Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[davejo90]

I mentioned in one of Andy's threads that I've never used styrene.


If I was to order some how would I go about it and where would I get it from? As I'm a styrene virgin I haven't got the fogiest notion what I'm doing. Which means I know nothing of thicknesses I should use and what average price I should pay for it.

Any help is much appreciated

[dougal99]

Have a look here https://www.slatersplastikard.com/plastikard.php
Other suppliers are available such as http://www.squirestools.com/files/20-19A%20PlastikardWEB.pdf
Good Luck

[Tug Fanatic]

I don't know if this stuff is any good but I have been looking and this is the cheapest that I can find for larger pieces.

https://www.plasticstockist.com/High-Impact-Polystyrene-Sheet/White-High-Impact-Polystyrene-Sheet.aspx

[Howard]

I get mine from HINDLEYS of SHEFFIELD. sizes from 0.5mm up to 2.75mmlook for HIP stands for Hight imp Impact Plastic
 they post and do lots of different sheet sizes worth a look.
                   Regards Howard.

[Hellboy Paul]

I don't know if this stuff is any good but I have been looking and this is the cheapest that I can find for larger pieces.

https://www.plasticstockist.com/High-Impact-Polystyrene-Sheet/White-High-Impact-Polystyrene-Sheet.aspx

Been using these guys for years, good quality plastic, quick delivery & the plastic laser cuts perfectly..

[davejo90]

Thanks everyone for all your help. I'll look into all this tomorrow

[Taranis]

I usually just buy A4 sheets from local model shop although a number of people have recommended mail order suppliers of larger sheets thank you to them.
I bought a selection of thicknesses for stock and when scratch building I use whatever thickness feels substantial enough just like using plywood. However much less formwork is needed than for wood.
As my current build has three levels of superstructure I felt that 2mm was appropriate for the base unit and 1.5 thereafter but go by how it feels. I'm as new to this as yourself apart from succesfully making small parts for my Shannon like the radar.


Up to now I have saved the majority of cuttings as they can be used for smaller parts like bulwark ribs but I have quite a pile now and may have to thin it down.


Happy building 


For now I don't need anymore and my builds in waiting like Slipway are full kits already laser cut.


EDIT here is a link to how I made staghorn bollards for my Shannon. The pictures show styrene glue but now I would never use it again as CA is far better and faster.  There are many other small part builds in that blog


https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,61758.msg681810.html#msg681810


Also works well with brass and wood
https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,61758.msg681358.html#msg681358

[davejo90]

Up to now I have saved the majority of cuttings as they can be used for smaller parts like bulwark ribs but I have quite a pile now and may have to thin it down.

I do exactly the same with all my timber off-cuts (not sure if that should be one word or two or hyphenated)



Thanks again Andy, I didn't want to ask in your thread as it would have gone off topic so that's why I posted it here.

[chipchase]

I don't know if this stuff is any good but I have been looking and this is the cheapest that I can find for larger pieces.

https://www.plasticstockist.com/High-Impact-Polystyrene-Sheet/White-High-Impact-Polystyrene-Sheet.aspx

I have used this company for years for all my HIPs I wouldn't go anywhere else great service. I always buy my sheets 1200 x 600mm sheets mat finish. Bay Plastics 


Brian

[davejo90]

I have used this company for years for all my HIPs I wouldn't go anywhere else great service. I always buy my sheets 1200 x 600mm sheets mat finish. Bay Plastics 


Brian

Yes I have just placed an order with them, they do matt one side and gloss the other so best of both worlds for some sheets. The prices seem quite reasonable also compared to Slater's Plastikard.


This is what I ordered





Thanks again

[Tug Fanatic]

Is that £52.73 plus a £12.00 delivery charge?

[davejo90]

Is that £52.73 plus a £12.00 delivery charge?

There was £7.50 delivery and VAT added on total came to £72.28

[Tug Fanatic]

Yes - never forget to chancellors bit - and he needs all that he can get out of us at the moment.         

Strange. They quote £7.25 for local deliveries and £10.00 nationally (both plus VAT)
Your £7.50 delivery isn't on the site at all that I can find. Life is full of little surprises.

[Howard]

Hello Dave,
  To be honest I cant see why you want a glossy side I always buy matt both sides maybe you can tell me why, am I missing out you will find the bigger sheets better value.
                            Regards Howard.

[Tug Fanatic]

Would someone be kind enough to recommend which thicknesses are needed for what purpose? I have in the past used 1mm & 1.5mm for tug superstructures but I am looking to use it more widely

I can see 0.5mm(?), 1mm & 1.5mm for superstructures and perhaps 2mm for hulls but then I also see 0.25mm, 0.5mm, 0.75mm and 2,5mm+.

Why do I need all these sizes and surely some sizes justify buying larger sheets than others. Having said that the thinner sheets are so cheap.................

As I said will someone make sense of it for me please or can I just convert 1.5mm ply to 1.5mm styrene, (or some other formula)?

[Taranis]

Its simply a choice of strength and appearance depending purely on what you are making.

[RST]

For anyone unsure about modelling in polystyrene I can thoroughly recommend Richard Webb's book. It's worth every penny for a beginner....


https://www.sarikhobbies.com/product/making-model-boats-with-styrene-by-richard-webb/

[Tug Fanatic]

For anyone unsure about modelling in polystyrene I can thoroughly recommend Richard Webb's book. It's worth every penny for a beginner....


https://www.sarikhobbies.com/product/making-model-boats-with-styrene-by-richard-webb/

I have that book but it is very vague on thicknesses of styrene for any particular purpose.

I can judge appearance but not thickness.  I note that vacuum drawn hulls are often drawn for 1mm or 1.5mm. After the depth of the draw that must leave them incredibly thin.

[RST]

I have that book but it is very vague on thicknesses of styrene for any particular purpose.

I can judge appearance but not thickness.  I note that vacuum drawn hulls are often drawn for 1mm or 1.5mm. After the depth of the draw that must leave them incredibly thin.

Hi, I agree with Andy -its down to what you're doing with it and what size and weight you are aiming for.  Same with wood, I've never seen a definitive list you're after.

Re: vac formed hulls. Yes it varies. I have 3 polystyrene hulls from sarik recently which are wonderfully thick and fit for purpose (I had hulls from them before as well as some little mouldings from amera). I bought a kick wsp47 kit last week though as a quick and easy build and it's an abs vac forming and paper thin, not impressed at all with the kit so far!

...I wouldn't buy shiny polystyrene sheet again. It's horrible in my experience, can't see a place for it in our application and the shine needs flattening to paint and solvent weld so just doubles the work.

[Tug Fanatic]

OK I hear what you are saying.

If you were going to build a hull that was designed for ply would you go for the same thickness styrene as a starting point?

Pit about the wsp47.

[npomeroy]

I'm new here and so this may be discussed elsewhere but:
A handy technique with styrene sheet is thermo-forming.  Carve the male shape in wood and press it into heat-softened plastic.  For shapes more than simple domes etc, cast a female form in plaster of Paris (preferably with up to 25% cement powder added - makes for fast setting and harder finish).  Them press the heated sheet between the male and female forms.  This is great for small pieces up to a few cm long.

[Howard]

Hi Guys,
 Am a plastic lover never use wood I every rarely cut Styrene/plastic sheet, score and snap I find one score for every 0.5 thickness of sheet good plastic glue work by melting and welding the two parts together. joins or better scrapped to a nice finish when you can I never sand if I can remember plastic is water proof no grain to fill and sand and looks better once painted (looks like steel) well I think so, again I always use matt both sides sheets, My normal glue is Revell  Contacta Professional, EMA Plastic weld, Delux plastic Magic, always best to use less not more. the last thing I want to do is tell any of you how to suck eggs just saying why and how I use plastic.
           Regards Howard.       

[davejo90]

Your £7.50 delivery isn't on the site at all that I can find. Life is full of little surprises.

I got a discount as my order was over £50

[davejo90]

For anyone unsure about modelling in polystyrene I can thoroughly recommend Richard Webb's book. It's worth every penny for a beginner....


https://www.sarikhobbies.com/product/making-model-boats-with-styrene-by-richard-webb/

Thanks RST I'll look into that

[Tug Fanatic]

....................................My normal glue is Revell  Contacta Professional, EMA Plastic weld, Delux plastic Magic, always best to use less not more.............................     

I have seen opinions that say to use the branded solvents above (including the Richard Webb book) and others that say use MEK.

As MEK is a solvent for styrene and so much cheaper what advantages do the branded solvents have?