I have been planning to cast my own tree trunks (cut down version) for some time now and finally did some today. I had the patterns (clay) made for over a year and just put them aside for a rainy day?? Today I cleaned them up and made a quick silicone rubber mold, then cast a set in gray resin. Gave them a quick paint job and will have them on the layout soon (haven't picked a spot yet?). Just thought I would share this little project, it is easy and will provide many tree trunks in the future. I will probably modify the clay patterns (want to add more root exposure on some of them) a little and make new molds as I can see some improvements are needed.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Bob:
The castings look great.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
RR_Mel Great looking castings Bob, what brand of mold silicone do you use? Mel Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951 My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California
Mel,
I used Alumilite RTV Silicone rubber and Alumilite AlumiRes RC3 resin, both available at Hobby Lobby (must use the 40% on these items!).
Wow, Bob! Those look great! Those would go great with my logging operation...
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
RR_Mel Thanks, Bob Does the Alumilite RTV Silicone bubble up? I’m looking for casting materials that come in smaller quintiles. I’ve been using Micro-Mark casting stuff but I don’t need 32 ounces, I doubt it I will use 8 ounces during the 10 months shelf life. It gets expensive tossing 24 ounces at $1.25 per ounce. I really need to cast some small parts so I need to get with it. I’ve been tossing small parts in a box that need molds made for over two years. Mel Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951 My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California
The kit I got at Hobby Lobby is a mini casting kit and includes the RTV and some casting resin, enough to cast quite a few small items. I believe the RTV does bubble a little but didn't leave any holes/cavities in the mold. My last mold I made, I put in a plastic container and cut a hole in the lid for my 1 gal shop vac to suck the air out and it did reduce the bubbles (surprisingly!). When casting, I had to use a straight pin to push into the resin where I knew air bubbles might occur and moved it around to help release the trapped air pockets. This worked great and I don't have voids in the small castings any longer. Here is the kit I bought (about $18 with 40% coupon).
-Bob http://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-%26-Hobbies/Clay%2C-Molding-%26-Sculpting/Casting/Mini-Casting-Kit/p/22251-TE0631
Medina1128 Wow, Bob! Those look great! Those would go great with my logging operation...