Styrene

[dukebasketballer`]

Where can I buy it? In what forms does it come? What kind of adhesives does it accpet the best? What is the best way to cut and shape it?
Thanks guys,
David
Let's Go Mavs!!!!!!

[vsmith]

www.plastruct.com

www.evergreenscalemodels.com

best sources if you cant find them at a local hobby shop

CynoAcrylic (CA) like Zap and ZapGap are best, plastic welder like Testors sells in glass bottles also works good.

X-acto knife products are best for cutting and shaping,
http://www.reuels.com/reuels/page173.html

[dukebasketballer`]

Thanks, I'll check that out.
David

[kstrong]

I'd personally stay away from CA glues for styrene. The solvent cements (Testors, Pro-Weld, Plastruct, etc.) are specifically designed to bond styrene and other plastics. They are hands down the best adhesive to use. I'll also use spray adhesive when laminating large sheets together (3M #45 or #77). If I'm gluing styrene to wood or other material, I'll use epoxy.

The more models I build, the less I use CA glues. They're great for instant bonds, but they get brittle and lose strength fairly quickly. I'll use a drop or two to hold parts together while the "real" glue--applied at the same time--sets up.

As for sources, the two that Vic pointed out are the primary suppliers of styrene sheets and shapes for the hobby world. You can also look in the yellow pages for plastic suppliers if you want large sheets at significantly cheaper prices. You might also look for TAP plastics. They do on-line sales of sheets of styrene, glues, and many things you need to deal with the material.

Check out this month's GR for tips on working with styrene.

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

Ditto everything Kevin said. I try to avoid CA glues as much as possible, even the newer, improved species. If you're planning a lot of styrene work, buying large sheets from a plastics supplier will save you a considerable amount of money, as will using MEK from the hardware store as solvent/adhesive.
Chris