Cork bark in UK

[James Morris]

Chaps,

I am about to embark on some large rocky outcrops and ambas for my Ethiopian terrain and was wondering if anyone had found a good online supplier of cork bark?  Or am I better off just going down the model shop and buying 10 pieces from Javis?

Any help gratefully received!

[Silent Invader]

If I recollect correctly, Captain Blood has previously commented on the vast quantities of cork retailed by 4D Model Shop of London Town.

[Commander Vyper]

Chaps,

I am about to embark on some large rocky outcrops and ambas for my Ethiopian terrain and was wondering if anyone had found a good online supplier of cork bark?  Or am I better off just going down the model shop and buying 10 pieces from Javis?

Any help gratefully received!

Any decent petshop with reptiles or fish should have cork bark for sale.

[Phil Robinson]

Also try local garden centres, some of them do dried and artifical flowers and assessories inc. cork bark, its usually a lot cheaper too.

[Captain Blood]

4d modelshop, just round the corner from the Tower of London. Bulk bags of the stuff for £10 a time. You won't find better than that online for vivaria, orchids, or railway modelling.
A one kg bag for a tenner, gets you several large pieces and some smaller bits and pieces too. Most internet retailers will charge you that for a single large piece.

Alternatively, take a family holiday to the Western Algarve, where 60% of the world's supply of cork comes from, and they have great forests of the stuff covering the mountains. You can pick it up for free from the side of the road. Probably illegal, but it doesn't weigh much - you can pack a lot in your suitcase 

[AKULA]

Yup, garden centres with aquariums, or railway model shops will be a damn sight cheaper than online sites.....

and 4D does some lovely other stuff........

 

[Mr.J]

I got a huge chunk from an exotic animals store reasonably cheaply. Most pet shops should do it.

[James Morris]

Thank you all - that's really useful.  Very impressed with the 4d website, not come across them before.  I may have to get an order in!

Cheers

James

[Captain Blood]

They're an architectural model maker's suppliers really, but they have plenty of seriously useful stuff for anyone who likes modeling or crafts. If you're ever in London with an hour to kill, the shop is very well worth a visit. The stuff they carry there is mind boggling - specialist tools, paints, sheet materials etc. Fabulous.

[Antenociti]

we have cork bark in sizes up to 2-3 foot long at £10 a kilo.... it isnt on the wbsite yet as we've not worked out how to list it, every piece is a different size, shape and weight.

Much cheaper than javis (or vivarium sellers etc) as we buy directly from source by the pallet-load...same place as 4D buy from I imagine.

give us a ring or email with a preferrred size/shape and we can dig through to find a single piece as close as possible to what you want.

[meninobesta]

Alternatively, take a family holiday to the Western Algarve, where 60% of the world's supply of cork comes from, and they have great forests of the stuff covering the mountains. You can pick it up for free from the side of the road. Probably illegal, but it doesn't weigh much - you can pack a lot in your suitcase 

If you just pick enough for a table nobody would hassle you! 

[Captain Blood]

That's nice to know! I would never take it off trees - only where old trees have fallen by the side of the road. I must admit that's where I got the bark for my Zulu War donga... The only trouble was it was infested with ants and it took the devil's own job to get rid of them... 

That and the family moaning about me stopping the car and leaping out at the side of the road every time I spotted a fallen cork tree   

Still, large slabs of free cork are not to be sniffed at   

Obrigado 

[Antenociti]

Portuguese cork is harder and more durable than the cheaper Spanish Cork also - its MUCH better for wargame scenery and modelling purposes, which is why we only ever have used Portuguese cork, mostly from the Algarve and some from Alentejo . Spanish cork tends to be relatively soft and crumble, bits flake of it whole, or when granularised.

[James Morris]

They're an architectural model maker's suppliers really, but they have plenty of seriously useful stuff for anyone who likes modeling or crafts. If you're ever in London with an hour to kill, the shop is very well worth a visit. The stuff they carry there is mind boggling - specialist tools, paints, sheet materials etc. Fabulous.

Yes, it looks quite amazing.  I may drop in if I happy to be in London at some point.

Anyway, given that I also needed styrofoam and I didn't fancy chasing around reptile shops and insulation merchants this week (not with a 15-month old daughter in tow, anyway), I put in an online order with 4d and have just received the parcel.  Cork bark 1kg looks like it has around 15-20 good-sized pieces in it - fair value for 18 quid, I feel.

Cheers again for the tip.  Now off to build some ambas...

[James Morris]

we have cork bark in sizes up to 2-3 foot long at £10 a kilo.... it isnt on the wbsite yet as we've not worked out how to list it, every piece is a different size, shape and weight.

Much cheaper than javis (or vivarium sellers etc) as we buy directly from source by the pallet-load...same place as 4D buy from I imagine.

give us a ring or email with a preferrred size/shape and we can dig through to find a single piece as close as possible to what you want.

Thanks for the offer - sorry I saw the message too late, had already ordered from 4d.  Another time perhaps.