I often hear of modelers using “sheet styrene” to scratchbuild items.I have some questions:
I asked about it in a hard ware store and they said that they were out at the time but stated that it comes in sheets about a quarter to 3 quarters of an inch thick! [I can’t recall which thickness he said but either way that was far too thick!]
The sheet styrene he was referring to is probably a 4x8 sheet commonly used for insulation in houses. To get the thinner stuff, check your local hobby shop, Michael’s, or Hobby Lobby, and they have plenty of it. Runs less than $5 a sheet, where I live.
Good luck!
demono69
Thanks! This stuff is going to save em a ton on filler putty!LOL How larg are the sheets and how do you cut them?
Visit your local hardware store and go check out the ‘For Sale’, ‘No Parking’, ‘Exit’ signs. They are usually printed on white sheet styrene in some varying thicknesses. Your local hobby shop should also carry various sheet styrene and shapes. The two big modeler styrene companies are Plastruct and Evergreen. You should be able to find their web sites pretty easily.
Sheets usually come in up to sizes of 2x4. You may be able to find some larger, if you have a well-stocked shop. Glad to help out.
demono69
Thanks! just keep the info coming!
You can find it in sheets of varing thicknesses and textures. Strips, rods, quarter and half rounds. Very useful if you have a decently stocked stroe avail.
Well I am fortunate enough to have a Micheals, Hobby Lobby, and Hobby Town USA in my city. Though i don’t frequent Hobby Town USA because they are one of the most expensive places in town when it comes to most items.
Hobbytown should have some, mine does. But each is a francise store so owner can set own prices.
Check your local phone book under “plastics”. You may find a plastic supplier that sells styrene, acrylic, etc. My local supplier also has a nice Remnant section with smaller leftovers dirt cheap. Occasionally they have interesting shapes too, as well as glues. Its worth a looksee.
Hmmm, “remnants”. I like the sound of that. i’ll have to check that route to.
Actually the words “dirt cheap” are nice too! [:)]
I’ve always used FREE sheet styrene. You know the plastic inserts in the license plate frames that brag that you have a new car and don’t have a license plate yet but the dealership wants to brag where the car was bought from? That is useable sheet styrene. I wouldn’t go to the trouble of stealing the plastic from a new car dealer but if you ask the mechanics in back, nicely, they would have the sheets from other car dealers and would give them away when you explain you need the plastic for a plastic model? Plastic plates from other car dealers? Yes, car dealers do a lot of ‘dealer trades’ and those trades come in with the other dealership plastic plates. I’ve used the free styrene for building and Vac-U-Forming parts.
The styrene is printed on one side but just use the ‘clean’ side for the visible areas of your model.
I bought a small clear sheet from hobby lobby for $1.69. Thanks for all of these great ideas. What is the best way to cut it?
Depending on the thickness you can use a sharp razor blade (or #11 blade) or a “razor saw”.
You can also buy evergreen packs with different sheets and tubes in it.
mark956
Do they have it at hobby Lobby? How much is it? The sales people I talked to at Hobby Lobby that day were not very knowledgable abot styrene. Wher ewould it be in the store?
You could also try a model train store. Or visit them online. If the peolpe at Hobby Lobby don’t know anything about styrene, why are they working there?
i have no idea?LOL When i think back onit the styrene she showed me was clear and in the stained glass section. i’ll be there was more somewhere else in the store.
Martian, check out these websites:
http://www.plastruct.com/
http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/
Evergreen even offers a book on how to model with their’ styrene products. You can get it from their webpage.
Happy Modeling![;)]
DJ