Q: I’m trying to locate a source for large sheets of styrene. I can find the smaller sheets marketed by Evergreen, but I have been unsuccessful in my search for 4 x 8-foot sheets. Do you know of an online source? I live in the Toledo, Ohio, metro and there aren’t any plastics dealers in my area. — John Roth
A: Purchasing large sheets of styrene online is an option, though you are probably going to pay a lot to have it shipped because of the size. When we were building our N scale Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Red Oak project layout, featured in the January through April 2015 issues of Model Railroader, we needed a large piece of styrene for the backdrop. We turned to Midland Plastics in New Berlin, Wis., a short drive from our former offices in Waukesha. The plastics company also has locations in Illinois and Iowa.
We reached out to some contacts who are familiar with the Toledo area to see if they could provide any sources for large styrene sheet. Doug Tagsold, a frequent contributor to Model Railroader and our special issues, said that United States Plastic Corp. in Lima, Ohio, about an hour from Toledo, sells styrene in 48 x 96-inch sheets. To learn more about its offerings, visit usplastic.com or call 800-809-4217.
Send us your questions
Have a question about model trains, full-size trains, or toy trains? Send it to AskTrains@Trains.com.
