There's not much more can be done on the ballast wagons until the bogie etches and other bits arrive and the second batch of DZ wagons has been cast and posted off to customers.
So I'm having a play about to see if there is a way of using resin transfers on a master for a casting.
Using the resin transfers isn't difficult. In fact they are a complete joy. No, the issue about whether they are any good or not is because I fear they will be ripped off when I come to peel the silicone mould away from the master.
It's perfectly possible that I could dig the rivets out of the mould, one by one, but I couldn't then use the master again until I had re-riveted it. That would be rather tiresome, to say the least, because on a popular kit I may have to manufacture three or four moulds.
So I'm going to pour a little RTV over these and see what happens.
I have applied the transfers in the usual way, brushed fixing solution over them twice and also now given them a coat of clear varnish.
So, blog-readers of the world, what are your predictions for what's going to happen?
some stay some peel
ReplyDeleteRob, really enjoying the ballast wagon project. In regards to the rivets, I'll say it's going to be a smashing success. . . .I'll change that to resounding, as smashing is what one would do with a bum part. What are you using for a release? I have been using a product called Mann Ease Release on my urethane castings since it is residue free (sure its also very toxic), and have not played with RTV--curious what you are using.
ReplyDeleteCould you not just make a master and make a mould from that and then from a casting from that mould, make more moulds?
ReplyDeleteSo you would have a resin-cast master instead that the rivets won't fall off of.
Peter: The good thing about RTV is no need for a release agent - the resin does not stick to silicone. However the downside is the silicone does lose its non-stick properties after 30+ castings.
ReplyDeletechoo-choo-fish: That's an option but if you do that each successive casting gets a little thicker so I try and make repeat moulds from the original master.
My bet is they'll be fine - but if they're not then if you apply a gloss varnish first they stick much better - then seal them with another layer (or two)...
ReplyDelete