Matrix Sentinel Studio Mold - UPDATE - CASTS FOUND!
- Thread starter Cameron
- Start date
robstyle
Master Member
Lots of good advice above. It looks like there is black rubber flashing left in areas so I would assums the pulls were standardized with a rubber skin and either ridgid foam filler or a polyfoam filler depending on the intended use. Knowing that silicone from that era, consider any first attempt at a pull to be the only attempt. Many moulds made from that silicone failed prematurely during the initial production run while others crumbled shortly soon after. There was a lot of moulding and remoulding going on.
If thats indeed black rubber flashing then any hard castings would have been a skin of BJB TC-1630 possibly with a color tint added as the people that would have done the castings didnt go fiberglass work, unless it was sent out to be done by the fiberglass mould maker. Some shops wont do fiberglass for obvious reasons combined with possible contamination with other projects. TC1630 is a very versatile and easy to use material with a very low shrinkage rate that can be brushed, slushed and poured but it doesnt like itself (delamination) if being poured in series.
One issue you will most likely have if trying to do a solid pour, along with all thats been mentioned above, is small to large voids along the seam line. Fiberglass moulds are prone to this allowing material to freely flow out of the mould even if backbuttering the seam. Again, if that was TC1630, it would have had a brush in skin coat, a thin backbutter on the seam before quickly closing the mould, then a slush pour to further seal the seam. All would have been completed in just a few minutes time then allowed to set/cure for maybe 20 minutes before the inner foam pour with again would have been an initial slush pour on the deep parts and again on the remainder of the body which would also fill the prior slushed areas, then the final pour. There would also be some sort of armature for at least the main body. Could be a simple 2x4 with holes drilled in it for the foam to catch but an armature will help a lot in the long run.
If thats indeed black rubber flashing then any hard castings would have been a skin of BJB TC-1630 possibly with a color tint added as the people that would have done the castings didnt go fiberglass work, unless it was sent out to be done by the fiberglass mould maker. Some shops wont do fiberglass for obvious reasons combined with possible contamination with other projects. TC1630 is a very versatile and easy to use material with a very low shrinkage rate that can be brushed, slushed and poured but it doesnt like itself (delamination) if being poured in series.
One issue you will most likely have if trying to do a solid pour, along with all thats been mentioned above, is small to large voids along the seam line. Fiberglass moulds are prone to this allowing material to freely flow out of the mould even if backbuttering the seam. Again, if that was TC1630, it would have had a brush in skin coat, a thin backbutter on the seam before quickly closing the mould, then a slush pour to further seal the seam. All would have been completed in just a few minutes time then allowed to set/cure for maybe 20 minutes before the inner foam pour with again would have been an initial slush pour on the deep parts and again on the remainder of the body which would also fill the prior slushed areas, then the final pour. There would also be some sort of armature for at least the main body. Could be a simple 2x4 with holes drilled in it for the foam to catch but an armature will help a lot in the long run.
That does match up with the studio cast Sentinel parts I already own. It appears to be a thin black rubber exterior with foam fill. My plan is to cast one lower third or 1 leg and see how it goes.
Update:
I was contacted by the person that sold me the studio mold and they found 2 production casts of the claw. I purchased them last night in LA. All the mold damage marks line up perfectly. Can anyone tell me what type of foam or rubber this appears to be. It feels relatively solid and does not feel like there is any resin core but I can't confirm. Thank you!
I was contacted by the person that sold me the studio mold and they found 2 production casts of the claw. I purchased them last night in LA. All the mold damage marks line up perfectly. Can anyone tell me what type of foam or rubber this appears to be. It feels relatively solid and does not feel like there is any resin core but I can't confirm. Thank you!
