Styrene?

Styrene is what most (not all) modern kits are made out of, it has great molding caracteristics and is relatively easily worked(sanded, cut, bent etc) It is also easy to heat form as in Vac form kits.
styrene (not to be mistaken for expanded styrene foam) is also available in stock form in varying architectural shaped cross sectioned lengths (used by architects, railroad modelers and millitary modeling enthusiasts etc) it is a favoured modeling material because it is made of the same substance as the kit itself and can be handled in the same way as the kit parts (other substances require special glues and different finishing tecniques than styrene).
It is also available in card form and in clear, indeed a lot of aircraft builders vac form there own canopys from clear styrene.
Evergreen are the largest supplyers and most shapes and sizes are available. Most good LHS stock a good supply of Evergreen styrene products.
I hope this is of some use to you, Gotter

stryene comes in many different forms. Sheet, strip, tube, etc. Sheet styrene was originally ridged on one side to simulate aluminum siding, but now it is mostly smooth on both sides. You can easily cut and sand it to create new walls for vehicles. It comes in various thicknesses so you can choose it to scale. strip styrene also comes in varying thickness but it is small and long strips. One use is as a gap filler. If a gap in a model is very wide, stick a peice of strip stryene and sand it till it is flush with the rest of the surface. Tube styrene can be used in many ways, like small masts. The main purpose of styrene is for scratchbuilding or modifications. You can use styrene for whatever you want.

I don't think you can do any scratch building with out the use of any stryene products.
mark956

thank you all for your help. Styrene sounds like a very good product, i will look into buying some.

It just gives off horribly poisenous fumes when burnt and is also one of the larger parts in napalm, next to benzine and summat else.. Its the part that makes napalm stick to everything.

that is nice to know michaelvk! i was wondering where you can buy styrene? be nice to know.

QUOTE: Originally posted by J-man that is nice to know michaelvk! i was wondering where you can buy styrene? be nice to know.

Arts supply stores(for architects)
Model/Hobby shops
Model Railroad stores
DIY stores might also stock a selection of larger items

Most common makers I think are Plastruct, Evergreen & Tamiya.

Check your local yellow pages for "plastic suppliers". Some will sell to public and may have better prices. Mine has a nice remnant section that has various thicknesses for $1.50 a pound.

Michaelvk
You don't need styrene and benzine to make napalm - A long time ago I was taught how to make napalm for "field expediant flame devices". The preferred way was to mix issue thickning powder w/auto gas (or avgas) in a 55 gal drum until the fuel had thickened. If the thickner powder was not available, we were taught to use certain household chemicals (which were readily available anywhere) which worked just about as well as the issue thickner. (and if you really want to spread the stuff over a wide area, stir about 15 lbs of charcoal briquettes into the mix)

be careful quicy, don't want anyone experimentin and hurtin anyone!