I work as a graphic designer/sign maker, and one material we use quite frequently is Sintra. It is basically a PVC material that comes in various thicknesses and colors. I am considering trying to make a set of scales with this to see how it goes. Here are the benefits that I can see:

-Easy to cut/ work with
-sands easily enough
-waterproof
-remove scratches (from sanding) by "melting" outer (just hit it gently with a lighter/torch/heat gun)
-and most importantly, its FREE... to me anyway. I have a zillion scrap pieces in the back of the shop.

I thought I might try my hand at this. What's to lose?

Any one else here familiar with this product? have you tried this yet? thoughts?

These certainly wouldn't be "heirloom" scales, and would probably only last a few years, as Sintra tends to break down over time and become brittle when exposed to UV. .... but the price is right to give it a try.