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NOW AVAILABLE!
A number of years ago I was browsing through my old Gazette magazines
and I picked up the January/February 1982 issue
where I found an interesting article. In this
long-out-of print magazine, I found an article about
casting detail parts. In that article Terry Metcalfe
described how he cast parts by melting beads of a
thermoplastic called “Makit and Bakit” beads in RTV
molds using an ordinary kitchen oven. I decided that
this process was definitely NOT going to work for
me.
As a former Mold Maker/Tool & Die maker, I am
quite familiar with the plastic injection process
which if you were not aware is how many of our daily
plastic products are made. I tried Terry's
technique several
times in my plethora of RTV rubber molds and I just
could not get them to come out as well as his
article discussed.
One day I happened to be using a hot glue gun in my
hobby room and I had an epiphany. And the rest is
history....
It has been
nearly 30 years since my "Hot Glue Casting"
technique was published in the "Narrow Gauge &
Short Line Gazette" magazine. Although this
innovative process hasn't changed much over
time, the availability and cost of Room
Temperature Vulcanizing Silicone (RTV) as well
as weathering and finishes has had some
significant innovations. Now is as good a time
as any to refresh this article with additional
information and lots more color photos than was
in the original publication.
(16pgs color & B/W) Read
More ...
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