I have to build a model of a small town and say how the different parts of it are similar to a cell....?

Question

what should i make the buildings out of? the model must be 3D.

Answer 1

You could make the buildings out of foam-core board taped or glued together.

You could also use insulation foam (thick pieces of dense styrofoam, usually blue or pink) from a hardware store (a few dollars for a big sheet). You can cut it with a sharp knife or with a styrofoam cutter from a craft store (basically a heated wire that melts through it - just be sure to use it in a ventilated area) . Using these, you could easily sculpt a bunch of little houses in a short period of time.

Just a word of warning: if you go the foam route, don't spray paint it. The solvent in spray paint will melt through the styrofoam, leaving you with a deformed and melty-looking town (which actually might make it look a little more 'organic'). I recommend acrylic paint, but others will work too. Just make sure to test it out on a scrap piece first :P