Layout building supplys. Any good online stores?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm working on my layout and need some help to find a good source
for building supplys, such as styrofoam sheets to build my mountains and cork
sheets to raise my Atlas roundhouse to the level of the turntable.

I am getting pretty tired of driving around from store to store, just to find out that they
don't carry these things. What ever happened to good selection at your local store??

Does anyone now of a good store where I can order stuff like that online?
I rather pay for the shipping, then wasting my time trying to find these things at a local store.

Thanks!
Kyle.

[Anonymous]

Building supplies, by nature of their weight and bulky nature are not good candidates for buying online.

If I might suggest the obvious, have you tried calling building supply centers on the telephone to inquire about availability?

Wayne

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Muddy Creek

Building supplies, by nature of their weight and bulky nature are not good candidates for buying online.

If I might suggest the obvious, have you tried calling building supply centers on the telephone to inquire about availability?

Wayne

Hi Wayne,
I went to our local Homedepot and couldn't find the Styrofoam sheets nor
the cork sheets I need. Our local Michaels crafts store has some styrofoam and
some cork sheets, but non of it is really what I'm looking for (size/thickness).
It also seems, at least in my neighboorhood, that HD has kicked all other hardware stores out of business, which leaves me with their selection or nothing. Depressing..

But you're right, building materials like these are not the first choice for online retail, but I'm hoping that there's still a store out there that'll offer & ship these things.
Afterall, I can buy almost everything else for my layout online - track, cars, engines - you name it. But construction material?

[Anonymous]

I almost never get to a Home Depot since the nearest is about 60 miles from here. There are still a number of local lumber yards & they usually carry sheets of foam or can get what I need.

You're not in California, are you? That might explain the lack of foam.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Muddy Creek

I almost never get to a Home Depot since the nearest is about 60 miles from here. There are still a number of local lumber yards & they usually carry sheets of foam or can get what I need.

I wish I had that option around here.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Muddy CreekYou're not in California, are you? That might explain the lack of foam.

Bingo..
I know that I could build my mountains out of mesh instead, but I'd rather just make
them out of styrofoam. Used to be easy to get..

[Anonymous]

I use rigid foam as my layout base but all the contours are build using a two-part urethane foam that I mix, pour over bubblewrap & reinforce with fiberglas screening. Wads of newspaper are used as a temporary form during the few minutes it takes the foam "hardshell" to harden.

This method is described at www.bragdonent.com/ though I buy my the foam from a plastics supplier. I don't believe there is a prohibition on shipping this material to your state.

It may be a good, lightweight alternative for your mountains.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Muddy Creek

I use rigid foam as my layout base but all the contours are build using a two-part urethane foam that I mix, pour over bubblewrap & reinforce with fiberglas screening. Wads of newspaper are used as a temporary form during the few minutes it takes the foam "hardshell" to harden.

This method is described at www.bragdonent.com/ though I buy my the foam from a plastics supplier. I don't believe there is a prohibition on shipping this material to your state.

It may be a good, lightweight alternative for your mountains.

Wayne

I'll check that out. Thanks for the tip!

Kyle