Casting scenery

[redshadows]

Hi Everyone  ,

I've been inspired to work on some Post Apoc & Horror scenery pieces for myself or even for sale if there good enough.

Eventually I would like them to be cast in resin.

What I would like you know is what materials would be OK to make a mould from 

Balsa wood, plastic card, Foam Board etc?

Any advice  would be most welcome 

Cheers
George

[Dewbakuk]

Essentially, anything that isn't porous. Balsa wood can be used but you'll need to seal it.

[magokiron]

A silicon mould will accept pretty much any material or texture you want, as Dewbakuk has already stated.

Silicon is a wonderful material to work with, and once you learn how to use it and your resin mix, you can make lots of copies of your work.

For the mould walls, lego blocks seem to be a popular choice (never tryed them myself), or you can make them with plasticard, but for your first attempts, simple and cheap child's modelling clay will work too.

Hope that helps.

[Sangennaru]

Essentially, anything that isn't porous. Balsa wood can be used but you'll need to seal it.

everything is good. if something is porous, you have to accept that the original master will be destroyed after the mould making. No needs of seal, just a sacrifice =)

Good luck with your experiments, i've just finished my 8 kg of silicon yesterday! =)

[Skrapwelder]

Depending on the type of silicon you are using it may react to the adhesives you use to hold the master together. I've had some bad reactions to styrene bonding cement in particular.

[snitcythedog]

everything is good. if something is porous,

There is one exception to that one.  Do not use glass.  Silicone will bond to it.  Pretty much everything else is good.  One hint that I can suggest.  Get some disposable brushes.  When you go to pour your mold, use the brushes to paint and force the silicone into all the cracks on the master prior to pouring the rest of the mold.  If you do not have a vacuum degausser, this will help minimize bubbles attaching to the master.
Snitchy sends.

[Dewbakuk]

everything is good. if something is porous, you have to accept that the original master will be destroyed after the mould making. No needs of seal, just a sacrifice =)

I'd still recommend sealing. It's okay on a flat edge but there is the chance that when you remove the silicon from a detailed section then you can lose a small bit of the mould. Not really an issue on brickwork but a statues face...

It's never happened to mine (but then I usually seal), but I have seen moulds where it has occured. I once recieved a model from a company that had a piece of the master in it where it had obviously got stuck in the mould. Hopefully I got one of the first casts, otherwise everyone else was getting models with a bit missing

[redshadows]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the advice, I'll  post some work if it turns out OK 




cheers
George