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Perhaps a little demanding for a first post but I need some help replicating a conversion I saw ages ago while browsing another board. I wish I knew who originally posted it so I could give them proper credit, but I don't remember where I picked it up.

Anyway, I'm looking to make some Skitarii (more on that later hopefully) and want to do something along the lines of this:



I'm new to converting and building models, though I've been lurking boards and such for years. I feel this is well within my reach though, I just have no idea where to buy plasticard(?) tubing and the like to make those respirators. If anyone has any good sites they could throw my way that would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and tips too! Thanks.

Evergreen Scale Models and Plastruct are the two main US producers of styrene sheet, rod, tube, and scale architectural shapes for modelers. Most hobby shops (and some game stores, but fewer than those who deal more generally in modeling) will have a selection from one of those two. Plastruct has a list of distributors on their website that can help you find a local shop that carries their products, if there is one. Evergreen doesn't have a list displayed, but their website gives contact info to find local retailers:

Evergreen Scale Models products are available in hobby and art supply stores worldwide.
For a retailer near you, please contact us at 425-402-4918 or email to info@evergreenscalemodels.com

Barring a local retailer, there are online options, as well. I've bought my small stash of styrene through Ebay sellers, but electronic storefronts (dedicated websites, as opposed to Ebay stores) for brick and mortar hobby shops and online hobby retailers like HobbyLinc are also options.

As for tips, there isn't too much to say (but I'll take my time saying it, as I'm wont to do ), considering how straightforward your intended project is - each respirator cartridge just takes two cuts and two dabs of glue. When cutting rod/tube, I recommend setting your blade atop the material, as close to perpendicular as possible, and rolling it back and forth while applying gentle downward pressure. The resulting cut has a nice, small chamfer to the edge and is generally straighter than what you get by simply chopping (it's an extension of the "score and snap" method of cutting styrene sheet, which avoids the distortion caused by the width of the blade passing through the material). Clear your workspace and try to cup your hand over the piece after you've got the cut started - the trimmed off bits tend to go flying if you aren't careful.

The two major manufacturers are Evergreen and Plastruct. If you search around, you will find a bunch of places that carry their lines. Also, nearly no one calls it plasticard in a retail sense, it is generally referred to as sheet styrene.

You can also order packs of it on Spikeybits.com Search the site for "plastic accessory" because they don't call it tubing and it's not in any section you'd expect to find it. Now, I should also point you to HLJ.com because that is an excellent source for useful gubbins.

Thanks everyone! You're really really informative and I appreciate it. I'm going start picking through all your suggested sites and place an order soon so I can get started.

Google to see if there are any model train stores near you. They should carry a full range of plastic rod, tube, and sheet products.

What a cool idea....more pics?