Two thoughts about using “sandtables” – what the military calls improvised models. You can use LEGO to model a neighborhood – and BrickEngraver can help customize particular pieces both via printing and engraving (we’ll get a gallery up shortly).
Ladislav Sutnar - Build the Town - courtesy cooper-hewitt national design museum
Our earlier post about the Vernaid bandage, part of a show at the Cooper-Hewitt design museum has an image of the Czech artist Ladislav Sutnar’s toy series “Build the Town” – they were originally manufactured in the 1940’s – but it shows that one doesn’t need architectural-quality models to make a three-dimensional sand table of your community suitable for planning and discussion purposes.
See also:
Sarafan’s simple chalkboard table;