10 replies to this topic

[Blake Sabo]

I am looking into producing lexan bodies for a couple projects that i have. And i am curious on what material should be used for the Body Molds. For the bodies i need, there are no "base" plastic models that i can cut up and modify, so i will have to start from scratch. Mainly from a block of some sort.

 

So, iam wondering what do the current body producers use for Lexan Body Molds. I have been looking at Automotive Modeling Clay, or Balsa Wood. But iam not sure if the heat from the Vaccumform machine would play havoc with those materials?

 

Any help would be awesome.

 

Thanks

[idare2bdul]

A common wood for making a mold master is Jelutong.

You could pull a few bodies from it as is often done in the movie industry. 

Using it to make a female mold and then using a metal filled epoxy male mold(s) for larger production runs is a common way to make things unless you have access to a CNC mill and can make a metal mold. None of this is cheap or easy and your average vacuform machine won't pull Lexan.

[slotbaker]

Here are a few threads on SlotForum that may be of interest;

Dec 2005
Jan 2006
Oct 2006 - Probably the best.

There is a fair bit to look through, but it's worth it.

[Alchemist]

Here's a gentleman that wanted to do what you would like to do . . . only a long time ago.   Great article!  It inspires me.

 

Ernie

 

http://www.craftsman....com/dunlap.htm

[macman]

There have been some highly informative threads on this subject in "thingies", courtesy of Gene ZR-1

[DCR]

.....I made a bunch of molds in the early 1990s,,,,,wood master or wood/plastic model combos.The production tooling was cast from a aluminum filled epoxy......here are a few of my drag molds......but this is just a sample..

 

............DC..............

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[SlotStox#53]

Love the drag Veedub!

[DCR]

Love the drag Veedub!

 

Thank you,I have a few different VWs,,,,I will post some more photos once I dig the molds out,,I have Funny Cars,Pro Stocks,Dragsters,Nascar,Trucks....also sorts of crap,,,maybe a hundred or more designs...........If I run across a small Vacuum Former I may just buy it a make some bodies from time to time............Take care,DC

[Phil Hackett]

Hey Don... don't forget a couple of molds I lent you years ago.....

[DCR]

Hey Don... don't forget a couple of molds I lent you years ago.....

 

Still have them,,,there safe,,as you can see I never get rid of anything....................DC

[SlotStox#53]

Just a sucker for a good VW bodyshell Look forward to seeing the pictures of the other Dub ones and the other vehicles too

Always loved the idea of making the molds & pulling some shells, just the whole getting the dimensions/ scale drawings & actually carving out the wood/making them gets a bit daunting .