Superior & Seattle Railroad Build

S&S RR · February 20, 2016, 06:33:01 PM

Quote from: Twopoint2 on February 20, 2016, 02:53:40 PM
Looks very good John, you have your work cut out for ya. Now I know where the sink, water heater and workbench are lol.

Jim

Thanks for stopping by the thread and the kind words. Knowing where the water heater and everything else is when your designing can solve lots of problems later on - like when we replaced the furnace a couple years ago.

One of the guys in our local rail gang had to tear out part of his layout to get at the water heater.

S&S RR · February 22, 2016, 07:18:43 PM

Today's post is a process/product review. A few months ago I purchased some mold material from MicroMart that you put in the microwave to liquify and pour a mold. Then you can remelt the mold and use the material again. Sounds great and a lot cheaper than the traditional mold materials. I needed a second pier casting for my trestle project that was half the depth as my original so I thought it would be a good time to try this stuff.

Here is a Picture of the top of the container it comes in.

S&S RR · February 22, 2016, 07:28:51 PM

Here is a picture of the mold box with the original pier casting still in the mold.

S&S RR · February 22, 2016, 07:31:00 PM

The traditional latex mold in the background is for a roof detail casting that I need for the warehouse project so while I have the plaster out I'm doing both. I also always have a couple molds on the bench for future projects just in-case I have to much plaster in a batch and want to use it up for useful castings. I hate wasting this stuff.

S&S RR · February 22, 2016, 07:35:29 PM

This is a picture of the mold after the original is removed. I left the mold box around it just in-case it need more support. I removed the original casting by cutting the bottom out of the mold box.

I should point out that the artist board that I used really sticks to this material. I have never had that problem with the traditional mold materials.

S&S RR · February 22, 2016, 07:42:07 PM

So here is a picture of the first casting out of the mold. Not bad for a quick mold job and it will work fine for my project. I noticed that the plaster tended to stick to the mold material but quickly washed out the mold and poured a second casting. I always make two - just in case one decides to find the floor.

S&S RR · February 22, 2016, 07:51:24 PM

So it's when I removed the second casting from the mold that I discovered the problem. All the detail was gone. It turns out that the heat that is generated by the plaster curing process is enough to melt the mold material. I also lost detail by washing the mold out but it had to be done to make a second casting.

Has anyone else tried this material and had the same problem?

I'm also wondering if the same thing would happen if you poured resign? I know it also gets warm as it cures. Any way, this is my lesson learned from today. This material is okay for one outs but that looks like it is about it.

S&S RR · February 22, 2016, 07:55:58 PM

One final picture - I broke up the mold and put it back in the microwave to get ready for the next time I try to use it. Here is the after pictures of the material back in the original containers.

I lost about half of one container washing the stuff getting the paper off from the artist board. It was melting with warm water.

S&S RR · February 22, 2016, 08:05:18 PM

Finally for tonight, here are the piers painted and installed on the layout. They will support a wood deck that will support the trestle bents over the lower tracks. I decided to have the piers parallel the lower tracks and the trestle bents will be at an angle to complete the curve of the upper track.

deemery · February 22, 2016, 08:16:23 PM

John, nice review of an interesting product. Great lessons learned in there!

dave

S&S RR · February 23, 2016, 07:49:41 PM

Quote from: deemery on February 22, 2016, 08:16:23 PM
John, nice review of an interesting product. Great lessons learned in there!

dave

Thanks Dave

S&S RR · February 24, 2016, 08:53:08 PM

Today, I got back on the trestle build - added more cross-bracing and started building the wood deck for the span across the lower tracks.

S&S RR · February 24, 2016, 08:57:04 PM

Also, made some progress on the Chippy Hollow build. The wood for the wood platform received a bath of alcohol and chalk. The main substructure for the platform was assembled and is ready for the deck as soon as it dries overnight.

Twist67 · February 25, 2016, 06:40:30 AM

Hi,

you´re doing fantastic work on your layout and all those fine builds going on. I´ve never used some kind of molding material. I always use silicone for resin castings. Never seen something like that. Maybe it will also happen when you will pour resin instead of plaster.

Keep up with your nice progress.

Regards,Chris

S&S RR · February 25, 2016, 09:28:19 AM

Quote from: Twist67 on February 25, 2016, 06:40:30 AM
Hi,

you´re doing fantastic work on your layout and all those fine builds going on. I´ve never used some kind of molding material. I always use silicone for resin castings. Never seen something like that. Maybe it will also happen when you will pour resin instead of plaster.

Keep up with your nice progress.

Regards,Chris

Thanks for stopping by the thread Chris. I'm treating this thread as a build thread to report the processes and methods I'm using to create the layout - both good and bad. I ordered some more latex material for the molds I need for an upcoming project.

Thanks for the kind words.