Hi Maria, you are on a great roll, new ways to make bases and full proof way to cut out doors and windows. You are off to great start for 2014!! What will be next?

Thanks for all the ideas! They are all great and very helpful! I'm a stickler for original method like Tom has showed us, when doing my repro's or restoration, the only exception, I use accetate for the windows instead of cellophane. But I'm starting a semi original house right now that I was thinking about experimenting with. I've not had any problems with warping bases in the past, but I primer the heck out of the top and sides which makes it very stiff. I don't think the Japanese used primer, but fortunately that is a cheat that gets completely covered up.
Has anybody used the Honeycomb cardboard packing material before? I figure you could just slap some sides on it and away you go.
-Brian

good afternoon...

back in the "dark ages"...(late 50s early 60s)...we use a product in the store display department that had a similar core to the one brian posted just above this reply...

it was called "core-a-lite"...not sure of the spelling and haven't done a google search to see if still around...it was strong, durable and didn't warp...

the man i worked for and his son actually made a surfboard out of the stuff...worked well until the water got in through a crack in the enamel paint...

howard...