21 replies to this topic

[Dooner]

I have many older injection molded slot car bodies from the '60s. Is there an inexpensive way I can duplicate them. I do not want to vac form. I imagine reproducing them with the posts would be the hardest part.

[Prof. Fate]

I am not sure if I understand the question. There is no way to exactly duplicate an injected molded body with internal posts without scads of money. What a lot of people have done is made a female mold copy of the outside of the shell and then do a resin "splash" mold copy. but the internal posts have to be made from something like plastruct tubes and glued inside.

Fate

[Dooner]

Rocky,

That is what I was afraid of. The injection molding machines I found on the internet are very extravagant.

Is there a link on how to make resin bodies including body mounting posts.

Does anyone have an original 1/32 Revell Cobra mold for sale?

[Bob Campbell]

The injection molding machine are cheap! Wait until you find out how much moldmakers charge to build the molds needed!

[Jairus]

Resin casting is the only option. I would contact the best in the business.... Jimmy Flintstone.

Here is his email address.

[Dooner]

Thank you, Jairus. I will email him.

Did you do the spectacular artwork on Jimmie's website?

[Jairus]

Nope! Jimmy is a very good artist himself.

I only produced one master for him... a 1953 Ford Country Squire Stationwagon. But... he is the best at making molds of old model car bodies..
Plus, he can do metal castings and vacuum-formed windshields all in-house.

Not to mention, he is very approachable. Also... tell him Jairus sent you.

[Dooner]

OK.

[idare2bdul]

Bring $$$.

[Jairus]

Only if the design is not sale-able to Jimmy. He can make additional copies available to others and thus cut the cost considerably.

[Howmet TX]

Actually, it's not too hard at all to do a cast of the inside of the body as well, including all the mounting posts 'n stuff.

Having filled up the inside of your original shell with some removable substance - modelling putty, soft plaster, whatever, make your outside mould from silicone rubber in the normal way. Then turn it over, remove the filling material from the original shell, spray with silicon release agent, and pour another silicone layer on the inside (with the original shell still in your mould, and with some locating points for positive reassembly carved into the first silicon pour). When the interior silicon is set, it will pull away from the original body and the first silicon mould.

Then you have a two-part mould, outside and inside, female and male. Pour a small amount of resin inside the female mould and swish or paint it around to make sure all details are covered, with no bubbles or air pockets. Then pour in another drop of resin and squish the male silicon mould in place. Resin will ooze out at the edges, set in five minutes, and then - voila - a perfect moulding of your favourite old timer, with any interior detail and mounting posts as accurately rendered as the outside.

Sounds more complicated than it is and probably you need to try it to get the idea, but it's not rocket science. Nice and messy though!

[Jean-Michel Piot]

Actually, it's not too hard at all to do a cast of the inside of the body as well, including all the mounting posts 'n stuff.

...


it's not rocket science. Nice and messy though!

I confirm. Here are some steps described by Howmet TX :









The rest of the pictures in a second post...

[Jean-Michel Piot]

The result juste hereafter ...

[Jean-Michel Piot]

the result of the casting:

[Dooner]

Jean-Michel, Thank you for posting the pics.

[havlicek]

Actually, it's not too hard at all to do a cast of the inside of the body as well, including all the mounting posts 'n stuff.

...


it's not rocket science. Nice and messy though!


I confirm. Here are some steps described by Howmet TX :

Wow! That's easy for two...Rocket Scientists to say !

-john

[Darkron9]

A guy I used to know from when I was working sent me this link. I think you'll find this interesting.

============================================================

Subject: An engineering marvel, and american made.

Click on the link below and go to this video. It is really incredible what these machines can do.

Here's a new unbelievable copy machine. The old machinists never would have believed this product.
http://widgets.nbc.c...d/ba4377d3bfd6c

[havlicek]

Astounding! Even more so that it can make complete and functioning assemblies in one shot! We oughtta sell that thing to China! Seriously, it's amazing that it can duplicate with such precision a piece made of multiple parts and spit it out as a functioning assembly like the wrench and the steam engine

-john

[Dooner]

Thanks Ron,
This brings a new meaning to the word repop. I wonder if that Dimension printer can copy any type of plastic. Imagine how many slot car bodies you could crank out. I wonder if Edo has one.

[Garry J]

Astounding! Even more so that it can make complete and functioning assemblies in one shot! We oughtta sell that thing to China! Seriously, it's amazing that it can duplicate with such precision a piece made of multiple parts and spit it out as a functioning assembly like the wrench and the steam engine

-john

Sell it to China !!??

It's a Chinese entrepeneur's dream; a machine that can make copies of itself.

[TSR]

Uh, the Chinese BUILT the machine...

[Dooner]

I thought Jay Leno said it was American made.
Maybe a Chinese American.