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So I'm looking for essentially the most efficient, and also leaning towards the most simple, technique to cast my own resin bases.

I've made 5 32mm bases that I want to copy to use for the rest of my army. I'm fine mixing and pouring the resin for the bases, but it's the mold step that has me stumped. I wonder if silicon caulking or hot glue would work? I hear that latex is not good for doing lots and lots of casts like I'm intending. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Unless there are other issues in play - I would say just go ahead and use a regular RTV silicone. Something like an Alumilite starter kit from one of the crafty stores should have enough AB silicone to get started.

The molds are easy enough to do for bases as a one piece open face mold (stick your masters down to a sheet of glass - box them - silicone...done).

Caulking shrinks a good bit, and while it works - you will need to build it up in several layers to minimize the impact of the Shrinkage. You can thin air cured silicone with mineral spirits (and a few other things...but spirits is fairly safe and easy to source). Paint several very thin coats and allow them to cure between coats. This will ensure you get no bubbles and also allows the shrinking to happen on thinner layers (helps to reduce the overall impact). After you have a descent amount of build - you can apply a few layers of unthinned over the top to build up to a durable thickness for the mold.

Hot glue is an option - though it is a poor option. You have to find the correct glue sticks that have the needed flexibility when cool to allow for casts to be pulled from them - and getting bubble free molds out of hot materials is a PITA. Great when you need toxic oozes though.

But yeah - Alumilite starter kit would be what I suggest to get things going. There are better products, but ease of access for that (available at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, AC Moore, most hobby shops...) make it a good starting point. Comes with a bit of resin too.

Well that was perfect, thanks. I've only seen latex kits at my local AC Moore but maybe I'll just order online.