Styrene - how do you use it and what do you use it for?

Hello everyone,

Here's a post coming after a short chat with Matthew - I am basically wondering if any of you uses styrene on a regular basis, and what you use it for.

I just bought a sheet that will serve me on sculpting pads for Kamakura, however I am really curious to see if some of you have used it before on your customs, and what you managed to do with it. Pictures welcome!

You get it, I'm in need of some source of inspiration here

[pluv]

I think the easier question to answer would be what don't I use it for. I use the styrene tubes for all kinds of stuff from added articulation posts, to weapons to silencers to created hinges with their smaller rods. I've used their squared tubes for garage door rails too. Since you're talking about sheets though that is what I'll show you.

I've used to create a hat by cutting a circle shape and then heating the center and poking it until I got a dome that the head to fit into to. http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/custo ... =9&id=7000

I've used it to create a broad sword that required etching.
http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/custo ... =9&id=7378

On this ROM I used it for his jet pack exhaust tubes and for the accordian look for his weapon. http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/custo ... =9&id=7149

I've used it for signs, doors, and small boxes. Currently I am using it to create a small service tray with sides to it. Some of those thinner sheets are like working with cardstock paper but have added toughness to it. You can get just about any bent shape you want by holding it a few inches away from a candle. Although this takes a lot of patience and trial and error so be prepared to go through the process several times until you get it right.

I used a lot of styrene in this vehicle custom: http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/custo ... =soundwave

I agree with pluv - the more styrene you have, the more uses you come up with.

Most of the tail section of this is styrene. Here's a WIP picture that shows it a bit better (the white part). It's about four pieces thick. I use Garage Sale/For Rent/Whatever signs as a cheap source.

Wow! Thanks guys, the work you did is incredible!!

I've been making some progress on my shinguards and pads for Kamakura, however there is still much improvement needed...

Thanks though for taking the time to show me examples of what can be done with this stuff! Depending on the thickness of the styrene used, one can easily create new shells/walls/wings and make new vehicles - now I only need to work on my imagination

I use a different kind of plastic that I buy locally, but it's about the same as styrene.

This vehicle required a small amount of plastic. The front skis andsome small pieces I used to cover holes left when I removed other stuff. The tracks are made from a cast I did.

On this vehicle all of the bottom is made from sheet plastic. I actually heated the plastic and press mold parts for detail. The landing gears, covers, and all that is from the plastic I use. So this one gives an even better idea what can be done.

This HISS tank I made the back hatch from sheet plastic. I hand carved the details in with a dremel then heated and bent the plastic to shape. I sanded the edge where I bent it to get the sharp point. The hinge is made from plastic too. The guns are wood and the base of the guns are from a mold. There's a seat inside the turrent made from sheet plastic too.

I've got other stuff too but no images to point to. If you saw the recent info about the Cobra Base, that's also made from this plastic I use. I like this stuff I use better than styrene due to it's ability to carve, heat and mold, plus I can buy various thicknesses. But you can still do a lot with styrene as well, as has been shown by others. I'd say you're only limited by your imagination on what can be done.