Does anyone have a source for large quantities of brick, cmu, and metal siding sheet plastic? At a decent price?

I'm not sure it is made in large sheets. I suspect that the manufacturers that offer the various "novelty sidings" in plastic probably buy large sheets of plain styrene and emboss it themselves or else buy plastic pellets to make their product in house. If you have a local plastics dealer where you can get the large sheets of plain styrene, you might ask them if other types of material are available to them.

Russ, I asked that question to the plastics dealer where I got my 4'x8' sheets of styrene. They said they couldn't get it. There's got to be a better way than buying the little bitty pieces for 7 or 9 bucks!

largest I'v seen is 24" by 7" from plastruct and 12"by 24" from evergreen.

jim

jim currie Wrote:largest I'v seen is 24" by 7" from plastruct and 12"by 24" from evergreen.

Yep, and the problem with that is it is expensive! Unless, Jim, you have found a good supplier?

What about taking some rubber mold material and mashing a sheet of the brick or cmu into it, let it cure, then pour multiple plaster castings? Anybody think it could work or have comments? Would the cost and trouble of doing that actually be worth it?

Gary,
I bought the Linka moulds and I have made a few castings. I'm anxious to start building with them. Looks like a great alternative to plastic.
There is a Yahoo group <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/linkabuildings/?yguid=335613585">http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/linkab ... =335613585</a><!-- m -->
The possibilities seem endless. The moulds are just a little off scale, but not enough that I'll notice. There are Brick, Stone and lumber moulds in all shapes, some with window openings, and some with plain walls. There are molds for slate roofs too, and maybe shingles.They interlock together anyway you want to make them, and they use carpenter glue to hold the castings together. They would be too heavy for a modular layout, unless you packed each individual building and moved them separately, but for a permanent layout, (or one on wheels) they seem to be a cheap solution.
The moulds can be found here. I bought the whole set a couple of years ago and I am just getting into the technique, but in limbo awaiting the room to work.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.linkaworld.com/">http://www.linkaworld.com/</a><!-- m --> and their catalog shows what is available <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.linkaworld.com/catalog.htm">http://www.linkaworld.com/catalog.htm</a><!-- m -->
Once I get started I'll try to do a thread. I think I want to try some of Wayne's Durabond for some castings, it may be better and less expensive than the dental plaster.
I did take some pictures of a few castings, if I ever find them I'll post them, or if I find my bucket of castings I'll take more pictures. (i'm so out of storage space I can't locate anything.)
Charlie

Thanks Charlie, for the thoughts and the links. I'll check all that out sometime shortly, but for now it is back to the garage to work on my layout power cabinet.

Hey, any progress on the buiilding?

Not too much, Help is a little slim this week end. Got the doors laid out, but nothing toward installation.
Charlie