What is the proper casting resin?

[spankey]

This may be in the wrong section, so move if needed. Thanks!

I'm working on my 1/72 688 boat, and I'm trying to figure out what material to use for my planes/rudders. I am just finishing my positives right now, and am preparing to make myself a silicone 2 part mold.

The biggest question is...what to use as the resin for these parts? I know Mr. Merriman used to use some yellowish resin for his stuff. Now he's using a greenish resin. What type of resin is this, and where is the best place to find it? Might be through caswell, so I can combine it with some other odds and ends I needed to order.

Thanks,

Daniel-

[Kazzer]

Alumilite is what Mr. Merriman uses and he puts a blue dye in it to get the green color you refer to. (Maybe your monitor shows it green-ish?)

[spankey]

Thats the stuff he uses for his fittings kits? I'm thinking of my recently assembled Revell VIIC fittings kit, where the planes and rudders are greenish. Thats the stuff right?

Unless that Alumilite is the actual material to make the casting. I might not have asked the question correctly before.

Thanks,

Daniel-

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Alumilite comes in a slow and fast cure formula. Get the slow-cure stuff.

David,

[roedj]

material for positives

I am just finishing my positives right now, and am preparing to make myself a silicone 2 part mold.

Just curious, what did you use to make your positives?

I need to make some other "stuff" and was thinking of using Sculpey and then baking it.

Thanks for your time,

Dan

[spankey]

There is the [right] way to make positives, then there are a few other ways. The right way is to use Renshape. I think I've heard of renshape 40 being used with some success. It's probably much easier to work with....

Then there is my way....[not the right way]

...My excuse is, I wanted to go to work right away, and I wasnt able to get renshape quick, so at the local TAP Plastics store, I rumaged through their sc rap bin, and found a thick chunk of ruberized plexiglass...I say rubberized, 'cause it didnt shatter like most plexiglass, and when I shaped it on the bench grinder, it didnt melt, it just flaked off. Must use proper technique for dressing your grinding wheel's stone after this though... Dont grind too much, otherwise the stuff will begin to melt into your stone, and could potentially melt into the pores of the stone, get hot, and shatter your stone. BAD!!

If you go slow, it doesn't clog the stone's pores.

Anyhow, it was just a sc r ap from the plastics store, and so far, its working well. Easy to grind. relatively easy to sand, and doesnt flex/warp.