cheap plastics or balaswood

The place to discuss all aspects of building models from scratch.

Moderators: Joseph C. Brown, Moderators

Post Reply
sunburn800
Posts: 265
Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 9:43 pm
Location: Daytona Beach

cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by sunburn800 »

I need to ask a few things here I am building a big ship yard as seen on BSG Razor but I have a small budget I can't find plastic or balsawood anywhere in large sheets maybe 1/2 to 1/4 thick by 20 by 20 or even 40 by 40 can anyone help me?
DaveVan
Posts: 2754
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:53 pm
Location: usa

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by DaveVan »

1/2 inch thick plastic sheets???? Doubt you will find styrene like that. I know you can get acrylic sheets.....but cheap???? nope. If you need 1/2" for large builds I'd look at ultra grade cabinet plywood......but again a 4x8 or 5 x 10 sheet starts at $100+ There is no cheap when you go that big.
User avatar
naoto
Posts: 29234
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 3:22 pm
Location: Temple City, California, USA

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by naoto »

Since you mention you're on a budget, have you considered papercraft?

You can build relatively large objects using such techniques:
http://www.coolthings.com/a-life-size-p ... -race-car/

perhaps you use combination of posterboard and foamboard that you can get from the dollar store?

"but papercraft models are seriously lacking in detail" you say?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt99b5ccwqk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4IgI9p23Wo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ArerbR9QcY

https://www.youtube.com/user/lucaiaconistewart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54D0_rr-7Dk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LckG_P135Q
Last edited by naoto on Thu Jan 04, 2018 3:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Naoto Kimura
木村直人
DaveVan
Posts: 2754
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:53 pm
Location: usa

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by DaveVan »

Poster, matt and foamcore are all good suggestions.\I do paper models too.....
Image
User avatar
Zubie
Posts: 4878
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 2:03 pm
Location: Orion arm of Milky Way Galaxy
Contact:

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by Zubie »

If you're going big paper/card stock/foam core is probably the more affordable route. For the most part you can work with it similarly to plastic card; use lacquer to stiffen for light sanding , wood filler for gaps and edges, takes to light rattle cans, although other painting requires care due to water absorption. If you coupled this with software and a good printer you can implement some amazing detail (the software can be cheap or free).

https://www.behance.net/gallery/4331957 ... CARD-MODEL, student architectural model

http://www.ipmscanada.com/ipms/Paperand ... G_1249.jpg , commercial kit 1/200 scale about 4 feet long

https://i.imgur.com/GDkmeB6.jpg, studio scale nostromo

http://www.modelermagic.com/?p=48767 bsg total scratch cardboard and household greeblies
La maquina sobre mi escritorio es una "computadora" del latin "computare", no un "ordenador". El estado de mi escritorio afirma eso. (yo/me)
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by Kylwell »

Check for your local plastics supplier, you should be able to get 4x8 foot sheets. Or order them online. Or hit the hardware store and see what they carry. You can get some pretty fine plywood.
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
naoto
Posts: 29234
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 3:22 pm
Location: Temple City, California, USA

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by naoto »

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/pla ... ze_plastic

with above link, I looked up pricing for a clear acrylic sheet 1/2" x 20" x 20" -- price came out to around $65 (if I'm not mistaken, this doesn't include shipping). Not sure if this is within your budget ("small budget" is sort of vague -- what amount of money are we talking about? a few thousand? a few hundred? under a hundred? ).
Naoto Kimura
木村直人
gsb5w
Posts: 2251
Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 6:48 pm
Location: Sumter, SC

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by gsb5w »

If your project doesn't have to be very rigid then foamboard works great for making structure.
DaveVan
Posts: 2754
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:53 pm
Location: usa

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by DaveVan »

gsb5w wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:12 pm If your project doesn't have to be very rigid then foamboard works great for making structure.
Engineered right foamcore can be very rigid. Some triangulation, good glue and bracing I've made some sturdy structures.
User avatar
Zubie
Posts: 4878
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 2:03 pm
Location: Orion arm of Milky Way Galaxy
Contact:

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by Zubie »

1/2" thick plastic seems unreasonable unless you are trying to make the skin itself structurally stiff enough to hold up the model's weight. I'm unclear as to the actual scale (20, 40 - inches, feet?). Just from seeing other people's work, it seems a more logical approach is to start off with an internal load bearing skeleton, then skin it with much thinner and as such cheaper material. Even with thinner material, a set of bulkheads and ribs to take the actual stress (like old time balsa+tissue airplanes) could get you a finished model that will hold its weight without relying on such thick skins.

I mention this because thinner plastic, like the ones sold as "for sale" signs and the like, or thinner storm window plexiglass (or even 2'x4'x1/8" styrene if you can find it) is not that bad.

I still recommend card for this size. I've seen threads of large card ship builds that make use of balsa+paper sandwiches for their internal bulkheads and make fairly nice looking hulls 2 to 3 feet in length skinned in just cardstock (like greeting card paper). It just requires careful handling so as not to poke them in once built.
La maquina sobre mi escritorio es una "computadora" del latin "computare", no un "ordenador". El estado de mi escritorio afirma eso. (yo/me)
wowyz
Posts: 163
Joined: Mon May 29, 2017 2:17 am

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by wowyz »

Gong to add my Mustard.

1.) Sandwich foam board between 2 thin layers of plastic sheeting/balsa pieces, you can still add ribs by dividing the foam board.

Might not be the cheapest, but I think it is a very flexible solution. Of course depends on your budget, etc.
Andrew Gorman
Posts: 2698
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 4:56 pm
Location: Escaped from darkest suburbia!

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by Andrew Gorman »

There is also styrene faced foam core-
https://www.foamboardsource.com/medium- ... board.html
Directly above the center of the Earth.
sunburn800
Posts: 265
Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 9:43 pm
Location: Daytona Beach

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by sunburn800 »

Sorry guys I just had a death in the family so my thinking is not the best. thanks for all your help I just going to try plastic around 1/8 I was going to cut the thicker plastic so I would have different levels and also cut small to large cut outs for the ships docks,supplies and an area for new ship building.
EVApodman
Posts: 4499
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2006 8:37 am

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by EVApodman »

I once had to cut a 1/4" thick of styrene for a model I was making and it was a beyotch. I don't know the size of what you are trying to make but I agree with the posts that first you make an armature that will support the weight of the model and then attach smaller and thinner sheets of plastic along with greeblies to get the look you want rather than trying to build a self supporting structure out of plastic like a regular model.
"Nothing to do now but drink a beer and watch the universe die."
"Basically what I do everyday."

I AM Spartacus!
I'm Batman.

Don't believe everything you see on the Internet!- Abraham Lincoln

Oh my God!! It's full of plastic peanuts!

Today is a good day to model!
Wug
Posts: 2226
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2004 8:52 pm
Location: Kentucky

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by Wug »

If you have any Ma & Pa hardware stores left, check to see if they sell scraps of cut window plastic. Years ago I picked up a lot of the stuff for cheap. It's about 1/8 inch thick. I think it's made from PETE so you'll probably need to use epoxy.
User avatar
Scotaidh
Posts: 4113
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 9:55 am
Location: Moral Turpitude

Re: cheap plastics or balaswood

Post by Scotaidh »

sunburn800 wrote: Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:01 am Sorry guys I just had a death in the family so my thinking is not the best. thanks for all your help I just going to try plastic around 1/8 I was going to cut the thicker plastic so I would have different levels and also cut small to large cut outs for the ships docks,supplies and an area for new ship building.
The last time I set out to build a hanger, I started with plastic in-boxes - you know, as found on office desks. Glue-able, stack-able, inexpensive, interesting holes in the back and sides, available at many locations. I stole the idea from someone here who'd used that method to build a complete rebel alliance underground hanger complex ... I was green with envy for days after seeing his work. :) I know - bit shallow, me.
I tend to use plastic signs from Wallyworld and hardware stores for skinning; I also have "mined" the local recycle centre for plastic computer stuff - casings, tilt-swivels (from the old, heavy CRT monitors) - the plastic glues up a treat with regular model cement.

I tend to 'build up' not 'machine down', so to speak. Less material costs, easier to repair goofs or change the design on the fly.

Hope that's helpful ...
"Is Russian artillery. Is mostly on target."
Dimitry
Post Reply