polystyrene Styrofoam

Pennywise11788 posted:

are they the same thing. I want to carve a rock formation and keep seeing people taking about polystyrene. I look at the big box hardware stores and hobbylobby and just see styrofoam. I just for once want to buy something without ordering it.

Pink or blue foam at HD, Lowes, etc.

When it comes to rocks, it really depends on what look you want to achieve. 

how thick is one piece. thanks, been watching the Terrain tutor on youtube and feel crafty 

Pennywise11788 posted:

how thick is one piece

 

It comes 3/4", 1", 1-1/2" and 2" thick.

Sheets are 24" x 96" long.

 Cuts very easil with a razor blade, saw and a sure form tool. 

thank you Aubv

Pennywise11788 posted:

thank you Aubv

If you are going to do scenery, my recommendations include using plaster wrap, sculp-t-mold, palette knife, 1" paint brush, hot glue gun, black, brown and white latex paint.

again thank you, glad to know I can go by this and get started

I would also like to recommend Fusion Fiber. Works great for landscaping; holds scenic material without extra glue, and can be reused just by wetting it down again. Pink foam for base, no extra glue even for the track ballast.

To answer the original question:

Polystyrene is a specific kind of plastic resin. It appears in many forms (including the stuff that most glue-together model airplane and car kits are made of), depending on how it is processed.

Styrofoam is a kind of expanded polystyrene. Usually white in color, it is the stuff that hot cups are made of. It is inexpensive and light, but brittle and fragile. It is not a very good choice for most modeling.

Pink and blue foam are two very similar materials, sold as sheet insulation. They are made of extruded polystyrene, and are much more dense and strong than styrofoam. This is the stuff that people buy at Home Depot and use for mountains, etc. It can also be carved and painted to look like brick, stone, concrete, and most any other surface. It is remarkably versatile. 

Hope this helps.

thanks for explaining it