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Hey everyone,

I really want to get into using plasticard for conversions, but I have no idea where to start!

For example, I want to loot a rhino for my Orks.

What's the/is there an ideal thickness for modelling?
Is it easily pliable?
Where can I buy in the UK?

Any other general tips would be awesome!

Thanks!

You can buy online from shops like Antics and EMA Model Supplies, and places like Model Zone have a selection.

The card comes in 0.25mm, 0.5mm, 1mm, 1.5mm and 2mm. You can also get 3mm but it is very thick and heavy. The most useful for modelling are 0.5mm, 1mm and 1.5mm.

Greater thickness is harder to cut and stiffer. Thinner card can be cut withe scissors or a modelling knife. The "score and snap" method is useful for 1.5mm and 2mm. A circle cutter is useful for cutting circles and chords. Rivets can be made easily with a leather hole punch.

You can bend plasticard by immersing it in very hot water, which softens it.

Fantastic, thanks! That was exactly what I was looking for.

You can also check amazon, it has pretty good prices for larger sheets (at least the US side does)
You may have more luck searching for sheet styrene

I know that some companies have a mix and match bag.
I think for everest its called odds and ends. it comes with a couple sheets and different sizes of tubing. Thats what I started with. Also I suggest a better glue than GWs.

Search for a Cyanoacrylate glue, and an accelerant to make it dry fast to decrease your wait time. I use Zappa Gap with a needle applicator tip.

Good Luck!

You can also go to Home Despot or Lowes and look at their plastic signs (house for sale, beware of dog, etc). They come in various thickness and size and are pretty cheap. Once primed and painted you can't even tell.
A "house for sale" sign. $2 each (bought 3) and about $10 in plastic glue. Some paint.
My $25 Titan.

What kind of plastic are those signs?

The advantage of plasticard is that it will stick together with standard polystyrene cement.

I'm in the UK and I got my first load of plasticard from here http://www.stationroadbaseboards.co.uk

This is my first go with plasticard, and I used mainly 1mm which you can cut with scissors and some 2mm for their boots. Hot knife the edges to get that ragged plasma cut look.

Call a sign shop and ask for scraps. You're working in a really small scale so remnants that are too small for them are perfect for you. I get mostly 3mm polystyrene, but you can go all the way up to a 1/8" or 1/4" sintra (although sintra doesn't glue as well).

If you're cool about it (and they're cool) they'll probably give it to you for free.

LEDFUT wrote:
I'm in the UK and I got my first load of plasticard from here http://www.stationroadbaseboards.co.uk

This is my first go with plasticard, and I used mainly 1mm which you can cut with scissors and some 2mm for their boots. Hot knife the edges to get that ragged plasma cut look.

That's where I bought my 3mm card.

I don't recommend using card that thick for normal modelling, though.