When building kits be it rolling stock,structures,or vehicles.what material do You like working with the most?
If I were to build a kit, I would choose a simple styrene one. Since I model narrow gauge and logging in particular, I scratchbuild structures and rolling stock out of wood which I like working with. To me, nothing looks like wood than wood. I know it’s possible to make styrene look like wood but it takes a lot of painting and airbrushing skills. With wood, you can stain and age it with common materials. If I were modeling metal parts, I would definitely use either styrene or brass as these materials are ideal for this.
I couldn’t vote. I like wood and styrene for structures. White metal for figures and details. Brass fr details.
Is there a difference between plastic and styrene. I’m not sure just what it might be so I probably wouldn’t be able to tell any difference in the first place (Unless, of course, we’re talking about bakelite and I haven’t enountered any of that stuff in 40 years or better).
I’m an N-Scaler and there’s not been too many wooden kits available in that gauge over the years but I have assembled a few wooden kits (mainly in HO) in the far distant past (like the stone age). Most of my recent effort - if you can call them recent - has, of course, been in plastic/styrene. I’m a little rusty in this area (kit assembly/scratchbuilding) but I prefer doing my scratchbuilding in wood.
I’m big on styrene for most kits. Wood vehicles just don’t look right.
I also like injection-molded plastic for figures and such. White metal can’t match it for detail. For structures, I have used styrene, wood and stone; whatever was best for what I was making.
All of the above, plus cast plaster. If it builds up into a model suitable to represent a prototype I want, or is suitable for kitbashing, it’s good.
Chuck
I agree with the part about plastic and styrene running hand in hand. That is true, and thats what I like, but I had to pick other becuase it like both, maybe next time you should just put “plastics.” How is this poll informant to you anyway?
Styrene is plastic, but not all plastic is styrene, right? Without a degree in chemical engineering, I can’t tell. Heck, I can’t even tell what plastics to put in the recycle bin and which ones go into the normal “waste stream.” The beer cans from New Hampshire get recycled, while those from Massachusetts go back for the deposit. Neither of these is plastic (or styrene) though.
I like to paint structure kits, so plastic is the most convienient for me. It’s much easier to cut, drill and otherwise bash, too.
I really like laser wood kits for structures.
Nothing is more enjoyable (to me) than making a box-0-sticks into a finely\ detailed freight car!![^]
I like plastic but I do like to work with wood as well.
I too like a box-o-sticks. When done they look right, because the are right. Plus wood makes better wood for me than plastic or plaster.
I prefer plastic over wood mostly because of the structure choices. Maybe it’s just me but it seems like most of the wood kits are of dinky, rundown, decrepit-looking buildings. Certainly these buildings exist in real life but my layout style tends more towards the grandiose and Walthers just has so many larger-than-life type structures like the Ore Dock and Blast Furnace.
I like wood. It’s what all the craftsman kits used when I started. “Shake the box” kits (oh the shame [
]) were plastic. “Real” model railroaders worked in wood or brass.
While I think there are excellent kits in several mediums including plastic and I have built many plastic kits, I have always preferred wood. Just because.
Enjoy
Paul
I prefer wood, although for freight cars I can’t afford it.
plastic for me for the most part