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Clear Casting Resin Recommendation Request

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  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Clear Casting Resin Recommendation Request
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Sunday, August 15, 2010 8:45 AM

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I tried using a clear casting resin to fill primary hull window ports I cut in an original AMT Enterprise kit.

The resin worked, but the resin took a very, very, very, very long time to loose it's tacky feel before I could continue work on the hull.

Though I don't off-hand recall the brand name of the resin I used decades ago but I believe I saw it on the shelves of Michaels during my last visit.

I notice Smooth-On offers it's own  brand called : Crystal Clear® Series - Optically Clear Liquid Plastic.

I have replacement panel sections for an old Star Wars  Star Destroyer I would like to cast in clear in case I should decide to light the kit for display.

Does anyone have recommendations about a clear casting resin for this application ?

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: SURREY ,B.C.
Posted by krow113 on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 6:27 PM

Sprue- Asking about casting on here is a no-go,very few will answer. I would recommend Woodland Scenics Realistic Water. I asked at the lhs train guys about the best water effect,they all pointed immediatly to this product.No mixing ,temp rise ,just pour and go. I used a clear resin mix on my bobber wip to get some wieght in the engine .tranny and primary,almost lost it when the parts started swelling!

Hope this helps.

Thank you ,Krow113

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Southern California
Posted by ModelNerd on Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:50 PM

Sorry to dredge up an older thread, but I recently discovered a clear casting resin:

http://www.alumilite.com/ProdDetail.cfm?Category=Casting%20Resins&Name=Alumilite%20Crystal%20Clear

This crystal clear resin looks just like clear plastic parts when cured. We use it at work now, and it's just amazing.

- Mark

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Wherever the hunt takes me
Posted by Boba Fett on Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:54 PM

smooth-on stuff is best, but very toxic. ALumilite casting plastics cure very fast, and there's a high chance of bubbles. But it is the best alternative to Smooth-on.

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Thursday, September 9, 2010 10:53 PM

Thanks to all for the recommendations.

i will check for availability in small quantities as the castings would be replacements for the narrow AMT Star Destroyer side panels

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Wherever the hunt takes me
Posted by Boba Fett on Friday, September 10, 2010 8:20 AM

smooth-on has small quantities, but alumilite has like a $10 bottle. for that application, alumilite is probably your best bet. good luck!

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Friday, September 10, 2010 2:01 PM

Thanks.

It will be a long process of casting opaque resin copies of a small number of parts and assembling into a final form for casting in clear resin.

Sure am glad I waited to build this project.

In the 1980s the only efficient lighting option was fluorescent inside or a high intensity source with fiber optics... ....now we have many choices in LEDs ! Big Smile

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Friday, September 10, 2010 2:41 PM

One remark, if a resin cast has that sticky feel to it, soetimes it helps to wash it with oil paint solvent, chack first that it doesn't damage the plastic in case of filled windows. Hope it helps, have a nice day

Pawel

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Friday, September 10, 2010 3:20 PM

Pawel

One remark, if a resin cast has that sticky feel to it, soetimes it helps to wash it with oil paint solvent, chack first that it doesn't damage the plastic in case of filled windows. Hope it helps, have a nice day

Pawel

I thank you for the advise.

It will help !

Enjoy your weekend.

Sprue_ce

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