Big plastic practice material?

You can get some sheets of Evergreen styrene fairly cheap, and have it for scratching later on. Also can maybe pick up one of the plastic totes/storage boxes on sale, practice piece and stash holder as well..  Not flat but how about an old 5 gal plastic bucket.

Tip of the hat to Hans von Hammer, who gave me this tip years ago, and I pass it on now to you:

Go to your hardware store and buy signs-"Yard Sale", "For Sale", "No Parking", etc.  Most of them are made of styrene sheet.  I buy them as a cheap alternative to Evergreen and Plastruct, for plain sheet, in any case.

Hope that helps!

Best regards,

Brad

Dollar store for signs....

I tried that, but didn't get results I liked. For paint practice, yes. For actual models, no.

I never could get the red printing to entirely disappear. I think the one I tried was possibly printed.

The surface of the sign was pretty pebbly.

Not cheap, a 9 x 12 sign cost $ 6.00 or so.

Plastruct stuff is 6x12, & depending on thickness, up to 3 sheets in a pack, for around $5.  I usually get the varity pac, with .010,.020, and .030.  Then I have various thickness to work with.

For the last couple of years my junk mail has included these large cardboard postcard-like flyers, anywere from about 4 x 6 to about 5 x10, that are plastic coated.  I save these as modeling supply. I cut them up and use them for pallets for CA glue and for paint for drybrushing.  Left intact, they can be used for practice painting.  The plastic coating is thick enough that the cards paint just like styrene.

Dont overlook what you already likely have around the house. Things like the jugs that bleach and fabric softener come in are made from large pieces of smooth plastic. Perfect for practicing and the price is sweet.

Chris

Don Stauffer

For the last couple of years my junk mail has included these large cardboard postcard-like flyers, anywere from about 4 x 6 to about 5 x10, that are plastic coated.  I save these as modeling supply. I cut them up and use them for pallets for CA glue and for paint for drybrushing.  Left intact, they can be used for practice painting.  The plastic coating is thick enough that the cards paint just like styrene.

I do the same thing, but with the dummy credit and membership cards in the junk mail.

Thank you guys for all the ideas.  I think I found something -- the big flat plastic lid (which i don't use) that came with my trashcans.  It has both flat and irregular areas.  It is also a bit big and clunky but should last a long time.