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So I hit up the local hardware store and they suggested this as a good way to make cheap and easy miniatures.

Is this a good way to go? The latex is apparantly really flexible meaning I can do one part molds for simple models (think Space Marine head, body, legs, but no arms)

Any tips for a first time caster? Cheers

First, recasting GW miniatures is illegal.

But if you were to make something yourself and wanted to copy it, 1 part molds are not that great for anything but insignia. One side has to be totally flat. I have done this for custom greenstuff ornamentation before and it's ok. Whole parts not so much. You need 2 part molds for that at least.

 Rented Tritium wrote:
1 part molds are not that great for anything but insignia. One side has to be totally flat.

This is not entirely true. You can use one part moulds for figurines, but they can't have any cut-through areas. This is why concrete garden gnomes tend to have masses of flowers or grass filling in the space between their legs.

The bigger problem if you're looking to cast in any large amount is that latex wears out quickly, so you will need to replace the moulds fairly frequently. Resin will dry out the latex and make it brittle, and you lose a little detail with every cast.

If it's a brush-on latex, it's also quite time-consuming to make the mould.


For something like a space marine (because as mentioned, casting a space marine would be illegal) you would be far better off with a silicon like smooth-sil.

Edited by insaniak

I tried to use that paint on stuff to replicate my sculpted shoulder pads for my Doom Eagles... And it's really bad for that kind of stuff. What you want is two-part silicon rubber. Once I broke down and got some Oomoo 25 rubber and some SmoothCast resin, I was able to get some good results. Search the modeling tutorials forum for Blackhand's Casting tutorial thread. Lots of great info there.

Removed by poster due to inaccurate information. Sorry.

tomcat31 wrote:
Erm. Actually, re casting GW stuff is only illegal if you plan to, or actually sell it. Copyright law allows for making copies for personal usage.

In the US, this is a commonly held misconception. Copyright law allows for copying of certain things for personal use. Miniatures aren't one of them. And the US's 'Fair Use' clause doesn't exist in other countries.

This has all been hashed out ad nauseum in the past, and this isn't the place to have the same tired old arguments again. Whatever you believe on the legality of it all, Dakka does not allow discussion of the casting of miniatures that you don't own the copyright to.