Sources for Styrene

[davefoxx]

Forum,

I'm this close to tearing out my second attempt to build the roads for my layout.  I used joint compound this time, and it came out okay.  But, I'm beginning to realize that the sidewalks and parking lots that I need to also build just won't blend in or join well to the joint compound roads, because of thickness, materials, etc.  So, I'm thinking about going the route of DKS and all others who use styrene for their streets.

That said, where does one get large sheets of styrene?  One road on my layout will be the length of the HCD.  I realize I can put seams in there, but I don't want a seam every 12".

Thanks,
DFF

[DKS]

For the really big stuff, there are a few online sources that come to mind--

http://www.eplastics.com/

http://www.usplastic.com/

I've bought from both. Granted, you need to place a fairly large order to make it worthwhile, but it's something to investigate. It's also cool that you can get plain styrene in black, so it takes a bit less paint to make asphalt road surfaces, and scratches don't stick out.

Other sources include vinyl flashing at the local Big Box stores, although I've never used the stuff and I'm not sure how it bonds, etc.

[Scottl]

A local plastic company will sell 4' X 8' sheets of different thicknesses, maybe smaller sheets too.  It is a good way to get long runs or less expensive quantities.

[peteski]

Search Google (or a hard copy of Yellow Pages) for plastics suppliers in your local area. Then call or email them to find out if they sell to individuals (most do). I have one I deal with, next town over.  When I need something larger than the Evergreen stuff, I call them. Plus, being able to pick the order up in-person saves the shipping cost. I can't even imagine how much would it be to ship a 4' X 8' sheet of acrylic or styrene.    There used to be a local outfit called Commercial Plastics, which was a good size plastics distributor, but they closed several years ago.  They used to have a store front on the side of their warehouse and they used to sell plastic cut-offs by pound.  I loved that place!

[John]

Look at Lance Mindheim's blog .. he has a place over here in Jessup that he uses ..

[DKS]

There used to be a local outfit called Commercial Plastics, which was a good size plastics distributor, but they closed several years ago.  They used to have a store front on the side of their warehouse and they used to sell plastic cut-offs by pound.  I loved that place!

Yes, I shopped there quite a lot as well. Great place for oddball stuff, and they sold their own brand of bonding solvent, "Comstick." Regretted losing that product, although I believe it was just methylene chloride, which is easy to get.

[Scottl]

Maybe check with a sign company, they might sell scrap or old sign material for a good price.

[peteski]

Yes, I shopped there quite a lot as well. Great place for oddball stuff, and they sold their own brand of bonding solvent, "Comstick." Regretted losing that product, although I believe it was just methylene chloride, which is easy to get.

Yes, the stuff with an orange label on the can. Great stuff and yes, it was methylene chloride (plus maybe some other ingredients).  Um, I just dug up an old empty can! It doesn't mention anything other than methylene chloride. The address on the label is Trenton, NJ! 

The label also states:
Packaged by: TACC International
Comstik Adhesives Division
Trenton, NJ 08619

Comstik is a registered trademark of Commercial Plastics.

Maybe someone still makes this adhesive? 

I currently use IPS WELD-ON #3 adhesive which seems very similar to Comstik.  I get it in a local True Value hardware store.

[MichaelWinicki]

Hey Dave, I have a fairly long section of road that was done using Woodland Scenics Smoot-It, which isn't that far removed from joint compound.

To compensate for the height of the sidewalk and such, I simply made the road wide enough to account for the sidewalk being there– which would enable me to have the finished sidewalk at a consistent height above the road. 

After it was done I then used Evergreen Sidewalk-pattern styrene to create the sidewalks.  It was as simply as snapping off the amount of sidewalk I needed and glued it to the top of the roadway. I then glued a piece of small/thin styrene to the edge of the sidewalk to create the curb.

The roadway was painted one color and the sidewalk/curb another. 

Parking lots were easy.  In some cases the I "ramped" the parking lot entrance over the sidewalk.  Sometimes I left pieces of sidewalk out and then created a small frame using stacked pieced of masking tape and filled in the parking lot with the material of choice... "Smooth-it" or Lightweight Joint Compound or simply a stone mix.

[Chris333]

I would just go one e-bay.

I bought this last week:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271181736332?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_716wt_1161

And if you need regular paper sheet sized pieces you can usually get them for like $1 a piece. And search for evergreen and find people selling strip lots for way cheap.

[davefoxx]

Thanks for all of your suggestions and tips, guys.  I really appreciate your advice.

Chris, this is all your fault.  I know you aren't particularly satisfied with the brick road that you built (I think it looks great), but it showed me a good picture of how the sidewalks and roads can be fitted together with styrene parts.  Heh, I'll forgive you, though, since you posted that eBay link to the 24" x 24" black styrene.  I'll order up a few sheets tonight.  DKS's suggestion to use black styrene resolves my fear of the road getting scratched and having bright white styrene show through.

Thanks, again,
DFF

[davefoxx]

Chris,

Assuming you used Evergreen sidewalk sheet styrene for your sidewalks, what size "squares" and product thickness did you use?  How did you get the rounded sidewalk ends?  Are the ends hand-carved?  It looks really nice to me.

Thanks,
DFF

[Chris333]

haha  If it's my fault then it is really David's fault, please direct your lawyer to him 

Here is my sidewalks:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300942467036?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_614wt_1399

I figured a sidewalk is about 5" tall. .030" is 4.8" You could go thicker if you want. (I had to think about all the buildings that need lifted up to meet the sidewalks)

I think I made a scribe every 5', but that could be different as well. To make the rounded ends I used a circle template.

[davefoxx]

I don't think I could scribe the styrene as well as you have, so I ordered three pieces of Evergreen sidewalk styrene with 3/8" squares, using your guesstimate of five feet between expansion joints.  It's 0.040" thick, which scales out to about 6.4", which is fairly tall for a curb, but not unreasonable.  If it really bothers me, I can always sand the back of the sidewalks down a scale inch or so.

I also ordered three sheets of the 24" x 24" black styrene.  Now, I'm looking forward to redesigning the layout of my town.  It is a little cramped, so I'm hoping I can do a better job, now that I'm going back to a clean slate.

I ripped out the joint compound road a few minutes ago.  By taking a three-inch putty knife, I was able to pry it off in large chunks.  I still need to get in there with an X-acto knife or some other pick to clear out the joint compound from the railroad crossings.  That might take a while to really clean it up well, since I may be moving the roads around, and I want to get rid of all of the joint compound off of the tracks.

DFF

[Chris333]

I scribed with a t-square ruler and the knife blade backwards, it was pretty simple. The curves I scribed using the template.

Sidewalks and curbs are all different heights so you will be OK.