Hi! I am entering the home stretch on my MkIII altered Brachacki TARDIS (Jamie Bait kit -- aiming for as is appeared in "Spearhead From Space") and the two remaining hurdles I have are the windows and the signage. I'm experimenting with casting up my own windows using sheet acrylic and the pebbled bits from a plastic milk bottle. I've worked up a mold and cast up my first sample but the resin I've used is not great. Puduo brand, I bought on Amazon as it was highly rated and relatively inexpensive and if I liked it I'd get more and if not I'd try something else. Mold is made from oomoo 25 from Smooth-on.
It's nice and clear but won't cure completely. It's still rather flexible kind of like a hard rubber. (As I type this, I'm beginning to think that this really isn't that big a deal as I won't have to worry about it cracking or breaking -- just yellowing over time). The manufacturer insists that the resin should be hard when cured. I thought it might be because I was trying to cast something very thin (about 1/32") but the resin that was left in the mixing cup didn't solidify either -- I could dent it with my fingernail and the dent would work itself out. I was extremely careful to measure everything correctly (pour the resin and hardener into separate containers then pour each into a third to mix). Other people who've reviewed this stuff have had the same issue.
I'm going to rework the pebbled/smooth combination window and remold it as there are some artifacts about it I don't like. You can't see them when the pane is in place but I know they're there, lol -- you know how it is.
Anywho, does anyone have anything they recommend? I've considered Smooth-on Crystal Clear 202 as it is supposed to work at the thickness I need but it is recommended for "industrial use" so I'm not sure I want to bother with it.
Pics below of the windows mocked up:
Thanks for looking!
Dave C
It's nice and clear but won't cure completely. It's still rather flexible kind of like a hard rubber. (As I type this, I'm beginning to think that this really isn't that big a deal as I won't have to worry about it cracking or breaking -- just yellowing over time). The manufacturer insists that the resin should be hard when cured. I thought it might be because I was trying to cast something very thin (about 1/32") but the resin that was left in the mixing cup didn't solidify either -- I could dent it with my fingernail and the dent would work itself out. I was extremely careful to measure everything correctly (pour the resin and hardener into separate containers then pour each into a third to mix). Other people who've reviewed this stuff have had the same issue.
I'm going to rework the pebbled/smooth combination window and remold it as there are some artifacts about it I don't like. You can't see them when the pane is in place but I know they're there, lol -- you know how it is.
Anywho, does anyone have anything they recommend? I've considered Smooth-on Crystal Clear 202 as it is supposed to work at the thickness I need but it is recommended for "industrial use" so I'm not sure I want to bother with it.
Pics below of the windows mocked up:
Thanks for looking!
Dave C
