Styrene...

Jason M. · Post by **Jason M.** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:37 pm

Ok, so I'm not much of a scratchbuilder yet, but I have run into a situation where I must scratchbuild a hangerbay and and a starboard ciws platform for 350 Nimitz. My question is about material. I have found that the Evergreen styrene products are quite expensive, is there any other material that is cheaper that will work? And if the best choice is Styrene, then what is the best way to cut it?

Thanks

Post by **Timmy C** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:53 pm

I think I've read that some use yougurt cartons, or similar plastic containers?

les · Post by **les** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:35 am

Cutting Evergreen or similar products, I use a Chopper II by Northwest Shortline. For larger pieces just cut the plastic so you score it good with a #11 knife and snap the two pieces apart. It will give you an even break.

JBA · Post by **JBA** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 1:10 pm

Hi Jason! I use Les' way in that I cut the plastic and then snap the pieces apart -then a bit of sanding and that's okay.
You may of course scratchbuild the stuff out of wood, but i don't have any experience there - though I agree with you about the sheer price of the Evergreen products, I always somehow managed to find some white plastic foils that were without a brand and *MUCH* cheaper. usually in some radio-controlled hobby shops.. maybe try there?
good luck anyway!!

Avery Boyer · Post by **Avery Boyer** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 3:49 pm

Timmy C wrote:I think I've read that some use yougurt cartons, or similar plastic containers?

Yeah....it's hard to get the hang of though. Takes a lot of patience and superglue.

Devin · Post by **Devin** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:13 pm

Two sources of sheet styrene are the "For Sale" and other signs that they sell at hardware stores. Sometimes you can find damaged or mis-printed ones that they sell cheap. Also, if you know someone who works in a hospital or dentist office, a lot of the x-ray plates are packed with sheet styrene dividers. When my girlfriend and I started dating her roommate was doing her residency at a NYC hospital and she'd bring me home tons of the stuff.

One other place I use is a plastic wholesaler. They sell 4' X 8' sheets of white styrene for about the same price as a hobby-packaged bag of two 8.5" X 11" sheets.

-Devin

Jason M. · Post by **Jason M.** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 7:18 pm

wow, thanks for all the info guys. Devin, my mother in law works for a dentist, perhaps I could get her to bring some of that stuff. Wish me luck...I'm gonna need it.

MechTech · Post by **MechTech** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:16 pm

Devin, I just caught your post. If you want to use "recycled" material, anything marked "6" with a recycle triangle logo around it is Polystyrene. Look carefully. An awesome and cheap wholesaler (in the states) is: US plastics. http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/catego ... =62&Page=1
I paid a little over $5 for a 4'x8' sheet of .020 styrene. They had great service and even offered a discount if purchasng within 30 days again. - MT

PetrOs · Post by **PetrOs** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:53 am

I picked some at a local junkyard for bulky stuff. I drove an old chair there, and saw a showcase there, 1x1 meters. Like the one you have in the company for information, etc. With a thin (about 1mm) plexiglass sheet in front, and about 0.8 mm styrene back. sides were of massive styrene too.

Willie · Post by **Willie** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 6:51 am

Timmy C wrote:I think I've read that some use yougurt cartons, or similar plastic containers?

I can have been me. I have been using yogourt containers for the tons, and they are pretty same quality as Evergreen.
Best regards,

Willie.

Torpedo · Post by **Torpedo** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:51 am

THIS is where you get almost EVERYTHING!
http://www.modulor.info/shop/oxid.php/lang/1

The shop is in english or german. I don't know if they sell overseas, but at least for the european members it will be interesting.

You get really EVERYTHING there!