Resin or Plastic Blocks

Gone Asiatic · Post by **Gone Asiatic** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 4:03 am

Any idea where one can purchase (online) blocks of resin or plastic for scratch building hulls? I`m thinking of scratchbuilding Yangtze Patrol gunboats in 1/700. I can fashion all or most detail but will need to shape hulls from either plastic or resin.

Pieter · Post by **Pieter** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:38 am

I have no idea where you can purchase them online (I get my own thck plates of polystyrene from a nearby hobby shop) but I strongly advise you to work in plastic, not in resin. Polyurethane resin dust is much more harmful to your eyes and lungs when cuttig and sanding.

les · Post by **les** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:17 am

There's an outfit called TAP Plastic. They probably have a website.

Devin · Post by **Devin** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 11:53 am

Unless you're building in a very small scale, carving plastic blocks is going to be a very difficult and messy process. Have you considered using sheet plastic, cut to shape and layered, in the "bread and butter" method of hull construction? Here's a shotof a small boat kit on Model Expo's website that shows the concept; essentially using layers instead of frames.

kennylibben · Post by **kennylibben** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 4:41 pm

he's doing 1/700 gunboats... i'm pretty sure they are going to be tiny....plastic blockswould probably work, or you could just use wood and then make a resin mold!

psships · Post by **psships** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 5:33 pm

There is always "EVERGREEN" styrene , I use this all the time to make my masters from amongst other things, it is amazing what you can do with this stuff. It is a US company also.
Paul...