My model making has developed over the years, and have I realised that I appear to have definite principles when it comes to wargames buildings and other models. They aren't mindblowing they just seem to govern how I go about making a terrain piece.
SCRATCH BUILD - I love to build models from scratch. I am not into kits, I do use some kits and but even they have to be adapted. I am not a huge fan of the huge variety of laser cut scenery you can buy these days. It's not that they aren't great models, in many cases they are. And in many cases they have certainly sped up the gamer's ability to create new terrain, and it has almost certainly made the hobby more accessible to new players or those who feel they don't have great modeling skills. But to me the charm and appeal of models for wargaming is the uniqueness of them, I find it very satisfying to know that most of what gets used on my tables I made, and that no two pieces are the same. (I am pretty sure though that if I ever get properly into 1920s gangsters I will be using lasercut tenement buildings)
ACCESSIBLE - ALL of my models are designed to come apart to allow placement of models inside. I don't like scenery if it's just a block that prevents line of sight or make s movement difficult. I prefer skirmish games and in that type of game buildings become very important.
GAME BALANCE - I have to always haul back in my desire to over detail a model, reminding myself that its main purpose is to allow the placement of figures, rather than to be a miniature doll's house. Getting the balance right is always a challenge.
MATERIALS - I tend to use the same materials for my buildings big and small - Foamcore and balsa wood feature on pretty much everything. I have started to use high density blue styrene nowadays too. I use a variety of glues - PVA and Solvent based glue (UHU) are the most common plus super glue too (I recommend Gorilla PVA and superglue)
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