Why? Train Sites or Stores?

TB, back in the days before resin sites like Shapeways existed...and when I was a poor student who couldn't afford even white metal or Britannia fittings for my commission builds...I would regularly cast my own parts from Durham's Water Putty, available (cheap) from any hardware store. I'd make a master from styrene stock or scrap...cast it in cheap-tube RTV silicone from the hardware or auto-parts store...and cast as many as I needed.

Great for things like ventilators, hatch covers and such...though, admittedly, not much good for ladders or thin suff like stanchions.

I even built custom industrial models with the stuff. The water putty was fine-grained and would replicate even delicate detail quite well. It would dry rock-hard, but was easy to sand and surprisingly durable. Just needed super glue or wood glue, epoxy (or even PVA) rather than styrene cement. Took paint like a champ.

It's a great cheap alternative to the pricey aftermarket stuff, if you've got the time and the gumption to mess with it.

Cheers

Hi Greg;

       Oh My, you are bringing back lottsa memories. Yeah, I could do that, and have done that. Tha main gist here was the why of a shortage of marine (Anything) in most parts available. For instance. Did you know for those that Model Lake Ships ( Modern-from 1950 to 1994 inc.) there is virtually no place to get deck hardware necessary to those ships?

        This is what I mean, it's either buy Resin, or Brass, or make your own. Okay, for the sake of conversation. What if the person I speak of has Never built a ship Before, out of Plastic or any other viable Material, that most modelers take for granted? Maybe he's just started building models of a specific type and doesn't know the how,why, what, when, or where to acquire the knowledge or the substantial group of parts He or She will need for the project.

       I was lucky in that I was always an inventive Lad and could visualize what was needed and make it out of something. Not everyone can do that ! My Derriere still warms at the thought of the 8 foot oak 6" dowel my foster father needed for a home project. That, which I promptly turned into seven very detailed W.W.2 Submarines from all sides in the same wood. Oh, I also used Dice and Trim Nails and "Hair Wire" ( That's what he called it) For rails and stanchions and other features. Brass tube for periscopes etc..

       Yes, I lost my allowance for two months. That Oak was selected for it's super fine grain for his project. Why the worry? He was what was known then as a "Tool and Die Maker". He had to sometimes work this wood into molds "Male", for which the casting "Females" would be then made. I set his project back by two months! The Derriere warming was caused by the application of an item known as the "P" Paddle. Set strokes for the offense and set force for the same. Yes, I know Paddling today is considered Child Abuse. Funny, I have never been accused of criminal activities or knowingly brought harm to someone or took what wasn't mine! So I guess it worked!

        Okay, No lectures on Childrearing. This is about model parts! I found out that some companies in Model Railroading are now gearing up for just this. As to how or when I don't know.This was the news I recieved at our Train Museum/Club show. Catchya Later!