building mats

[NHRA715]

what are you guys using as a surface to build models on? I see in some of the photos a type of mat with measuring lines etc, whats that?

[1930fordpickup]

These mats are a self healing mat . You can find them at craft stores (hobby lobby) or your favorite store.

Some guys use glass as a top for a bench also.

[ScaleDale]

My usual building mat is the top of the old door that serves as my bench. For the complicated stuff like scratch built chassis I have a wood board with a plate of glass taped over it. It's about 12x12. I put my pattern under the glass and I can cut styrene and glue things up without messing up the pattern. And it doesn't get paper on the frame, either. Cost around $2.50.

Dale

[Tom Geiger]

As Dale said, my bench is a hollow core door and it's sitting on two old night stands. I wrapped my door in brown paper. I have done my work on that old board on top for over 25 years! It even has some drilled holes to let things with a protrusion lay flat.

And my current practice is to work on the glass you see on top of the above mentioned board. This glass was originally the top of a Xerox machine that my hoarder father had saved. But when I need to drill through something etc, I'll slide it aside and work on the board. The glass is nice because every so often I take it outside and just scrape it clean with a razor blade.. like new again,

[Swamp Dog]

Andy u can also get thease at your local wal-marts..

[mnwildpunk]

Why is this in tips when it's a question?