Cacique Caribe | 24 Jul 2018 9:36 a.m. PST |
When I hear "PVC" all I can think about is glue. But now there's some talk of a material called PVC foamboard or "EPVC", though I have yet to see it in person. I know it's NOT just the regular (paper-XPS* foam sandwich) foamboard that you get at craft stores. And I not it's NOT the soft flexible foam (EVA?) sold in sheets for kids to make things with. But I hear mentioned a lot lately on terrain-making and basing videos. 1) What is it called in the US? 2) Is the stuff as great as people on videos say it is? What are the advantages? 3) And, most importantly, who in the US sells it? Thanks Dan * Not EPS foam (the "beaded" stuff) |
Sgt Slag | 24 Jul 2018 9:50 a.m. PST |
Extruded polystyrene insulation board. Comes in Pink and Blue colors, typically. It is sold as insulation for homes, at DIY stores, in 4x8 foot sheets, as well as smaller pieces. It is incredibly dense, compared to white, 'ball', foam. It is extruded into flat sheets, with no air bubbles within it, no beads, whatsoever. It cuts with a knife, electric carving knife, razor knives, or, best of all, a hot wire cutter. The Proxxon Hot Wire Cutting Table is the bomb for making stuff. Check out this YouTube video on using the Proxxon… It can be sanded, if necessary. This will generate small bits of foam, so wear a dust mask to avoid getting it inside your lungs -- it can take a year, or more, for your body to push it out. I inhaled some white ball foam, 25+ years ago, took over a year for it to make its way out of just my sinuses. Not good. Check YouTube for videos on the extruded foam material, as well. It is much better to use than the ball white packing foam, which has very little strength, and the ball construction tends to fall apart, with handling. The pink/blue foams won't fall apart, but they will allow you to make impressions easily, so avoid pressing on it, or you will make dents which cannot be remedied. For texturing rocky, rough surfaces, crumple a ball of aluminum foil, and roll it, firmly, across the surface. This foam is an amazing thing to work with, for making terrain. I am making modular cavern wall sections by using my Proxxon Hot Wire Cutting Table to make wavy, angled walls in pin foam pieces. The ends are cut vertically, but the sides slope upwards, to create the impression of water-carved walls in a cavern. After cutting, I apply latex interior paint (solvent-based paints will melt the foam…) of a tan color, add bits of sand, with PVA Glue, to dress it up a bit with gravel and grit, then I apply The Dip, to finish each piece. I use a painted base, to set the foam pieces on top of, to create my 3D caverns for mini's games. Works well, looks very good, and it is inexpensive, and fun, to make. Cheers! |
Wackmole9 | 24 Jul 2018 9:55 a.m. PST |
hi Link to Home depot listing link |
Cacique Caribe | 24 Jul 2018 9:59 a.m. PST |
Sgt Slag and Wackamole9, I've worked with the pink and blue XPS foams for a few decades now. The PVC foam (EPVC) seems to be a new thing however, a new kind of "hard" foamboard, at least in the US: YouTube link YouTube link auction Dan |
Sgt Slag | 24 Jul 2018 10:15 a.m. PST |
It appears to be designed for making signs -- seems to only be made in thin sheets. Would be great for making buildings. May have to order some from Amazon, to play with. Thanks for the head's up! Cheers! |
emckinney | 24 Jul 2018 10:57 a.m. PST |
Spinoff question: I've been trying to find the foam board that they make grocery meat trays out if, but in flat sheets 2mm or 3mm thick. I've been working on this for about a year, many hours of Google searches. Does anyone know of a supplier? |
PJ ONeill | 24 Jul 2018 11:44 a.m. PST |
I'll second Sgt. Slags recommendation, although I use only sharp "clickable" blades to cut it, then sandpaper to shape. Outside- the dust being toxic. Anytime I have used a hot wire cutter, it left the surface glassy and difficult to sand. |
BrockLanders | 24 Jul 2018 2:44 p.m. PST |
Dan, the PVC sheets in question are NOT the same as the blue and pink sheets sold at home improvement stores. I've been using it for adding architectural details to foam board sheets for scratch building 28 mm buildings for WW2 skirmish games. It differs from the foam in that it is harder and will hold a crisp edge, unlike the foam. It is easy to cut and work with. I've been buying mine on Amazon through a company called SIBE-R-PLASTIC SUPPLY. Check out the Terrain Tutor on YouTube, he did a video about it |
bobspruster | 24 Jul 2018 2:51 p.m. PST |
Are we talking about gator board, maybe? It's essentially hardened foam core board. You can work it as if it were wood. Better art supply dealers should have some. Not cheap IMHO. |
BrockLanders | 24 Jul 2018 3:37 p.m. PST |
No, gator board is a dense foam core sandwiched between wood fiber veneers. PVC foam board is homogeneous, same material all the way through. |
Cacique Caribe | 24 Jul 2018 4:22 p.m. PST |
BrockLanders Yes, on the videos I linked in my last post above, the PVC material definitely looks solid all the way through, not sandwiched. How flexible would you say are these 3mm thick sheets? link I also like that it comes in a few colors too: link link link Dan PS. Looks like it can be ordered through Home Depot, though it costs more that way: link |
Razor78 | 24 Jul 2018 5:04 p.m. PST |
I have a friend that worked at a place that made EPI and I could get damaged sheets for almost nothing, even full sheets for a very low price. Sadly he retired and I'm not able to get it anymore…. but I did stock up before he retired! |
BrockLanders | 24 Jul 2018 5:20 p.m. PST |
Dan, the 3mm is pretty flexible. I buy it in 2'x4' sheets, and if you hold one short end out in front of you it will bend all the way to the floor. Bending it will not damage it however |
Cacique Caribe | 24 Jul 2018 6:25 p.m. PST |
BrockLanders Thanks so much! Dan |
Heisler | 25 Jul 2018 8:04 a.m. PST |
I have used the material and its quite readily available. You can check this post on my blog about working with it to construct a building for my western town of Calamity. link Oh and here is another post that is probably better: link |
gisbygeo | 25 Jul 2018 8:19 a.m. PST |
Are you talking about Sintra? |
Cacique Caribe | 25 Jul 2018 3:12 p.m. PST |
I've never seen Sintra. But if Sintra is a "sandwich" board, then no. Dan |
Heisler | 26 Jul 2018 6:21 a.m. PST |
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Cacique Caribe | 19 Sep 2018 5:31 p.m. PST |
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