Polystyrene foam is often referred to by other names and it's worth acquiainting yourself with them before you go looking for a source. How annoying would it be to find out later that you could have got it at the first place you asked if you'd only asked for it by the name they know it by? Click here for more information about the material, including other names for it.
This bulk of this document lists known sources, however first, a few notes about finding a local source:
White polystyrene foam is often used as packing material but finding useful pieces in this form is largely a matter of keeping your eyes open and scavenging in the right places. Companies who install computers, washing machines or other electrical goods will often find themselves throwing lots of this stuff away. I have also been told that shops selling bathroom/kitchen and roofing tiles are also likely to have large amounts that they need to get rid of.
Polystyrene sheets are probably the most useful form to get your hands on and these are mainly used in the building industry as insulation. It gets used as cavity wall insulation (inserted as the wall is being built), sub floor insulation, and in other places. Do NOT go scavenging on building sites. Apart from the fact that it's stealing even if it does look like a discarded off-cut, there is also a good reason why the guys who work on building sites wear steel toe capped boots, hard hats and heavy duty gloves, etc.
Ask at your local builders merchants. Even if you don't see it, ask. My local doesn't keep it in stock but will happily get an 8' x 4' sheet for me when I want one. If 8'x4' sounds like a lot then see about sharing it with a mate and bear in mind that it's not at all difficult to break it up (or use a Stanley knife) on the car park in order to get it home in a car. Remeber that when you are asking you may need to refer to it by more than one name.
<H4>Now for the list:</H4>
We've arranged it by country. If you know of any other good sources then please let us know via our <a href="/contact.php">contact form</a> and we'll add them. Similarly if you spot anything here that's out of date...
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<a href="#denmark">Denmark</a>
| <a href="#uk">UK</a>
| <a href="#usa">USA</a>
<A NAME="denmark"></a>
Blue, and yellow foam are available from Fantasy Scenery at <a href="http://www.fantasy-scenery.com/" TARGET=_new>http://www.fantasy-scenery.com/</a><br />
Their site is coded in both Danish and English.
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Blue, and green foam are available from the 4-D Model Shop in London and at <a href="http://www.modelshop.co.uk" TARGET=_new>http://www.modelshop.co.uk</a>
Gary Shaw suggested the following sources:
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<a href="http://www.buildercenter.co.uk" TARGET=_new>http://www.buildercenter.co.uk</a> - sell what they call 'polyfoam floorboards' and have three branches in the midlands area.
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<a href="http://www.sheffins.co.uk" TARGET=_new>http://www.sheffins.co.uk</a> - are distributors of Knauf Insulations Polyfoam floorboards.
Essex Insulation Ltd - <a href="http://www.essexinsulation.co.uk/productpages/pages_13.html" TARGET=_new>http://www.essexinsulation.co.uk</a>.
mattjl12345 told us about this source:<br /><a href="http://specialistcrafts.co.uk/products.php?page=products&cat1=22&cat2=1292" TARGET=_new>http://specialistcrafts.co.uk</a>
<A NAME="usa"></a>
Jeff S from Minnesota told us he can get foam from:<br />
Home Depot, Menards, and Mills Fleet Farm.
donrice told us that it's hard to find sources in southern California, at least in the Los Angeles area but that there's a store called Foam Mart, in Burbank, that carries it.
finishingtouchminiatures suggested another source just a block or two away from the one above called Foam Sales and Marketing. Their web address is <a href="http://www.foamsalesmarketing.com" TARGET=_new>http://www.foamsalesmarketing.com</a>