Styrene, is just the shortened name for polystyrene which is a type of plastic. Most decent hobby stores sell smaller sized sheets (8X10) in a variety of thicknesses, ranging from thinner than a sheet of paper to about 1/4" thick. It is usually sold with both the front and back side being smooth, but there are also many manufacturers that make styrene with patterns that replicate clapboard siding, diamond plate, shingles, tile, etc. Styrene is almost always white in color and is easily glued using plastic solvents or super glue. Beside sheet goods styrene is also sold in extruded shapes such I-beam, angle iron, "T" section, "C" channel, straight strips, tubing and various shaped rod stock.

Other suitable plastics for model building would be butarate (usually dark gray in color), ABS (usually black or off white in color) or sintra which comes in a variety of colors, acrylic or polycarbonate which are both clear. All of these plastics have different characteristics and chemical make-ups, and each is well suited for specific things. Sintra for example is most often used for out door signs, while polycarbonate is used to make bullet proof windows an other nearly indestructable items. Only styrene is readily available at hobby shops, while the others usually require a shopping trip to an actual plastic supplier.

If you go on-line you can look up the 2 biggest suppliers of stryene to the hobby industry Plastruct or Evergreen Styrene to learn more.

The Squid

PS If you're local Hobby Lobby didn't know what styrene was..........I'd suggest you find a new hobby shop to spend your money at