|
|
Post by es80ac on Aug 22, 2016 19:56:57 GMT -8
Hello, has anyone ever casted their own parts? For example, I may find a particular model has a more accurate part than another (a pilot plow for example), so I can either transplant that particular part right away or make a copy of it by doing a cast and put onto the other model. How hard is it to do something like this? 1. make a mold out of the original part. 2. create a new copy of it from either resin or some sort of metal?
Is there any instructions on youtube or somewhere on this topic? and is there any tools out there that can help me do something like this? Thank you
|
|
|
|
Post by stottman on Aug 22, 2016 22:08:41 GMT -8
I have used the RTV rubber and resin casting system from Mircomark.
It is pretty easy, and they send a copy of a Model Railroader magazine article that makes it pretty dummy proof.
It is messy, and the stuff does go bad.
|
|
|
|
Post by Artur on Aug 23, 2016 2:54:24 GMT -8
It's not that difficult if you use the right products, it also depends how intricate the part is that you want to mold. I use Mold Star 15 Slow from Sculpturesupply.com it takes about 6 hours to set but it allows me to vacuum out the air bubbles. Without a vacuum pump your mold will have micro air bubbles which will look like cavities or pinpricks inside the mold and when you cast your parts they will come out rough with hundreds of little dimples. For the casting material I use fast setting resin about 2 to 3 minutes this doesn't allow enough time for the resin to foam or bubble if there is any moisture or humidity.
|
|
|
|
Post by edwardsutorik on Aug 23, 2016 8:54:01 GMT -8
I recommend this book:
"Secrets of Expert Mold Making and Resin Casting"
I got it on Amazon.
Ed
|
|
|
|
Post by areibel on Aug 23, 2016 16:59:05 GMT -8
Two great sources for info- Freeman Supply has a lot of information on their site- www.freemansupply.com/library/videoAnd Smooth On has a lot on their site as well- www.smooth-on.com/tutorials/I've used Smooth On's OOMO style rubbers with great results, they might not be the best for mass production but for a couple parts they're excellent. And the Mold Max ones are sturdier and not real finicky to use, most are a 50/50 mix so you don't need a scale to mix and most don't need vacuuming to remove bubbles. And any of the Smooth Cast 300 series plastics are easy to use, some of the others like some of the Task series are tricky and need to be pressure cast, but they're more specialty plastics. One TT manufacturer used to make freight trucks out of it and it stood up to many hours of operating with steel axles, but I tried to use it without a pressure pot and it turned out looking like Swiss cheese. I enjoy messing around with it, and the more you experiment the more you learn! |
|
|
|
Post by es80ac on Aug 23, 2016 20:28:53 GMT -8
Thank you all!
|
|
|
|
Post by onequiknova on Aug 24, 2016 10:05:18 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by tankcarsrule on Aug 25, 2016 11:48:40 GMT -8
I cast a pair of 11' wheelbase Buckeye trucks many years ago. They weren't available in any form. Making the masters was a chore because each truck was made up of four different parts. I laminated the bolsters and carved them to shape.  |
|
|
|
Post by alcoc430 on Aug 25, 2016 12:04:26 GMT -8
that was a great thread! Thanks for posting the link, I was searching for it for some reason only your car one showed up |
|
