Elmers + Chip
For making sketch models chip board, along with plain old Elmers Glue is the best. I have models I made back in 1994 that are still holding up entirely made with chip and Elmers (wow thats 15 years I'm getting old). I have 3 models done so far, these pieces really come to life when placed in your hand... I like to sketch out all of my ideas, make notes in my sketchbook as to what order I would like to continue to work... Sometimes I make a dozen lists all of them taking a new thing into consideration, sketch:concept:detail:material:joint:finish etc, sometimes I'll grab post it notes and scribble a sketch with a red wax pencil and throw it in the sketchbook. Documenting these spurts of ideas as they come along... Then I'll pull them out each creative session to let them soak in...
- idea <--- usually the entire form + concept come together here
- sketch <--- @ this point I get excited and start annoying my wife with how cool it looks
- concept statement <--- usually very short and in bullet form
- scrap model/chip model <--- proves if the forms come together (proportion)
- computer model in rhino <--- Lets me mess around with dimensions & fit
- etc
With this project much like Architecture you get more and more excited as you begin to see your idea in 3d, seeing the forms come to life and seeing instantly what you can change where.... You can visualize the connections, how materials interact with each other, where they get along and where they don't.
Marcus is @ home, alone in the office: nothing like listening to KCRW ECLECTIC24 online with the sun setting outside coming through the store front to get a little inspired... When you get inspired as any other person who does you go into this creative trance, you go into this fit. You are totally in your own world, its your ideas, skill and tools... No bullshit... No phone no interruptions just cranking out those shapes, even when your fingers hurt from years of doing the same thing... Just looking for the satisfaction that comes from cutting that last piece... Liberating it from that larger piece... Its weird but I'm sure anybody that works with any material can relate... The end result is always rewarding, then you just sit there staring at it knowing all the work you still have ahead... Anxiety ridden.. 
Later
dl.v
