Has anyone ever discovered that it is very difficult to find model railroading supplies? Perhaps it is because I am from a smaller town, but recently I am looking for Envirotex. I thought I might be able to find it at a hardware store; no dice. I even tried the local 'marts and what have you. The closest “supplied” hobby store is over a half hour drive away, and I don’t even know if they would have it.
Finding sheet styere is another type of fun example of running around and not getting anywhere.
I was just wondering if anyone else has run into a similar situation as I have. Also, avoiding buying the envirotex via the internet, any other ideas?
Question - why avoid buying the Envirotext by Internet (or Mail-Order, or Phone, etc)?
Is it because it will cost too much, or not be usable, or poorly packed, if you get it from Walthers or Caboose Hobby or whatever?
Also, getting somewhat uncommon items like big sheets of styrene, or large metal pieces, and so, if you live in a small town without speciality distributors (just the Usual Wal*Mart/Costco/Home Depot), you’re gonna have to eOrder or mailorder…
Avoiding buying it online because of shipping costs, etc. Wondering if there is somewhere in town might have it, somewhere I haven’t looked. I have nothing against buying stuff online. I’ve done it before without any problems.
Expand your horizons. Envirotex can be found at craft shops, like Michaels or A.C. Moore. (If you got A.C. Moore nearby, go to www.acmoore.com, locate the nearest store, and then print out the weekly coupon.) Craft shops, incidentally, have lots of great train supplies, like paints, brushes, artificial shrubbery, etc.
Styrene sheets? Why go for the expensive stuff? Go to Wal-Mart and pick up a plastic For Sale sign. It’s just white styrene that somebody painted “for sale” on one side of, and it’s a lot cheaper than a smaller piece from Evergreen.
I went to www.usplastic.com, the Rubbermaid people. They also sell big sheets of styrene, for industrial prices. If you have a commercial plastics distributer in town, they probably have this stuff, too.
You can get the equivalent of Envirotex at any decent hardware story under paints and finishes. It will be a two-part epoxy with twin bottles in a box…hardener and resin. Typically, you mix precisely equal quantities in a disposable container and when I say mix I mean stir for about two full minutes, decant into a second disposable container and mix another two minutes. Don’t sweat the inevitable tiny bubbles…it’s not a problem. Then pour what you need and when it has run flat and level (make sure you have sealed every possible exit with something truly impermeable) take a soda straw in your mouth and gently blow through it at the bubbles. They’ll disappear like magic.
So, you’ll find it not only cheaper at the store (most likely), but also you will save shipping.
Try Michaels and/or Hobby Lobby for some of the generic stuff like sheet styrene and Envirotex (I bought Envirotex at a local Michaels and you can usually find a 40 or 50% off coupon in the newspaper or their website)