What is the difference between styrene and acetate and when scratchbuilding when would or should you use one over the other?

Thanks Roger. I always thought acetate to be clear and used for windows but in one of the modelling books I was reading they were using a golden yellow acetete and it looked like they could have used styrene sheet just as easily unless there was some special reason to use one over the other.

Acetate is often free. Think about the blister packs most items come in. Just cut a piece from a large, flat piece and you have free acetate stock. Now that styrene sheet is available and not too expensive, acetate isn't used as much.