Mold Making and Casting gives Model Railroaders Options for Creating Custom Scenic Display Pieces.
Model Railroaders who have a passion for creating elaborate displays sometimes find that an "off-the-shelf" display piece just isn't good enough. Often, the piece they need was discontinued long ago or they want to create/modify an original.
Smooth-On mold making rubbers and casting plastics offer tremendous possibility and versatility for creating custom display pieces.
The following step-by-step sequence offers detailed instruction on making a two-piece block mold of a rail line telephone pole miniature, circa 1920. OOMOO® silicone rubber is used to make the mold. Perfectly detailed castings are then made using Smooth- Cast® 320 plastic. The process for reproducing this model is quick, easy and relatively low cost.
1 - Miniature telephone pole is embedded to the half way point of the model in non-sulfur based clay.
2 - Registration keys are added in the clay by pressing a pen into the surface.
3 - OOMOO® 30 silicone is mixed and poured over model to create first half of mold.
4 - OOMOO® 30 is allowed to cure for 6 hours.
5 - Mold box is turned over, exposing the clay.
6 - Clay is removed from backside of mold exposing other half of the original model.
7 - Clay is fully cleaned from the first half of the mold.
8 - Ease Release® 200 is applied to the exposed silicone rubber surface.
9 - OOMOO® silicone is mixed and poured, creating the second half of the mold.
10 - Second half of mold is allowed to cure. Mold halves are pried apart and the original telephone pole model is removed.
11 - Mold is powder coated using talc. The casting will cure perfectly dry with a matte finish.
12 - Smooth-Cast® 320 casting resin, parts A and B, are measured out in equal amounts.
13 - Brown So-Strong® Color Tint is added to Smooth-Cast® 320 Part B.
14 - Brown color is thoroughly pre-mixed with Smooth-Cast® 320 Part B.
15 - Smooth-Cast® 320 Part A is combined with Part B.
16 - The material is mixed thoroughly for 90 seconds.
17 - A syringe is used to extract mixed Smooth-Cast® 320 from mixing container.
18 - The low viscosity Smooth-Cast® 320 is injected into mold.
19 - The material fills the side mold vents, ensuring a bubble-free casting.
20 - Smooth-Cast® 320 is allowed to fully cure.
21 - Flashing is removed from final piece with an exacto knife.
22 - The Smooth-Cast® 320 casting reflects perfect detail captured by the rubber mold.
23 - Multiple castings can be made from a single OOMOO® silicone mold.
24 - Mold making and casting will allow you to reproduce any original model.
25 - Scenery pieces of any size can be recreated using Smooth-On silicone rubber molds and urethane resins.
26 - Castings reflect perfect detail captured by mold rubber.
27 - Colors can be added to Smooth-Cast® plastics for a variety of effects.
28 - Low temperature melt metal alloys can be cast into OOMOO® silicone.
29 - Railroad scene display house created using Smooth-Cast® 300 white plastic.
30 - TASK® 4 plastic made especially for casting ultra thin sections that are unbreakable.
31 - Highly detailed models are easily post-finished with acrylic paints.
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