Working with styrene/strength

[Zuki Tyler]

I'm looking to build a hard top for my current project, and it looks like styrene might be easy to work with, does anyone have any opinions?

Also, how strong is it? It's going a on a TLT base rig (for a guess on overall weight), and it will be rolled over quite a bit.

I also have the equivalent of a 48x24" sheet of 1/8" lexan already laying around, would that be a better choice durability wise?

[MadMax]

Styrene is very easy to work with and versatile.
I've just finnished scratch building a shell for my XC.
Just make sure all joints are well sealed and if poss reinforced if your going to roll it a lot!!.
The max thickness i use is 2mm for the main parts and 1mm and 1.5mm for the rest unless it's fine detail then i'll use 0.5mm.
http://www.tcphotos.com/getuserimage...06153644_2.jpg


http://www.tcphotos.com/getuserimage...06153644_3.jpg

http://www.tcphotos.com/getuserimage...06153644_4.jpg

If you get stuck just PM me or mail me as information is FREE!!

Steve

[Zuki Tyler]

How much 'give' does styrene have? I know that with lexan, if I "touch" something pretty good, it's going to come apart at the seams. Is the styrene stuff very flexible?

[MadMax]

It depends on what thickness styrene you use,Even the thinnest can be made strong by useing ribs to reinforce it.
With the truck above i can put full pressure on it and push it into the ground with NO flex at all.
If the shell/body your going to build is fairly square the reinforce all corners with rightangled styrene.

[Zuki Tyler]

Thanks for all the input, it looks like I'll be using styrene since it seems pretty easy to work with. I can envision the lexan splitting apart once it hits something fairly hard.

Using a gloss paint, I can't picture a difference aesthetically to inside painted lexan, and the exterior painted styrene.

[MadMax]

Check your gloss paint on a spare piece first as some will react with styrene.
good luck with the build .

Steve