im wondering how to get my hands on styrene strips. i see these in all kinda of builds in fine scale modeler and on this site. they are added for support and whatnot. i go to a craft store and ask, people have no idea what im talking about. i asked a couple people at hobby lobby and they were clueless. one pointed me in the direction if "funky foam" or something like that. this will do well for deck support on ships but its very limp. im looking for something i can make a mould out of for plaster or use for support in a place that needs to be more stiff. all suggestions welcome.

Styrene comes from the Styrene Factory son..... Sorry couldn`t resist :-) :-)
In Most Hobby shops you should be able to pick up Styrene from Evergreen. It`s available in almost any shape size or thickness. Some thicknesses are indeed too flimsy but there is styrene availoable in thickneses big enough to make a mold out. Also you could use Balsawood which is thicker and less flimsy.
Normal wood would do the trick too.

Evergreen and Plastruct are suppliers of sheet styrene. They both also produce different structural shapes and designs as well. Most well-stocked Hobby Shops carry at least one of the two's products.

They are available for on-line ordering as well. Here are their websites:
Evergreen
Plastruct

If you have any model railroad shops around, they may have it. I get most of mine online from www.walthers.com, the model railroad folks ... There is very little price difference anywhere for this stuff ...

John

Most Hobbytown USAs will have Evergreen and Plastruct. If you don't have one nearby then try as jratz suggests and find a good model train store.

Paul

The styrene factory?! Damn, that explains why I keep getting weird looks when I go to nursery's asking them for seeds for styrene trees! :-)

Yes Corey I get mine from specialist train stores - they also have great details pieces, bass wood and corrigated iron in scales from 1/144 to 1/25
also if you are doing 1/48 armour they are a great place to great different things like petrol pumps,coke machines - Boilers stationary engines and tractors
Ian