Styrene Tutorial Guide basic intro plastic model making modeling tips and tricks (Part 1)

Basics of plastic modeling with styrene or polystyrene, including vacuum forming, gluing, solvent welding cutting and sanding, filing. Industrial Design model building video.
Styrene Sheets come in various color, thickness and texture.
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.03 styrene white www.ebay.com/itm/184252123854
.06 styrene white www.ebay.com/itm/402018310594
.03/.06 styrene black www.ebay.com/itm/184268703876
Luer lock bottles with needles
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Botzen Design Inc.
Industrial Design and Product Visualization
www.botzen.com
Botzen Design Inc.
Industrial Design and Product Visualization
www.botzen.com

[@christopherdrummond1830]

I have not used styrene in modeling before but now about to. Thank you Eric for your info. Chris

[@CallousCoder]

I love styrene! The first time saw a props guy use it to make a quick ornate box for a TV show I was the tech consultant on, I was like wow! That’s so easy to use?! What is it?! And ironically, it’s as expensive here in The Netherlands than foam core! I always smuggle a few big foam code sheets from the US!

[@piperthirtytwo]

I was hoping for more ideas on how or what to use the square or circular tubing for when building model kits. However, I found this video very educational, especially for how different kinds of glues affect the styrene. I have been using brick styrene sheets for practicing painting techniques with various forms of paint as well as learning how to use spray paints/primers so as to not cover up raised/recessed panel lines on my actual models. Also using them to test color combos and proper thinning of my paints before brushing.

[@markkoons7488]

Thank you for this posting. To my fellow hicks I recommend a good art supply store. I'm amazed at the access to materials and techniques they offer. Also, often well-hidden urban plastics supply houses have been accommodating of my need both for specialized materials and advice.

[@TK421Reporting]

good tips, been trying to figure out what to use for tenth scale body molding, perhaps this will work better then printing...ordered some half rounds, perfect, thank you

[@leester9487]

Thank you for the video.

[@dopapier]

Thank you for the very well organised links.

[@spacemansabs]

You should tape the corner together dry before you glue it, then you can be sure its square and straight. :)

[@nash-a-one]

Hi, great tutorial. I don't have a vacuum forming machine but do have a rough 3d cardboard shape that is made of strips to create a curve. Can i use styrene sheets and a heat gun/hair dryer to form over my 3d form to create a smoother curved piece, or is it easier to use strips of 2mm plasticard and sand the edges round like half a ball? Thanks in advance.

[@trainman864]

what is the chemical composition of the solvent you're using? - there seem to be so many different ones

[@johnmaye9165]

awesome

[@Dontwlookatthis]

Just a side note, if you use regular metal tweezers, they can become magnitized and it definitely affects your modeling when you go to get tweezers tor your styrene or polystyrene and you have applied glue but your tweezers attract small drills or other metal. I have just today bought all new tweezers made especially of not magnetic alloys used by watchmakers who cannot afford to accidentally magnetize gears which magnitize other gears and the watch cannot then be made to run. These tweezers are not expensive.

[@EricStrebel]

Probably non magnetic stainless isy guess

[@dandinel6785]

Thank you very interesting

[@UnwrappingByMimiKoteng]

question. I want to build a tank rc, do I need a thick styrene?

[@dopapier]

Your videos are extremely well done, your voice clear and well modulated. It is not necessary to have music playing at the same time, particularly the rubbish in this tutorial.

[@EricStrebel]

Old videos have KZbin audio compression issues, let KZbin know they should fix this or allow content creators to fix it.

[@joegiglio8458]

At 3:13 the flower opens and folds can someones explain the hinge mechanism please ould love to use this for a project

[@Declan-pg8cg]

I'm looking to build a vape model prototype from styrene, which I will then be molding and casting from for the end product. I have designed it and have had good success with less complex models in the past. Any tips on building techniques?

[@dayarao1555]

grt sir..

[@EricStrebel]

+Daya Rao Glad you like it! make sure you subscribe and like. Share your videos you make here as well! www.botzen.com

[@punkrockpub]

GREAT VIDEO!!! Thank you for the helpful tips!!! Do you know how to bend / mold styrene plastic? As for scratch building models?

[@EricStrebel]

punkrockpub i have a few videos on vac forming.

[@CarlosTorres-ow9qr]

Hey love your videos. Want to ask a question l lost or miss placed a part for the fuel tank of the Space Shuttle the Hydrogen Supply Line and I don’t know the size of the tubing I need by any chance can you help or should I just buy a package with different sizes. It’s a 1:72 scale model

[@danielrperez5778]

Thank you for the vid! So many useful things can be made out of scrap material. BTW, I am always in search of some solvent or adhesive suitable for those "difficult plastics" such as PET bottles (polyester, mylar) ands their caps (PP? HDPE?). Do you know any? Thank you!

[@EricStrebel]

Daniel R Perez Your welcome, glad you liked it! PP and HDPE are practically unglue able, heat weld then or mechanically fasten them.

[@danielrperez5778]

I'm afraid you're right... I'll have to learn heat welding. Many thanks!

[@dans5595]

i'm wondering whether using a "warm" to "hot" lacquer thinner in an airbrush to chemically etch in lieu of sanding would work well. i'm a beginner car model builder, and am finding that complete body sanding is a chore i'd like to avoid, if possible.

[@EricStrebel]

Don't know if that will work or not. Try it and leave a reply to let eveyone know. That would be cool if it did work. Good luck.

[@mpetersen6]

One possible source for sheet styrene is sign companies that produce signs for businesses that are internally lit.

[@nokiot9]

Hey, also, when I sand my edges flat (or try to) I always end up taking more off of the ends of the edge or the corners actually round a bit. Especially if the piece is smaller. What am I doing wrong?

[@EricStrebel]

Always use a sanding block, it's just practice and you'll get it

[@preshannaidoo7479]

Thanks for this video. I usually build model kits and wanted to make some customisations (using model glue) . Are there any household plastic containers that are made from styrene that I could use? Ie what plastic number. I’ve tried quite a few but none bond well except some arb piece I found in a takeaway container but I couldn’t find a plastic recycling number on it

[@EricStrebel]

Not sure

[@aimeenorwich]

Hi, thanks for the very informative video. What would you recommend for cutting 45 degree edges? Would a mat cutter work. Thanks

[@EricStrebel]

Probably not, a band saw perhaps or small hand saw

[@aimeenorwich]

Eric Strebel ok, thanks much.

[@edwinkowalinski4337]

What thickness is the sheet styrene you work with?

[@EricStrebel]

It depends on the project +Edwin Kowalinski , but I use 1mm or 2mm thick sheets for production stuff, if I need larger quantities or something right away I might use .06 or .03 r.ebay.com/4dKGQF or r.ebay.com/g9LN1F

[@ReaverLordTonus]

I've seen scratchbuilding structures using both Styrene and card/chip board. Between the two materials, which would you say is best in terms of budget friendliness and ease to work with?

[@EricStrebel]

Chip board is much cheaper, but styrene is going to be a lot more durable, always trades off there are....

[@ReaverLordTonus]

@@EricStrebel thanks

[@yus6702]

Eric, would you please show how to cut out windows and doors in styrene flats and shapes.

[@Adol666]

Depending in the thickness you can just use an exacto blade/scalpel. Styrene is easy to cut

[@mbergancia17]

sir what is the deference between high impact polystyrene and styrene sheet?

[@EricStrebel]

Some styrene is rated for higher impact resistance than others.

[@jimmcintosh184]

Great Video !! what is the solvent you use for this plastic? Ive never seen it before

[@EricStrebel]

Plastic weld made for styrene, you can get it at many plastic supply houses, same a plastic model cement that you use to build model cars

[@tlg3327]

What thickness should I buy?

[@maryboogaloo]

Hi, I can't work out what the two types of glue/solvent you are using are. All I can read is 'Acrylic' on the tub. What kind of glue should I get, please? Not just the brand (as I live in the UK and it might not be available here), but the type of glue. Many thanks.

[@EricStrebel]

according to the can it contains: Dichloromethane, Methane chloride, Trichloroethylene, Methyl Methacrylate Monomer.....Made by Weld-On, they probably have a MSD sheet available on their site that you could down load

[@maryboogaloo]

hahahaha! Ok, thanks for that! What I was hoping you would say, was like 'any glues suitable for jewellery making or compatible with thermoplastic resin', rather than the ingredients, but thanks anyway...

[@EricStrebel]

It's not a glue, its a solvent, it melts the plastic on a molecular level +Mary Boogaloo you should be able to use plastic model cement that you can buy at a hobby store (for welding plastic car models together) or from your local plastic supply house

[@maryboogaloo]

Sorry, I meant to say solvent. It's brilliant! Thanks for all the info.

[@ytfp]

cool music at the very begginng, the clicking, what is it?

[@EricStrebel]

Reach out to +mKe hOSTETTLER and ask him.

[@jontexas6685]

Is there any thickness that can be run through an inkjet printer?

[@EricStrebel]

I suppose, in theory that should work for the thinner sheets

[@ELPaso1990TX]

Is 1.5mm to 2mm styrene sheet easy to bend to shape at room temperature without it breaking? And if so does it hold that shape ok?

[@EricStrebel]

Heat is really required to make that work

[@ELPaso1990TX]

Eric Strebel will a hair dryer give enough heat to soften it?

[@EricStrebel]

Eh, you can try but most likely not.

[@TheOpanyanglugu]

can I use tamiya cement to glued stryrene???

[@EricStrebel]

Yes, you should be able to.

[@TheOpanyanglugu]

ok..thanks...

[@leester9487]

Opan, I don't do use Styrene , but I've seen videos of guys using Tamiya thin cement, which flows into the seams (seems?) using capillary action. I have also seen Plastruct Plastiweld, but have heard that is stinky and tends to evaporate very quickly.

[@volatilesky]

Tamiya is the best I've found - humbrol cement takes 24 hours to dry and it's almost like a runny gel, plastruct solvent evaporates really fast/smells awful and is very thin. Tamiya cement is a great medium in consistency (and OPTIONS from super thin to medium and thick), and has a much better working time/holds parts in place better. Plastruct only really works decently if you do the syringe method like in the video.

[@johnharringtonguitar6559]

What is the name of the glue in the cans? You mentioned they were thin like water.

[@EricStrebel]

I have added a link in the description to some solvent cement

[@nokiot9]

Super easy! Lemme just jump on my CNC laser and industrial vac former 😂😂😐 I’m poor ☹️

[@EricStrebel]

Maker spaces can help with that

[@dzplayer0149]

i cant get styrene cuz i live in algeria and it sucks I CANT FIND ANYTHING HERE .C

[@EricStrebel]

Dz Player01 try online, perhaps ebay, I sell styrene there. www.ebay.com/itm/181828863162 I don't sell international but you should be able to get some from a European source as well. Best of luck.

[@CantPickTheNameIwant]

Is it the same material as polystyrene?

[@EricStrebel]

Yup

[@CantPickTheNameIwant]

@@EricStrebel thank you

[@npc6817]

thanks for posting this, you cleared many of the doubts I had but I still can't understand how to do what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to make a part for a gundam model but I have no idea how to go about it. it would be a round guard for a rapier like weapon but it would need to be hollow, think like cutting off a section from a cone with the diameter of a large marker leaving the top open (or even better just look at this: 3.bp.blogspot.com/-re031LU5Q18/UqR-UN6ju2I/AAAAAAACYJM/g4Jdk8yFkYY/s1600/2000.jpg not the tip holding the lightsaber-like blade, the one just before it) got any suggestions?

[@rdgk1se3019]

I know I'm late to the party here......but I just stumbled upon your channel Eric.........one thing you and your viewers should know........Evergreen makes virgin styrene.........other MFG's might not produce virgin styrene.........becareful with what you buy.

[@EricStrebel]

Ok, good info, thanks for the tip

[@massimo2mila2]

if you're interested here my homebuilt locomotive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3eVYqp_ocyJjrs

[@specialk22tt]

Are styrene sheets waterproof?

[@EricStrebel]

Yes

[@specialk22tt]

@@EricStrebel Thank you.

[@davidkoloc1313]

Although it seems like it is and behaves as such, polystyrene is not technically an impervious barrier either to moisture or gas.

[@EricStrebel]

Well technically not many materials are "water proof" but my guess is this question was asked in regards to model building for like a pond or a troff for a Diagrama or something.

[@team-zracing7476]

When I was a kid it was always ABS. Why in the world do we call it styrene now? Isn't it the same stuff? I can't imagine how all the users changed their common nomenclature. Or maybe there was a "black hole" decade or two when everybody was playing video games and nobody knew what a hobby shop was...

[@EricStrebel]

ABS is completely different than staring while you can use the same glue it is a different material

[@team-zracing7476]

@@EricStrebel Thanks Eric. I found this: www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?198979-Styrene-vs-ABS "ABS is a form of styrene: Acrylonitrile-butadiende-styrene There is no plastic that is actually just pure styrene as that is a liquid. The name styrene usually is used to refer to either ABS or polystyrene which is the simplest form of polymerized (plastic) styrene." Sounds like the chief practical difference is flexibility/brittleness & performance under impact. Learned something. This day's just getting better & better!

[@gortnewton4765]

All that time spent fixing a bad cut!! Styrene - just use a paper guillotine (about $30).

[@John-mz8rj]

Superglue your sandpaper flat to the table top, it don't move and it's easy to find don't let your wife see it.

[@markrpope3]

The down vote is in protest of the all to rampant use on YT of unnecessary, annoying background “music” that serves no purpose whatsoever other than to make it harder to hear voiceover or to unsuccessfully hide overmodulated or other amateur audio quality like on-camera mics.

[@EricStrebel]

Awesome

[@EricStrebel]

Awesome

[@FreeEricBrandt]

This down vote is in protest of douchebags whining about a little background music and bagging on a guy for not spending unnecessary money on a microphone. I can hear him just fine. Go fudge yourself

[@jonathanyoung5780]

Meh...not bad but not great