Help needed on sourcing stuff on the cheap.

[sw1]

Just wondering if anyone can direct me to sources of the following or any cheap alternatives.

Foam Board -
Currently getting from Paperchase as the Student Union where I was getting it from realised I've not been a student for quite a while.  Not a bad price but I know it can be got cheaper especially if you've got a University where they do art and design type courses.

Plastic tubing/boxing/H-beams/I-beams/L-beams - 
Not found a reasonable priced supply.  Evergreen seems my only option but locally the prices seem a bit steep.  I've tried looking at different sized straws, cotton buds with plastic tubes and other items but not come up with any that really work yet.

Plasticard - 
I keep an eye on ebay for 2nds.  It's just scuffed plasticard which can vary from both sides scuffed/scratched to very slight defects.  Anything with heavy scratches I tend to use as internal supports of cut around but have had very little issues with this.

Textured Plasticard - 
Only way I can see this getting a reasonable price is ordering in bulk. Watch out for excessive P&P as it seems the only places that do offer this also have dubious postage pricing.  If anyone knows anywhere that does this at a reasonable price please let me know!!!!

Plastic Industrial/railway kits - 
My local railway model store seems to have very little in the way of kits.  So any reasonable priced sources would be good.  I'm looking for interesting bit's to add detail to some industrial scenery

[paladin7221]

Evergreen are indeed one source of I-beams and the like.

Plastruct is the other main one; however the price difference is negligible at best.

[inso]

Try here for most of your requirements:

www.evilmushroomgames.com/shop/

Also, here:

www.antenocitisworkshop.com/wargaming-materials-tools.html

[Max_Dammit]

tubes

flags and balloons from mc donalds
balloons from shoe stores supermarket an what not, it helps having kids as i can imagine the look when you take a flag at mc donalds as a 40 year old

As for plastic card, i was lucky there was plasticard between offset plates at work once, I have over 10 plates of 1600X1200 mm in size, all free

[The Irontooth]

Foam? Plastic tubing? Mdf?

I just go to a local handyman shop or however you may call it in English (exact translation: do it yourself shops, such as 'Gamma').

[badfang]

Foam board - if you've got or can get hold of a jigsaw, would hardboard do?

Plastic tubing/boxing/H-beams/I-beams/L-beams - Square bits I normally make out of re-cycled tin cans and cover with Milliput, tubes I use are mainly ally (but that can get expensive) brass rod comes from welding suppliers (about £10 per kilo from memory)

Plasticard - Tinplate/Milliput again - it's a lot stronger.

Textured Plasticard - See above - the Milliput has a texture of its own but others can be added by rolling, dragging, pressing etc.

Plastic Industrial/railway kits - This place is not too far from me and have a stupid range of stuff - prices vary a lot though.

[sw1]

Cheers guys, thinking of doing some BIG scenery builds and looking to get them done as cheaply as possible.