FoamBoard For Scratchbuilding Question

[TimP]

As my stock of what I thought was foam board was running low I popped into hobbycraft and bought a new A3 sheet today. On cutting it I was very disappointed to find it very poor quality; Even with a scalpel it tended to be impossible to cut a straight edge and once cut bits of polystyrene fell out. Is there a particular brand or supplier I should be using? I have not had this problem before. (ps I live a long way from anywhere - north of Inverness so I don't have many shops to choose from)

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

Perhaps this retailer had a duff consignment, but cynical realist me feels it's likely they have opted for cheap and nasty. Have you phoned for their opinion? (The last time I needed a quantity of foamboard was 2009 and the Hobbycraft supply purchased then was fine, and the remaining pieces still were, based on what was used for a neighbour's son's  summer project of pits for his slot cars.)

[RobinofLoxley]

Hobbycraft foam board has been as described for years. It takes a lot of care to cut a clean line through it.

[woodyfox]

I have used aero modellers foam sheet. It can be bought in various thicknesses and sizes. 

The last box i bought had about 15 sheets of 3mm thick in around 600x900mm size. 

[Geep7]

I'm not sure if online delivery is an option in your area, but i've bought my foamcore board from that large online emporium named after a south american river and forest. I think the make is Cathedral, if that helps at all, but it seems to be of pretty good quality, and cuts well.

Edited September 6, 2024 by Geep7

[TimP]

Thanks everyone, yes i found that foamcore is much better - if a lot more expensive!!

 

[Happy Hippo]

I get my various foams from this company.

 

https://modelshop.co.uk/

 

 

 

[brossard]

1 hour ago, TimP said:

Thanks everyone, yes i found that foamcore is much better - if a lot more expensive!!

 

 

I didn't realize there was a difference.  I have used foamcore when building Scalescenes kits in 7mm.  Easier to cut than 3.5mm card which is 2mm or heavy card scaled up.

 

John