From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol.0092 08/10/2001 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: Re: casting 2: Resin casting 3: Resin casting 4: Resin casting 5: RAF Regt SdKfz 222s 6: Resin casting 7: FV numbers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Bradford Chaucer [bradford.chaucer@snet.net] Subject: Re: casting Robert You are aware of the Yahoo Groups casting list, aren't you??? It's a group of people who do mostly cold casting though there are a few low temp alloy casters hanging out there too, also a few plaster and hydrocal perverts :-) Regards, Bradford Chaucer bradford.chaucer@snet.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Brian Carter [brian.c@netcomuk.co.uk] Subject: Resin casting Hi there You are right that there are a lot of words written about resin casting. I have tried several resins and rubbers all with good success. Another source is Scott Barber Regional Centres. This is a major manufacturer of resins and polymers that I used to use in industry. Their regional centres are aimed at the boating fraternity. I know of one centre in Farlington, Portsmouth. They are generally much cheaper than Tiranti and for me closer to home. Choose your materials to suit. If you only want small scale "block" then use a cheap polyester resin which you can buy from Halfords. If you want to make it even cheaper, load it with what the motor trade call "Inert Filler". This is actually marble flour and if you can find an industrial user, they pay about £150.00 a tonne for it! For larger or more detailed parts, use a 2 part polyurethane which is much more expensive. Again this can be loaded with marble flour to make it cheaper. The key is to make sure your moulds are lubricated when you make the mould and cast the item. Again a lot has been written on this and I use baby oil as it is cheap. I hope this helps and good luck. Kind regards Brian C (The Pioneer Man) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Les Pickstock [J.L.Pickstock@lboro.ac.uk] Subject: Resin casting Robert You don't say where in the UK you are but here in the East Midlands there are 3 very good companies that supply rubbers and resins. For silicon rubber I'd recommend a product called Essil 240 supplied by Amber Composites in Langley Mill, Nottingham. This is an RTV rubber that is water clear. Cured in an oven at about 55-60 degrees this cures in about 2 hours. Avoid polyester resin at all cost as they are tricky to use and very smelly. For the casting we do here we use a polyurethane resin called SG2000 supplied by Denaco Resins in Derby. This is a beige colour fast cast resin which mixes in equal quantities and sets in 20-25 minutes. It has very little odour and gives excellent detail. It is a little brittle in thin sections but usable. If a barrier agent is used the mould gives about 20-30 shots using this resin. Cost is the main bugbear with home casting The rubber I recommended is about £25 a kilo but Amber composites will supply 1 Kg packs, Denaco and others only do 20kg packs. SG2000 is about £4 a kilo but you to have to buy 5kg of each component. This quantity will do a lot of small castings and you could club together with others to spread the cost. Another firm we use is called K&C moulding in Coalville, Leics; they do rubber but I don't think they do polyurethane resins. Please feel free to e-mail me for more details and advice. To set the stage I am a professional model maker that works in a university design dept, but never got out of the hobby model scene. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Bruce Crosby [bruce@dwcrosby.freeserve.co.uk] Subject: Resin casting Bob, Been there, done that! First off, a large clean heated working area with very good (industrial quality) ventilation. A vacuum tank and pump. Island Scientific, Ventnor, Isle of Wight can supply, second hand about £1000.00, new add 50%. Mixing cups, spatulas, plastic sheeting, clean up materials, acetone, face mask, gloves, rubber apron. These all need to be disposable as the resin goes everywhere (it is as thin as water), soaks right into most materials then rots them. Then you have the problem of getting rid of the resin waste. The fumes aren't good for your lungs at all, the raw resin stinks to high heavens and your neighbours WILL complain. A secure store for the chemicals - if it goes up in flames you'll find your home insurance won't cover you. Resin from Mason Chemicals in Croydon. It isn't cheap and you will have to buy in commercial quantities, 10 years ago their minimum order was about £100, + delivery, + VAT. If that hasn't put you off, try ED models who import "Alumilite". It is about £20 per half litre, then you'll need rubber, etc. It is not cheap to start up in resin. If you want to do it at home then be prepared to get loads of air bubbles. If you want to do it commercially then you'll need to shell out considerable amount of money. If you do it in your garage commercially you are breaking all sorts of by laws, as well as health and safety, use of flammable materials, etc, etc, etc. As I said, been there, done that! I got fed up and sold the whole lot to Cromwell. Regards, Bruce Crosby -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Paul.middleton [paul.middletonmafva@tesco.net] Subject: RAF Regt SdKfz 222s Suggestion for those seeking more information on RAF Regiment equipment. You could try contacting the RAF Regiment Museum at RAF Honington, Suffolk or the RAF Museum at Hendon. New information is coming to light on a regular basis, and the rule is, if you don't ask you won't get ! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: alan fanning [alan@afanning.fsnet.co.uk] Subject: Resin casting A company called Trylon does a good range of moulding materials; I have used their 'Quickcast' resin , which does reproduce very fine detail and the company also do several "How-to" leaflets which they send with the product if you ask for them. The resin is by Sika and is labelled Biresin G 27 fast cast resin. Trylon Ltd , Wollaston Northants NN29 7QJ Tel: 01933 664275 The silicone moulding rubber I got from Hobby's , this was white silicone and was very good for fine detail and copes well with deep undercuts. The part no. for this was 23011 (500g) or 23012 (1000g). These come with the catalyst but not with release agent, part no. 42402; if you do two-part moulds you will need this to stop the silicone sticking to itself. W. Hobby Ltd Knights Hill Square , London SE27 0HH. Tel: 0208 761 4244 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: alan fanning [alan@afanning.fsnet.co.uk] Subject: FV Numbers I am trying to find out if there is any kind of definitive list of FV numbers with a description of the vehicle. Does anyone know of any publication or standard reference? I am particularly interested in the range between FV 18001 and FV 18601. I would also like to find out if anyone knows of any cross-reference to the VB numbers used by the Navy. Any help would be appreciated. Regards AL. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Back issues of Think Tank (thanks to Shane Jenkins) can be found at: http://www.tac.com.au/~sljenkins/thinktank/thinktank.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume