hello everyone, i need some help please!

[geepers]

hello, i have a small problem. on my layout i have had to create most of my industries from cereal board and styrene stock, due to the fact they are odd shaped and im on a very tight budget. now that i have the buildings cut out and placed, im ready to cover their exterior with something that looks like metal or corrugated sideing. does anyone know of anything that might work for this? i know i can buy styrene sheets for this, but as i mentioned, im really on a tight budget, honestly at this point in my life i just cant afford the styrene. so anyway, im hopeing that someone out there might know of an alternate solution to my broblem. thanks for your time. [:)]

[pcarrell]

If you are in HO or larger, some types of cookie containers have a kind of corrigated shape to the cookie tray. It's just a shame to have to buy all those cookies just to get the containers, wink, wink!

I suppose you could also put tape over some toothpicks and paint it.

I don't know, what do you think of that for starters?

[tstage]

geepers,

Perhaps, you could stop by a department store (or, maybe Mal-wart) to see if they mgiht have some old plastic displays or card stock that they are tossing out that you could use to cut up. Dipster diving may yield some real finds - but be careful. [:)] Let us know how you come out.

Tom

[tigerstripe]

Try aluminum foil, use a comb to make the corrugated pattern.
Also look for disposable cooking pans that are a little thicker/ tougher than foil.

[Anonymous]

Similar to yourself - to many kids, lack of cash - but I tend to scratchbuild out of anything lying around. Found in a local craft shop some corrugated paper that kids use for - well not quite sure - but this comes in A4 size about 10 sheets for pennies just paint & mount onto thin card - works well. Great for OO or Ho really scales well.

Have a good day

[dehusman]

buy a sheet of Evergreen corrugated metal siding (a plastic sheet with ribs on it.)
Tape a piece of paper over it and then run a pencil of dull object down each of the grooves to create an entire sheet of paper that can be used for siding. By varying how many grooves you skip, you can create all sorts of patterns of metal siding and standing rib roofing. Invest $3 for the initial sheet of plastic and make hundreds of sheets of corrogated material.

Buy "oaktag" or manila folders/sheets. Draw parallel lines about 1/8 to 3/16 apart. Cut them on every other line to make siding material. Overlap the pieces by 1/2 to make shiplap siding.

Clamp a pad of paper between 2 boards with only about 1/8-3/16 sticking out. Use a razor saw to cut slots every 3/32 to 1/8 in down to the boards. Unclamp the pad and cut the end off about 1/4 to 3/8 wide. You now have strips of paper you can use for shingled roofs. Reclamp the pad and cut again.

Dave H.

[dehusman]

One more thing. If you go to a plastics supply company you can buy LARGE sheets of .040 or .060 white styrene relatively cheaply. For $10 I got 3 30"x48" sheets of styrene. Thats 18 sq ft of plastic for $10. Considering if you buy it in a hobby shop you would pay about $6 a sq ft for it, its a great bargain.

Dave H.