ProjeKtWEREWOLF Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 (edited) Newbie question here. Couldn't find an answer by searching. I'm wanting to start making dioramas and scenery. Where can I get extruded polystyrene foam in decent thicknesses, eg 50mm to 100mm? I have found 6mm and 20mm sheets online. Is Kingspan or Celotex insulation foam the same thing if you remove the foil? Thanks. Edited January 30, 2020 by ProjeKtWEREWOLF Spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circloy Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Check either your local DIY superstore or builders merchants for constructional insulation sheets. Usually comes in 2.4m x 1.2 m sheets of 25mm 50mm or 100 mm thick. Various 'densities' can be found. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProjeKtWEREWOLF Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 My local stores are pretty poor...the only place I haven't checked is Jewsons. Maybe have a look tomorrow. I received a sheet of 6mm and 30mm today. Maybe a 10mm would have been useful. Haha. Lesson learned!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circloy Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 https://www.jewson.co.uk/building-materials/thermal-insulation/expanded-polystyrene-insulation/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProjeKtWEREWOLF Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 51 minutes ago, Circloy said: https://www.jewson.co.uk/building-materials/thermal-insulation/expanded-polystyrene-insulation/ 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon The Tanker Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Hey all, sorry to bring this topic up again, i am a newbie and i am thinking of getting into dioramas as well, i have found this at my local hardware store, will this work for dioramas? and what should i avoid doing that may cause issues with it? Product Link: https://www.bunnings.com.au/bastion-1200-x-600-x-30mm-xps-multi-use-insulation-foam-board_p0139535 Many Thanks! Brandon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nheather Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 6 hours ago, Brandon The Tanker said: Hey all, sorry to bring this topic up again, i am a newbie and i am thinking of getting into dioramas as well, i have found this at my local hardware store, will this work for dioramas? and what should i avoid doing that may cause issues with it? Product Link: https://www.bunnings.com.au/bastion-1200-x-600-x-30mm-xps-multi-use-insulation-foam-board_p0139535 Many Thanks! Brandon That looks like the right stuff. Traditional polystyrene (like packing in product boxes) doesn’t cut cleanly - you can see that it is made up of lots of little balls so you can end up with a wobbly cut. Some is better than others and you can cut with a hot wire - so does have its uses for large or thick areas. Cellulose foam (like used for swimming pool floats) is too spongy and resistant to cutting. The stuff you want is feels quite firm to the touch but is still very light. It has a dense structure that cuts very cleanly and easily with a craft knife. Cheers, Nigel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul821 Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Hi @Brandon The Tanker take a look at the woodland scenics range for example https://www.bachmann.co.uk/product/category/538/1"-x-2'-long-foam-sheet-(x4-pack)/wst1424 not cheap but probably as close to what you are looking for as you can get. full range here https://www.bachmann.co.uk/category/scenery-landscape/woodland_scenics/subterrain including cutting tools. When I worked in London I did frequent https://modelshop.co.uk/ I found them an excellent supplier of scenic materials 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nheather Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 @Brandon The Tanker is in Australia 😀 Maybe near my relatives who live in Perth. Cheers, Nigel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon The Tanker Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 17 hours ago, nheather said: That looks like the right stuff. Thanks! this should be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCM Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 (edited) I use boards similar to this https://www.jewson.co.uk/p/recticel-insulation-eurowall-cavity-board-1200-x-450-x-50mm-IREWC050 Easily cut to smaller size with a saw, then make to whatever thickness, shape you like, I coat with with some pva adhesive to seal it. I leave the foil on as it is on the underside. Edited July 25, 2020 by GCM pva not pvu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Stuart Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 If you are working flat, look out for foam board. It is paper covered but cuts easily with a sharp scalpel or similar. Hobby craft used to have an offer four sheets for a tenner. .If you are cutting polystyrene foam, look out for a hot wire foam cutter. much less mess than sawing the stuff, but do work in a well ventilated space. Use the bow type where you can, the needle type bends easily through over eager working at too low a temperature. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circloy Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 When gluing avoid glues containing solvent as this will eat away at the surface unless protected in some way - a coating with PVA glue suffices. Foam board, in my experience, is not stable, I've got two unused boards that are bowing due to uneven stresses caused by the factory applied bond between foam & paper. Worse still if you apply a layer of anything to it's surfaces it will within weeks warp quite severely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon The Tanker Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 17 hours ago, Robert Stuart said: If you are working flat, look out for foam board. Thanks! I will keep that in mind if I ever do some flat dioramas. 15 hours ago, Circloy said: When gluing avoid glues containing solvent as this will eat away at the surface unless protected in some way - a coating with PVA glue suffices. Thanks! I shall keep that in mind so I don't screw up. Brandon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Stuart Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 3 hours ago, Brandon The Tanker said: Thanks! I will keep that in mind if I ever do some flat dioramas. I bought mine originally to build a box to mail a sculpture (about a kilo) Main use it now for bases (no warping so far), but got the idea from model railway people using it for buildings - they score brick and stone textures into the foam before cutting out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 To answer the OP extruded polystyrene XPS should be available from builders merchants. Depending on the make it will usually be blue, pink or green. Kingspan, Celotex and others with foam facing are usually polyurethane foams of various types, rigid polyurethane (PUR) or rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR). The fumes from working these types would be even worse for you than XPS. Also it crumbles to a dust which probably isn't healthy either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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