Hi Steve,
Easier indeed! Faster, neater, and cheaper (cheaper especially appeals to me!) Thank you for liking my models.
I first design in Adobe Illustrator and get the scale, size, shape and placement. Then I export that to Photoshop and add all the textures, the brick, stone, wood, tile, glass, etc. Once completed, I print in color 200 dpi on card stock. I cut out the pieces and use them as templates to cut the foam core. I use cereal box card for the roofs but of course, these are covered with tile or shingle texture printed on card stock.
Next, I use a thick sealer that dries clear and will allow some texturing before it dries. In this way I can simulate wood, stone and other textures which admittedly isn't that noticeable but is more apparent when the light is at the right angle. Finally, I spray with a clear flat finish that somewhat waterproofs the model.
I haven't made any ECW buildings but I plan to do some in the future. Half-timbering is interesting to design. Each region seems to have it's own peculiar style. My German houses are framed similar to Rheinish style, typical of the Palatinate.
For ECW it is good to keep in mind that many houses would have been built in earlier times, for instance, the later 1500's, and would still be used in the Mid-Seventeenth Century. One difficulty I foresee is the thatched roofs that were quite common at that time. I have tried covering cardboard with wool cloth (glued on) then covering that with Durham's Water Putty. I then textured the putty while still wet with a comb.
As I mentioned, I need to complete some Dutch/ Belgian houses for late Sixteenth, or Seventeenth Century. I hope to be posting photos of these soon. Then It will be time to make my German Schloss.
Once again, my compliments on your work and best of luck with the ECW!
Cheers!
Gallo