose | Typical scale |
|---|---|---|
| Block / massing | Volume, height and site fit | 1:500 – 1:200 |
| Study / concept | Test ideas quickly | Any |
| Sectional | Show inside spaces and levels | 1:100 – 1:50 |
| Presentation | Final jury and thesis | 1:200 – 1:100 |
| Detail | Joints, facades, staircases | 1:20 – 1:5 |
Materials and what they are good for
- Mountboard (1–2 mm): walls and floors; clean and easy to cut
- Foam board (3–5 mm): quick massing and thick walls
- Balsa and basswood: frames, decks, louvres
- Acrylic sheet: glass, water
- Corrugated board: contours on a budget
- Sponge, sawdust, dry flowers: trees and landscape
- Fevicol / quick-dry glue and pins
Step-by-step
- Print plans and sections at the model scale
- Make the base and contours
- Cut walls with openings and fix them on the plinth
- Add floor slabs level by level
- Add roofs, staircases and facade elements
- Add landscape, people and trees for scale
- Label with a title, north point and scale
Tools
- Cutting mat, steel rule and set square
- Olfa / NT cutter with spare blades
- Scale ruler and pencils
- Glue, pins, tweezers and sandpaper
- Optional: hot wire foam cutter, laser cutting service
FAQs
What scale should my architecture model be?
Use 1:500 or 1:200 for site and massing models, 1:100 for most building models and 1:50 for small buildings or interiors. Follow your studio brief.
How much does an architecture model cost?
A student presentation model usually costs ₹1,500 to ₹6,000 in materials, more with laser cutting or acrylic.
Is laser cutting allowed for student models?
Most colleges allow it for final models; some juries expect hand-made study models. Ask your faculty.
Can Project Buddyy help with models?
We guide drawings for laser cutting and model planning as part of <a href="/architecture-projects">architecture project help</a>.
Last reviewed: 2026-11-07. Always follow the format your own department gives you.