robalo01 Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 So I have been looking into ways of making hard models. Currently I have been carving them out of wood, sanding, painting with 5-6 coats of laquer, sanding and polishing in between coats. Two problems with this: 1) the model´s finish is messed up when I make my mold 2) if I mess it up I have to start all over again. Here is what I am thinking. Make a rough clay model. Make a mold out of RTV. Cast a model out of resin that I can fine tune and polish. I think I can get a glass finish out of the resin. and If I mess it up, I can cast anotherone and don't have to start from scratch. I can also scavange from the models to matach legs, fins and tails for other models. Does anybody else to anything like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TroutSupport.com Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 If it can be done i'm sure someone is doing it somewhere. There is no right or wrong way to do it. Scuply works pretty good for the base. You can work it, then after it's heated you can fine sand it and even put a coat of epoxy. Then make your rtv mold etc. If your rtv is ruining your model that has laquer on it there must be something interacting between those 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robalo01 Posted July 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 I am not using RTV for the mold. I am making a Bondo mold. The heat from the bodo curing messes up the laquer finish. It still makes a good mold, but If I mess it up, I have to refinish my model. That is about 30% of the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluetickhound Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 If you are carving masters out of wood, i would try an epoxy like Trout said... Once the two part sets up, it should be bombproof. Maybe spraying some sort of release agent (PAM cooking spray? WD-40?) on the epoxied master would help keep it from sticking to the bondo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robalo01 Posted July 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 The times I have tried an epoxy finish it has messed up some of the details. That Is why I have gone with laquer. I think that if my original is made of resin, it won't need a finish -- I can polish it to a mirrow surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 The problem with a hard master is the appendages snapping off. I make these separately and soft glue to the body. Of course, if your master has 50 legs each side, this is not a good option. In this case there is a remeltable rubber on the market that would work well with your mold-a-master idea. Sorry can't remember the name of the rubber stuff - it comes in a block. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
