Reddit mentions of AMACO AMA50004D 1/16" Aluminum Wire Form Metal Mesh, 16" x 20"

This is the stuff I've been using:https://www.amazon.com/AMACO-AMA50004D-Aluminum-Wire-Metal/dp/B00114TFAK/

If your mesh is the kind that falls apart when you cut it, save it for something else.

For best results, drill out your posts and take your model apart so you can glue your mesh to the interior.

Start with a piece of mesh that's larger than what you need, and keep fitting and trimming your mesh down to the exact size you need (which will be slightly larger than the window opening). I find that this is the most important part to get right. If it's cut properly, it will simply lay in place, and you can dab some glue at the corners.

What a nice friend you are! I am a sculptor (professional stuff and hobby stuff) and while there are lots of items you can use to make little sculptures and junk model, I'm going to suggest a few that are hard to go wrong with. These are general suggestions, the brands are things I've used but there are many others. Paperclay is an air dry clay, fun to use, versatile. It can be sanded smoother, painted, etc. Super sculpey is a clay you bake, won't dry as you work, can be sculpted a bit more precisely (but don't bake with anything that will melt in the oven.) Sculpey can be painted as well. It comes in tiny packages of different colors, but I usually have more success using the Super Sculpey "flesh" color (usually fresher than the tiny packages) and just paint it. You might pick one of the two based on your knowledge of friend's interest? I linked a tool kit with some good basics. I literally use about 3 of these tools on a regular basis, and a few others occasionally. Don't go overboard here. Made a wire suggestion, whatever you want here. Mesh is fun for modeling, it can be part of armature, it can be an external part of the model, it shapes well. Most hobby and craft stores have these items, as well as Amazon. Oh, another thought is maybe a book! There are so many, just search with key words like clay sculpture, modeling figures, etc. Any combo of items would be a lovely gift, you are a sweet friend!

Tools

[https://www.amazon.com/Sculpt-Pro-Pottery-Tool-Starter/dp/B00CTTLZOA/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=sculpting+tool+kit&qid=1573610099&sr=8-11]

Paperclay

[https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Paper-clay-Ounces-White/dp/B001V8E7MW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3K2BJF9CM3XJE&keywords=paperclay+air+dry&qid=1573610303&sprefix=Paperclay%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-3]

Wire

[https://www.amazon.com/TecUnite-Aluminum-Flexible-Armature-Thickness/dp/B07BQMMF58/ref=sr_1_13?crid=3IALD05H02KIV&keywords=sculpting+wire+for+clay&qid=1573610433&sprefix=sculpting+wire%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-13]

Wire Mesh

[https://www.amazon.com/AMACO-AMA50004D-Aluminum-Wire-Metal/dp/B00114TFAK/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=sculpting+mesh&qid=1573610539&sr=8-4]

A Book I like

[https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Figures-Ideas-Techniques-Using/dp/0914881000/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Fantastic+figures&qid=1573613535&sr=8-2]