01. Scoring the Plastic: How to Efficiently Cut Styrene Plastic

Scoring the Plastic: How to Efficiently Cut Styrene Plastic

Probably the most basic thing to start this tutorial off is to show how to properly cut styrene.

Using a razor knife, begin by making a slight etch it the plastic where you want it separate. This is called "scoring the plastic". You don't want to cut right through as the thickness of the blade will roll the edge of the plastic creating a wide gap in the end:




Now, after simply etching/scoring the surface, bend the two sides away from each other. Nine times out of ten you will get a clean break with no loss of plastic allowing a tight gap to remain. In this particular instance, I [made] a 90 degree corner by first scoring the rocker panel and rolling it in which easily snapped where I needed it then did the door edge. Styrene is unlikely to break where your knife has not etched the plastic. Not even in this situation where a kit had a molded line right where I was working (at least, I've never had it happen):

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