Sources for Model Materials

It is advisable to call the business first before driving there, as businesses change. If you have any corrections or additions to this list, please contact Tom Roney in the Trans Dept. Faculty Office. Thanks!

On line resources

www.mcmaster.com – A large industrial supply house in Chicago. Good for most “bits” you may need.

www.thomasnet.com – A “Yellow Pages” of sorts for industry. Here you can find several sources for what 
you need.

Local Resources

Plywood, Bending Birch Plywood, Veneers, Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) 
(see Hobby Shops for thin plywood, balsa and bass wood)

  • All American Plywood
    18840 John R (south of 7 mile), Detroit
    (313) 891-6880
  • Plywood Detroit
    13250 Stephens (Just west of Groesbeck)
    Warren, MI
    (586) 755-4100
  • Oakwood Veneer (supplier of all types of wood veneer)
    1830 Stephenson Hwy.
    Troy, MI 48083
    1-800-426-6018 
    www.oakwoodveneer.com
  • Nautical Lumber Company LLC (boat building lumber, hardwoods, marine plywood)
    14550 E. Eleven Mile Rd.
    Warren, MI 48089
    (586) 777-1288

Hardwoods, Exotic Woods, Woodworking Items

  • True Value Public Lumber Co.
    1001 E. 7 Mile Rd. (at I-75)
    Detroit 
    (313) 891-712
  • The Woodworkers Store
    29918 Woodward Ave. (btwn 12&13 Mile)
    Royal Oak
    (248) 543-5110
  • Armstrong Mill Works
    Highland Twp. 
    (248) 887-1037

Modelling Foam, Yellow and Tan Polyurethane- 6,12,20lb densities,etc.

  • Reklein Plastics
    42310 Mound Rd
    Sterling Hgts, MI 
    (586) 739-8850

4” Blue Foam

  • Boomers Building Supply
    1940 E. Forest, Detroit
    (313) 832-5050

Aluminum, Stainless, Steel, Rods, Sheets, etc.

  • Factory Steel & Aluminum Supply Co.
    14020 Oakland (I-75 & Davison area), Highland Park
    (313) 883-6300
  • Metal Mart USA (Small quantities of metals are their specialty.)
    31164 Dequindre
    Warren, Mi 
    (586) 977-5820
  • Federal Pipe & Supply Co.
    6464 E. McNichols, Detroit
    (313) 366-3000
  • Meco Metals
    2143 Coolidge (btwn 8 &9 Mile), 
    Oak Park
    (248) 547-0069
  • Oakland Metals
    2430 N. Opdyke ( S of University), 
    Auburn Hills
    (248) 377-8847
  • Copper & Brass Sales
    Detroit, 
    1-800-926-2600

Metal Mesh, Stainless, Aluminum, etc..

  • Phoenix Wire Cloth, Inc.
    585 Stephenson Hwy. (btwn 14Mile & Maple Rd.), 
    Troy
    (248) 585-6350

Unique Hardware – Knobs, Drawer Pulls, Hinges, etc.

  • Russell Hardware Co.
    1036 N. Woodward Ave. (btwn Maple & Big Beaver Rd.),
    Birmingham
    (248) 664-0100
  • Herald Wholesale
    20830 Coolidge Hwy. (btwn 8 & 9 Mile Rd.)
    Oak Park 
    (248) 398-4560
  • General Caster Service (Great source for casters of all types – look in the sale bins to match a set up)
    31301 Stephenson Hwy. (west side of Stephenson, north of 12 Mile Rd.)
    Madison Heights 
    (248) 588-8990
    Hours: 8am-6pm M-F

Plastic – Rods, Tubes, Sheets, etc.

  • Cadillac Plastic
    1250 Allen, 
    Troy
    (248) 589-3113
  • Laird Plastics
    26403 Groesbeck
    Warren 
    (586) 773-9050
  • Plex Lab
    3319 10 mile (btwn. Ryan & Dequindre)
    Centerline 
    (586) 754-8900
  • Stellar Plastics
    14121 Gratiot (S of 7 mi.)
    Detroit 
    (313) 527-7337

Clay, Fiberglass, Clay tools, Mold-Making, Polyester resin, Latex, etc.

Automotive Clay-J525

  • Russ Simpson
    21906 Schoenherr
    Warren, MI
    (586) 771-2768
  • Michigan Fiberglass Sales (Fiberglass supplies, gel coat, laminating balsa, carbon fiber, etc.)
    22930 E. Industrial Drive
    St. Clair Shores, MI 48080
    (586) 777-2032

Plastic casting resins: hard, soft , transparent or colored, polyurethane foam, Silicones, Epoxys, woven reinforcement fabrics, etc.

  • TFB Plastics, Inc.
    51608 Oro Drive (runs north from 23 Mile Rd., between Schoenherr and Hayes, east of Van Dyke Fwy.)
    Shelby Township, MI 48315
    (586) 566-7900 
    www.tfbplastics.com

Jewelry making supplies

  • CR Hill
    2734 W. 11 Mile near Coolidge
    Berkley 
    (248) 543-1555

Fabric, Upholstery, sewing, etc.

  • Haberman Fabrics
    905 S. Main
    Royal Oak 
    (248) 541-0010
  • Calico Corners 
    S. Telegraph ,Bloomfield Hills, (248)332-9163 and 
    23240 Greater Mack, St. Clair Shores, (586)775-0078

Foam, vinyl, fabrics, upholstering

  • The Foam Factory
    22800 Hall Rd. (One block west of Groesbeck)
    Clinton Twp., MI 48036
    (586)627-3626

Hobby Store / Model Centers K&S Brass/Aluminum profiles, Plastistruct profiles, balsa wood, aircraft

plywood, basswood, X- Acto, Testors paints and decal film for printers, etc.

  • Whistle Stop Hobby & Toy, Inc. (Testors paints and decal film for color printers) 
    21714 Harper Ave. (at Shady Lane, which is 8-1/2 mile Rd.)
    St. Clair Shores, MI 48080
    (586) 771-6770 
    www.whistle-stop.com
  • Great Lakes Hobby & Train (Small sheet styrene & ABS, scale expanded and perforated brass sheet.) 
    43089 Van Dyke (1 mile south of M-59/Hall Rd., between Utica Rd and 19 Mile Rd., on the west side of Van Dyke,) Sterling Heights, MI 48314 
    (586) 254-1600 
    www.greatlakeshobby.com
  • P&D Hobby Shop (Large radio control models and parts section. Model railroading specialists.)
    31280 Groesbeck Hwy.
    Fraser, MI 
    (586) 296-6116
  • Larry’s Peformance R/C’s (A good source for gears, coil-over shocks, tires and wheels from RC cars.)
    42246 Mound Rd.
    Sterling Heights, MI 48314
    (586) 997-4840 
    www.larrysperformancercs.com
  • Prop Shop Hobbies, Inc. (Best source for flying aircraft models, engines and supplies, RC, aircraft 
    23326 Van Dyke Ave. plywood, balsa, bass wood, etc.)
    Warren, MI 48089
    (586) 757-7160 
    www.prop-shop.com

Paper, Handmade, Unusual Papers, Stationary, etc.

  • Sheets, Inc
    2607 14th Street (across from old Tiger Stadium, in the Standard Paper Co. bldg.)
    Detroit, MI 
    (248) 541-5630 (Royal Oak phone number still good)

Hardware Stores

  • Home Depot 
    660 W 12Mile at I-75
    Madison Hts 
    (248) 591-7520

Open 24 Hours

  • Meijer’s 
    1005 E. 13 Mile, east of I-75
    Madison Hts. 
    (248) 307-4900
  • Kinko’s
    2500 Woodward
    Blmfld Hlls 
    (248) 332-0330

Craft Stores

  • Michael’s (located throughout metro Detroit)
  • Jo-Ann’s Fabrics and Crafts

Sign Shops (vinyl cut logos, silk screening, etc. for model graphics)

Signs by Tomorrow (vinyl and silk screening)