Paper model to resin model

[pbhawkin]

Hi guys.
I thought I would start this thread for those of you who have been enquiring about the use of paper planes rescaled to 1/144 to add to your collections.
I used to do a few paper 1/72 WW1 planes and made them into a nice hanging mobile for my son. Then I got into 1/144 scale so thought I would try to make some planes that were not available as kits in this scale.
I rescaled a WW2 Walrus paper kit (an old 1960s kit from Poland) down to 1/144, made it up into it's major components and then made RTV molds of it after sealing the paper.
I could then have multiple resin copies of the plane which I sold to people who had 1/144 RN ships to add the plane to!
Here are some pictures of the paper master:
Attachment 20428
Attachment 20427

Here are the resin castings I made from them:
Attachment 20429

And here are two pics of my finished version:
Attachment 20431
Attachment 20430

As you can see it is a fairly basic model. I have since redone it from a carved wooden master and turned it into something a bit closer to the proper shape!!
As you can see from this nice diorama that Carlos Briz made featuring one:


So guys it is possible to turn those paper planes into something more durable but it is probably only woorth the effort if you already have the casting materials.

[pbhawkin]

Sorry about the way the attachements have worked out but do you think I can get them to display iin the right areas!!!

[Linz]

Very cool
Have used the paper as a shin over the resin?
Interested in the process you used can you pleas explain it better?
Linz

[Jimmy Doolittle]

The plane is great. You should make a tutorial and upload the components so the others could print it and put it toegether. I hope you will make more similar models of other planes. Congratulations.

[batesyboy]

Great stuff !
Could you do a walk-thru, or list the materials involved...
I`m keen to have a go myself
Cheers
Batesyboy

[Rommel]

Great stuff !
Could you do a walk-thru, or list the materials involved...
I`m keen to have a go myself
Cheers
Batesyboy

Nice job peter i like the look of the finished casting do you pour or inject into the mold ?
Lee
i have made a number of RTV Silicone moulds for other war games bases and other bits not thought of using it for planes !!
materials i use are lego to make the box to house the master , plastersine to bed the master, (there are some good how to on you tube)
General purpose RTV Silicone mould making rubber ,polytec easy flow liquid plastic, mold release spray
http://www.mbfg.co.uk/
i have used these for all of the above materials good price great service
hope this helps
Mike

[pbhawkin]

Hi all.
It is not that complicated but rather more time consuming.
I reduce the paper model to 1/144 by using a photocopy machine (it doesn't need scanning as colour or surface detail is not imprtant). Then I make the plane up into sections that I think will cast easily (wings, fuselage, tailplane, etc).
As Mike mentioned I used Lego blocks on a Lego plate to make a suitable sized box (leaving at least 1 cm clear of any part) and pour in a little RTV silicone (usually 1 lego deep). I do not usually use plastacine as I find it hard and time consuming to remove! Once this layer is set I then place the part to be used as a master on it and pour in more RTV until it comes up at least 1/2 way on the master (depending on the shape, such as the Walrus, I poured the RTV until it was up to 1/2 way on the wing). Once this is set I then coat with vaseline and pour the top half of the mold. I sometimes use guide holes and pegs for locating the two halves but more frequently I leave a edge of the lower RTV section NOT coated with vaseline so the top half bonds to it and this acts as a hinge and means of locating the two halfs together.
I have a vacuum pump (bought off Ebay for degassing refrigertors) which I use to degas the RTV (makes for a better quality mold and longer lasting) and then by changing the lid I have a pressure pump (using a cheap 2Hp compressor) and after pouring in resin into the mold and putting a small weight on top to keep the halves flush I pressurize it to about 40Lbp (this causes any air trapped in to become microscopic allowing a really smooth surface with NO pinholes!).
Once cast and assembed detail bits like radiators are added.
I have a collection of cast props and wheels which I use as well.
I have moved away from this method as the paper masters were delicate and not detailed enough to my satisfaction. Although I could/should have spent more time detailing them prior to making the mold!
Hope this helps?

HOW exactly does one create a 'How to' ? I can see ones created by others but there is no obvious way to start a new one!