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Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




New Jersey

I am in the process of building some looted wagons for my Orks and I need to know what is the best thickness for styrene to use to build models and where is a good place to buy it in bulk? Thank you in advance for all your help and advice.

"He is wearing body armor in the HQ, that tells you all you need to know about the C.I.A" 
   
Made in gb
Mysterious Techpriest







No idea where to find in in the states, try searching for 'plasticard'.

Plastistruct and Evergreen are two US based companies that manufacture (and sell) the stuff. They also sell a huge range of useful shapes and precut strips that make life easier.

Sizes 0.5 & 1 mm are what I use usually, but 2 mm and 0.25 mm comes in useful.

Don't forget to keep your knife sharp!




 
   
Made in us
Nigel Stillman





Seattle WA

.07 inches is about the thickness of most vehicle parts on GW vehicles.

Also it isn't too hard to cut with a hobby knife. Score the styrene with the hobby knife a few times then snap it.

From what I remember plastistruct is labeled in both inches and millimeters. So having to deal with non freedom units of measurement isn't an issue.


See more on Know Your Meme 
   
Made in us
Gargantuan Gargant





Binghamton, NY

It's actually "Plastruct" - should help with searching if you have the company's name right.

I find having a range of thicknesses at hand to be pretty much a necessity. Either company offers 'sample' or 'variety' packs of sheet that are great for detailing, where a smaller quantity of materials in a greater variety of thicknesses will better serve you than a huge pile of uniform plastic. Don't ignore the rod and tube, either. Special shapes (H-beams, angle strip, hex rod, etc.) are great, but less than a necessity, generally.

For basic vehicle building, something in the .040"-.060" range is a good middle ground, but both thicker and thinner stock have their uses (yes, even the paper-thin .010"). Of course, ideal thickness depends on what, exactly, you're building. Obviously, you'd have trouble making heavy troop armour with 1/4" stock, just as you'd find building a hollow tank hull a nightmare using only .010" sheet.

As for where to buy in bulk... Just how much qualifies as 'bulk' in your mind? For a few tank conversions (even full scratchbuilds), a couple of standard Plastruct/Evergreen packs will likely leave you with material to spare. For avid scratchbuilders who truly want plasticard in bulk, you really need to go through a semi-industrial (industrial, but willing to deal with individuals and has a small enough minimum order size) plastic supplier that stocks HIPS. The material cost is far lower from these suppliers than the hobby companies, but the order size means a higher initial expenditure. I'd only recommend exploring such an avenue if you're sure you'll use a large amount or can split an order with other local (to avoid further shipping costs) modelers. A dozen 2'x2' sheets is a LOT of material for 28mm scale projects.

A common pseudo-bulk buying strategy is to snag plastic signs from the hardware store - "for sale" and the like. The larger signs are usually about 18"x24" of ~.030" thick polystrene and only cost a couple bucks. Although it's not generally as stiff as modeling HIPS, it still can be worked with the same methods, welded with the same solvents, etc. I always keep a sheet on hand for bulking out larger forms (strengthened internally with sprue supports and triangular gussets of the same sheet) before I move to my smaller modeling sheet stock.

The Dreadnote wrote:But the Emperor already has a shrine, in the form of your local Games Workshop. You honour him by sacrificing your money to the plastic effigies of his warriors. In time, your devotion will be rewarded with the gift of having even more effigies to worship.
 
   
Made in us
Mutated Chosen Chaos Marine






I see you live in the us. Go to a lowes or Home Depot and check out their various house for sale/beware of dangerous dog plastic signs. My lows has various thicknesses. That way you can actually feel the thickness of each stock and determine what will be of use for your needs. Plus, those signs are dirt cheap.

Help me, Rhonda. HA! 
   
 
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