Coro Plastic vs. Foam Board

[Bernie_H]

I will throw my bit into this conversation.
There are other materials available like
Acoustic foam board ( I use this to make my Spiral trees)
ACP (Aluminium Composite Panel) I use this on my Snowflake/Spinner. Well suited for the gumdrop and square back pixels.
I have also made my Snowflake/Spinner from laminating 2 sheets of 5mm coro with foam board bonded between. This method I can use a white sheet of coro and a sheet of Black coro. So now I have a prop that offers a choice of Black or White.
After all a prop is something to suspend and keep pixels in one location.
Props with decorations and colours are for home decorations during the day light hours
I can post pictures if you like!

 

[Skymaster]

^ This.
I have 5mm Boscoyo Chromotrim that I use for roof outlines that is 6 season old and just starting to become brittle. I also have some 10mm props that are similar vintage that are not looking brittle as yet but are also painted. I store all my props under cover out of direct sun and rain during the off season, but are still subject to fluctuating temps.

My contra story, to back this advice up is I left my 5mm coro trim up all year round, so it did the 23 and 24 seasons. Taking it down after 24, the whole thing crumbled into a powdery heap. I had to completely replace it all.

 

[darylc]

I also have both. I have found the corro props become brittle and quite easy to break after a couple of seasons in the Qld Sun. I

I guess I've not found this although my of my coro was from Extreme Lighting Displays (10mm white xflute coro with the UV inhibitor in it).

I was initially concerned about this but my props have lasted 7 seasons in the full Adelaide sun so far.

 

[Katekate]

I will throw my bit into this conversation.
There are other materials available like
Acoustic foam board ( I use this to make my Spiral trees)
ACP (Aluminium Composite Panel)

I havent tried using ACP for props, but its probably one of the easier materials if you are hand drilling.

I have done some tests with the acoustic foam, and it seems like its a winner if you have access to a laser. all I need is some design files to cut

 

[JimmyW]

I havent tried using ACP for props, but its probably one of the easier materials if you are hand drilling.

I have done some tests with the acoustic foam, and it seems like its a winner if you have access to a laser. all I need is some design files to cut

What’s everyone using to design their props?

 

[Christmas Props Aus.]

Great question! And honestly Jimmy, when you first asked this I realised I'd never really given it much thought. I'd always just gone with coro because that's what I knew. So I decided to put my money where my mouth is and ordered a couple of sheets as a trial run.


I have to say, I was blown away with the results. Like, genuinely did not expect it to hit that hard!


Coroplast (coro) is fantastic. Lightweight, weather tough, clean pixel holes. Love it. But foam board is on a whole other level when it comes to the feel and the finish. It's solid, rigid, and when you've got a prop lit up in a display it just looks next level professional. There's no comparison.


The print quality is where it really shines though. The colours are so much richer. No fluted texture underneath messing with the surface, just clean, vibrant, sharp detail from edge to edge. Once you see it lit up at night you'll get it immediately.


And here's the exciting part. I've just pulled the trigger on a fresh batch of PVC foam board this week! It's on its way and should be landing with us next month, so the timing could not be better heading into the season. I genuinely can't wait to see what comes off the printer on this next run.


Foam board for the hero props, coro for the fillers. That's the move and I'm fully committed now!

 

[Kent]

What’s everyone using to design their props?

I'd suggest having a look at a new webapp under development by @BooY. See this thread for details:

New xModel Design App: Aussie Pixel Studio (browser-based xModel editor)

Intro Hi everyone, I’ve been working on a new browser-based xModel design app called Aussie Pixel Studio and wanted to share it here. It’s meant to make pixel prop layout and wiring visualization easier, especially for folks who want a more visual CAD-style workflow than the usual...

auschristmaslighting.com

 

[Bernie_H]

I have laser cut from 15mm XPS foam board sandwiched between 2 x sheets of 3mm corflute (White / Black)
This gives the rigidity from being laminated and light as. Also a prop that offers a choice of Black or white.