casting tractor cabs

[IH885XLMAN]

anybody had much expieriance in casting there own tractor cabs as this must be the most hardest part in model making i need 10-20 explorer cabs for DB from ertl and lonestar any suggestions?

[IH885XLMAN]

is there an easy way to "copy " a cab i have aquired a lone star tractor with the secura cab what is the easiest way to cast it with resin (i still cant get my head around it )i can do simple things ike bonnets but cab casting goes over the the top of my head

[FB]

how do you cast bonnets??, i dont know where to start (that includes buying resin!)

[civilpek]

pretty much the same scenario ere, but im slowly pickin up little bits

[IH885XLMAN]

ive got an idea with bonnets if you have an origional bonet i was thinking of using a clay base mould by pressing the origional into the clay thus making an impression of the bonnet then pouring ressin into your impression what do you think you could also do your own bonnet calve out of wood add plastic strips on it (international 784 easy )as for the low parts of the bonet cut plasicard up from the right scale i read a good tip on getting the 1.32 scale basicaly its the origional dimentions of the life size model ie real tractor then take all the mesurements from it then divide all the mesurements by 32 heypresto all your 1.32 mesurements

[JC]

Sounds like that could work to me tractorman, have you considered using plasticine as the mould?

[ihatepoundland]

if the tapers run the wrong way, clay won't work, latex would probably be better

[JC]

Have you ever tried making latex moulds IHP?

[IH885XLMAN]

have any of you copyied origional (i mean produced ur own )cabs with latex  or plastersine also i thought of pressing the cab like left-front-right like finger printing the cab on latex or plastersine heres a cab i want to make

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[ihatepoundland]

Have you ever tried making latex moulds IHP?

Not yet, although I have used them in the casting of plaster

[JC]

I used to make pre-cast concrete products, some using latex moulds, they worked out very expensive to make due to the size of them, I've bought some latex today and plan on trying to make some moulds over the next couple of weeks so I'll keep you informed. All I need now is a good source for resin, anyone come across any they can recommend?

[IH885XLMAN]

could you not get resin from wilkos or do it all where did you get the latex from and how do you go about using it with cabs if you dont mind me asking ?

[THEBRITFARMER]

I know my dad used to make moulds when he was in the fireside mantel business. He would create the master from wood then make a cast using dental plaster ( that used for making false teeth). I'll ask him if it a feasible option and if it was easy to get a hold of.

[JC]

I got my latex from hobbycraft, ?11.99 for one litre. I'm not planning on doing any cabs with the latex, I think you would need a four, five or six part rigid mould for a tractor cab. Going on what I've been told by someone who does resin casting, there's a lot of work in making the moulds, far too much to warrant the time investment for a small production run.

[james f]

dave Towse makes a lot of stuff from resin, maybe he could give us all some tips (unless he's afraid of revealing any trade secrets!!)

[towse trading]

hi

what trade secrets ?? , i have had to learn all i know, i have tried different resins and moulds , i don't use lates , i use silicone rubber , and plastic resin , these are bough trade sizes , the mould for the potato harvester cost ?65 in rubber alone..the rubber moulds last about 25 times depending on what it is that is cast ..

cab moulds i imake are in a 2 part mould , inside and outside , ( a simple pour mould or a squish mould)

i am doing some basic moulds tomorrow & casting , these are marston trailer back door & grain shoot so i will photo the set up and you can see what goes into it ..

dave

[ihatepoundland]

Dave, thanks for the info, its not something I'd attempt, due to cost and the small quanities I require, but it is something I have wondered about

[JC]

hi

what trade secrets ?? , i have had to learn all i know, i have tried different resins and moulds , i don't use lates , i use silicone rubber , and plastic resin , these are bough trade sizes , the mould for the potato harvester cost ?65 in rubber alone..the rubber moulds last about 25 times depending on what it is that is cast ..

cab moulds i imake are in a 2 part mould , inside and outside , ( a simple pour mould or a squish mould)

i am doing some basic moulds tomorrow & casting , these are marston trailer back door & grain shoot so i will photo the set up and you can see what goes into it ..

dave

I've been making a few sample moulds from latex rubber and it's a tedious exercise, as Someone told me it would be from the start when I asked for a little advice! I'm glad I don't need to think about a cab mould, let alone try to make one!! I'll stick to scratch building parts, and I consider myself to have a lot of patience....

[IH885XLMAN]

yea thanks dave ive learned alot the last few weeks hopefuly i will have a david brown 1390 maybee 1490 to show in the coming weeks

[towse trading]

hi

i have started to cast the trailer parts , so here goes in easy moulding

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[towse trading]

next step

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[towse trading]

next steps

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[towse trading]

grain shoot used

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[THEBRITFARMER]

Thanks for the pics Dave, it's always nice to have a "behind the scenes look".

[towse trading]

hi

pleased to help , i will post some cab casting when i do some ,

i started the moulds about 1pm and had the copys ready by 4pm

so i can get a quick turn around if needed..

dave

[FB]

nice tailgates!!!!. How much will you be selling them for??. Can you do them in the blue???