Foam Board 5mm, 2pcs

Foam Board 5 mm from Tamiya - a foam board for building groundwork

A Tamiya modeling foam board five millimeters thick, two pieces per package. It is not a kit or a part of a model but raw material: a flat board from which you cut whatever shape you need. Against solid plastic it has a decisive advantage in weight - even a large foam base can be carried in one hand and will not weigh a shelf down.

What it suits

Typically bases for dioramas and display scenes, groundwork for terrain, internal fillings and supporting structures that are then covered with another material. It also serves well as a cutting mat or as a quick mock-up on which to test the composition of a scene before you build it for real.

Use

• Cut with a sharp knife along a metal ruler and rather in several light passes than one heavy one - a blunt blade tears the material.
• Build terrain by layering: several boards on top of one another give steps that you then sand into a slope.
• Sand the cut edges with fine paper or cover them with a thin styrene sheet, paper or putty, so that the structure of the material does not show.
• Test the material on an offcut before painting and gluing - foam materials tend to be sensitive to solvents, and an aggressive glue or a lacquer paint can eat into them.
• The safest combination is PVA glue and water-thinnable paints; plaster, modeling putty or texture paste can be applied to the surface.

Who the material is for

For builders of dioramas, layouts and display scenes and for anyone who makes their own groundwork. Suitable for beginners too - foam is easier and cheaper to work than solid plastic, and a mistake in a cut does not hurt.

Do the cutting on a mat and with respect for the sharp blade. Do not leave offcuts and sanding dust within reach of children.