Styrene?

[hulkmaxx]

Hope I spelled it correctly, LOL. Anyhow has anyone on here used styrene? I want to make me a removable top for the Bronco body on my scx10. Would it hold up and what thickness would I need?

 

[Rolex]

Comes in many thicknesses, from slightly thicker than printer paper to about 1/4". SUPER tough stuff. You'll need a band saw or scroll saw for fancy curves but enough scoring with an X-acto knife and you can snap it for straight cuts. Here I used it to support the front end to a custom frame in the big 1/6 scale HummVee. A stock part would break before the styrene.

Here the pieces are both painted tan, but they support the entire suspension, front and rear.

 

[slowngreen]

Used it several times. I always ordered from Tower.... Id go with .60. Sturdy but not bulky.

 

[Rolex]

I'm just not sure, off hand, what the thickness is of the styrene I used, but it's under 1/8".

 

[hulkmaxx]

Wow Rolex, some how I knew you would be the first to respond LOL! Thanks for the info guys. I just want thick enough to hold up to roll overs often lol. I have access to plenty of saws for the fancy cuts thanks to my father in law. Just want to make a half top with a roof cover for the ole bronco. That way I can mount some scale accessories to it, maybe a light bar.

 

[NCNitro]

I have built a ton of stuff with it. My entire interior on my tuber is all scratch made from styrene. I also built a fuel cell to put my castle esc in. So a roof top should be quite easy. I agree with Lloyd on the size, the .60 is a decent thickness and I use a bunch of it, but I have also used .80 if I want something very sturdy or will be mounting things to it.

 

[hamz9561]

All I can say is, "WOW!", @NCNitro

 

[hulkmaxx]

No kidding Hamz I second that LOL! Well I might order some sheets and see how it comes out. So you guys think .60 would be about right?

 

[NCNitro]

Go for it! If it just a single roof panel .60 will be fine

 

[hulkmaxx]

Well I was going to build an entire back half, but I may just build a top cover for the roll cage as for now. Going to order a couple sheets of the .60 next week and go from there thanks for the info guys.

 

[Rolex]

You can also heat it and bend it and it will keep its new shape.

 

[hulkmaxx]

Awesome Rolex thanks for the info!

 

[hamz9561]

You can also heat it and score it to cause it to keep a sharp bend with no wrinkles.

 

[Phins Fan]

I'm not a master fabber by any means but I would use caution if you drive it as a basher. I've used a vast array of different adhesive for joints on styrene and while tenax is probably the best I've used I would be concerned that your seams may open up during pressure/rollovers. I don't exactly build shelf queens as I bash everything I own. If you are a "soft" scale driver than you would be fine making your top out of styrene. If you enjoy bashing I would just hate to have you see your hard work fall apart from a good roll over or bashing session.

 

[Greyryder]

Depending on what you're doing, there are ways you can reinforce the joints to help prevent that. If you check out joehoncho on YouTube, he's got a big six wheel drive truck that he built the body out of styrene. He recently built a another truck for his friend.

 

[hulkmaxx]

Once again thanks for all the info guys! I decided to do a simple roof cover to mount a light bar to for now. Will post up some pics when I manage to find time to get to it. I have been trailing about every weekend with my bro's so for now. And I think I am getting ready to finally purchase me a Trail finder 2 rig.

 

[hamz9561]

Next I'm picking up my Vaterra Ascender. Going to do some minor styrene work for a brush guard and front bumper for it. It should be interesting.

 

[hulkmaxx]

Nice Hamz can't wait to see some pics of it. I was looking close at the Vaterra but I have 2 scx10's so far so was looking for a leafed rig this time. Plus those trailfinders are so sweet lol!

 

[hamz9561]

This was the first of them in the lhs and they've already got a couple of the TF2s already sold there.