I have a few projects that I would like to build that could use strip styrene or scale lumber. I know people use ‘for sale’ signs for cheap, sheet styrene. Any ideas for cheap strip styrene? Also, are craft stores a good source for different sizes of bass wood or balsa? Thanks for any and all information.
Corey,
Michael’s is a good source for some of those things. I’ve gotten colored sand from them because it’s A LOT cheaper than at a LHS. However, I do like to go to my LHS for individual pieces of scale lumber because they usually have a good variety there. Sometimes it’s worth the extra expense for me.
Tom
Hob Lob has a pretty good selection of bass and balsa. You might look in the doll house section too.
Strip styrene is not found in most local craft stores other than an LHS or by mail-order and i’ve never used anything but Evergreen or Plastuct styrene strips in such a capacity. (Trying to cut sheet styrene into strips perfectly straight with a hobby knife is to me, impossible) For basswood, balsa, and sometimes brass can be found at Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, and other mom and pop craft stores. I use a lot of basswood and balsa because it’s so cheap…chuck
I need to build a fence around my one and only freight area. All totaled, it has to be a good three feet long. This is my first project. The one that has me worried is the trestle I want to build. It has to be four feet long and six inches high. The scale lumber from the hobby shop is between 50 cents and a dollar a piece. Granted, I can cut them up, but it sounds like I’ll be in for a decent amount of wood. I thought about using styrene, but that sounds like it will cost even more. This is the reason that I asked the question. Any ideas for strip styrene, or should I just order it from evergreen?
If you go for round pilings for your trestle, you can try a hardware store like ACE, they carry a pretty wide assortment of dowels, mine even has square dowels down to 1/8".
As for strip styrene, you’re pretty much stuck with Evergreen and Plastruct, although Micromark does sell a tool for cutting strips, supposidly for styrene and wood, (stock # 14568), but I’ve never tried it .
I use Northeastern scale models and Clover House strip wood for all projects. Scale lumber costs more but… it looks a lot better then just wood from Michaels.
If your doing a wood trestle, I’d look for a kit that fits your needs or one you could modify. There’s a Canadian company I saw last year that had some BEAUTIFUL trestle kits pretty cheap. Much cheaper than you could buy just the wood for.
(can’t remember what company it was though)
I was wondering about using a kit. Can you customize trestle kits? I guess with that low of trestle, I could just use the pilings with a bridge deck. It wouldn’t need all of the cross braces and such. So, no alternate sources for strip styrene. I have a hard time visualizing the sizes available from hobby vendors. Quarter inch, eighth of an inch yes. .0125x.05 is not as easy.
Absolutely! I buy all my basswood stripwood, brass, styrene, glues etc at arts and craft stores such as Michaels, Pearl, and Blick. In addition to basswood, all three of these stores carry Evergreen and Plastruct including special shapes such as girders, tubing, scale stairways etc. Pearl and Michaels recently started carrying scale lumber for HO. For the larger scales, the dimensional sizes are just right. They have a huge selection and their prices are MUCH lower than the LHS or dedicated model railroad items. And yes, I do use “for sale” signs and even the clear styrene from the packaging of goods such as batteries (makes excellent glazing for windows - and it’s free).
I’ve recently used the clear packaging for windows. That and the sale signs are examples of alternative sources I was looking for. Off hand, I can’t think of another version of strip styrene.
Corey
A friend of mine and myself were at Wal-Mart a while back and were actually looking for sources of Styrene. The lawn signs etc were too thin. We noticed however the numerous price signs throughout the store were made from styrene. You know the signs with prices and the little smiley face. My buddy asked for a manager and asked him if they had any of the signs in the back that may be waiting for the trash bin. The manager came back several minutes later with two of them. A little dusty but perfectly good styrene. They are approx 20 in by 14 in and about 1/16 in thick. They come in white or black. I took it home and scratch built the entire Swift Soybean plant featured in the recent HOW TO special issue of MRR with plenty left over. So next time you are at Wal-Mart give it a shot. If you come up empty handed the first time ask someone else the next time.
Terry in Florida
If you really want to be cheap, go around after an election and pick up the signs. Some of those are plastic with wood stakes. I don’t know how suitable they are, but free is free and you’ll be doing a civic service.
Enjoy
Paul
Wood stick matches (cut the heads off!) for sign, fence post ect.
Those long wood shaft Q-tips make good telephone poles, pipes, ect