REJOICE! woohoo!

[catshem]

I bet it's some reaction depending on the plastic. I stick to MSC as long as I can get it. It's been the most faithful thing to me... other than those times I failed at removing my makeup work but I think that's more cleaner error than the MSC. Xalez still has messed up, melty looking legs that need replacing. This is why she's always wearing pants or long dresses.

[Dirili]

Well I do have a can of msc on the way so I think I can afford to wait a little while and test that out too and see which one seems to work out better. Although without doing all the layers on the whole doll with one or the other I probably can't make as much of an accurate assessment...

Speaking of humidity and chemical reactions... odd thing here as I've been playing with making silicone molds and warmer temperatures and low humidity are supposed to speed curing. Strangely enough though the silicone has been curing faster on the humid days instead. All 3 times I've tried it's been about the same temp and we had the a/c on, but that one day that was far more humid, ug, it started to cure so fast I couldn't even pour it all out before it started to thicken so it didn't creep into all the cracks right. Supposed to take 4 hours to cure, so setting should not have started nearly that soon.

So that makes me think that sometimes humidity might actually somehow be good for drying certain chemicals even if it sounds counter-intuitive or the instructions say otherwise.

[DollyKim]

I wish I had someone who lived closer to me to help out with mold making and casting. I'm getting closer to making heads and dolls I want to sell. I've experimented and had mixed results so I feel I could use direction.

[SetsunaKou]

I wish I had someone who lived closer to me to help out with mold making and casting. I'm getting closer to making heads and dolls I want to sell. I've experimented and had mixed results so I feel I could use direction.

Kim-san, a good way to experiment until you're satisfied with the results is using composimold!

It's a reusable molding compound, so if at first, you're not happy, just melt it down and try again!

http://www.composimold.com

It's not that expensive and the small 4oz sample jar will definitely be enought to be able to make 1/6 heads.

I've been using it for years now and almost always happy with the results and what's best is that, if you want a temporary mold to try or use just once, just cast it, then if you need to make a different mold, melt it down, and use it again! I've melted it down hundreds of times and it still works fine. So, no unnecessary expense apart from the resin/plaster/whatever you're pouring in to try. The Composimold itself can be melted down and used over and over, to try to achieve your desired results.
The only thing to watch out for with it, is that, since it is 'temperature' sensitive, the resin or whatever you pour into it, can't get too hot or the composimold will melt around it.
But that rarely happens and it's hardly ever been a problem for me. (Just when I made the mold walls too thin and used epoxy as my resin. )

I've used regular 5minute epoxy (2 part glue) when in a pinch, and that does get quite hot when mixed, but if the walls of the Composimold are thick enough, it doesn't melt it. I've made lots of figures and buttons and gems that way.

The other molding compound I use is the silicone 'Alley Goop.' Again, I LOVE it, but it's not reusable. and it's really expensive. However, it creates a permanent mold that you can use over and over for years. ^^ It's a really nice mold, but it's a permanent type, so it's mainly for things you know you'd want to make over and over again.

[knittnkitten]

re-humidity and setting up, the moisture might cause the chemical reaction that causes it to set to work faster. like a catalyst. I think.

[DollyKim]

I have a small Alumalite casting kit, Cast-n-craft resin and mold release, and Amazing Mold Putty. I've previously played with the AMP and got some useful push molds until they tore, I also have some Sculpey Mold Maker. Most of my positives seem to come out with bubbles or missing parts as if the stuff didn't even get in the right place.

Sometimes you can only experiment so much and need someone who's done it to point out where you're not getting it.

[SetsunaKou]

I have a small Alumalite casting kit, Cast-n-craft resin and mold release, and Amazing Mold Putty. I've previously played with the AMP and got some useful push molds until they tore, I also have some Sculpey Mold Maker. Most of my positives seem to come out with bubbles or missing parts as if the stuff didn't even get in the right place.

Sometimes you can only experiment so much and need someone who's done it to point out where you're not getting it.

You're right---air bubbles are always a problem----what I do I pop the bubbles and keep 'pushing' with a wand (old skinny paintbrush handle/etc) onto the resin until it seems like the airbubbles are all gone. Just keep studying the mold/resin and sort of clunking it down on your table (like you'd do with batter) to get it all settled at the bottom. Then you can add more in as needed.

For the missing parts----that ALWAYS happens with ears, extremities, etc. So, what I do to make sure it's as into the mold as deep as possible is first keep shoving/pushing the resin/compound into the mold parts that 'miss' usually, again with a skinny stick/wand.

The main problem is getting the item out without ruining the mold if you're doing a full 3D one shot (not top and bottom molds) molding. That's where the ComposiMold is so good-----it's okay to destroy it as the positive comes out! ^^

What are you trying to mold? Heads with female neck hole parts? Or with male neck parts?
Could they be solid or do you want them hollow?

[SetsunaKou]

re-humidity and setting up, the moisture might cause the chemical reaction that causes it to set to work faster. like a catalyst. I think.

You're probably right about that, knittnkitten-san. ^^
It's got to be something along those lines, since the sealants I use always dry within about 2 minutes of spraying! Ten at the very most, but 99% of the time, it's within minutes!

[Dirili]

DollyKim, I know it's a longshot, but where are you? I'm in Maryland, and I would love to have someone to play with crafting too... Was thinking about posting and seeing if anyone in the area wanted to experiment together.

oh oops sorry, I just read your location again and saw the California part hehe. At first I only noticed the time and space thing.

*sigh* sorry

[SetsunaKou]

Finally got in the new Disney Store Aurora doll----she's breathtakingly gorgeous!!! She's my all-time favorite Aurora head sculpt/face because she actually LOOKS just like the film animation!




Of course, I replaced her gown, because it's so icky in every way (Color, design, flounce, etc) and put her head on the older bodies with the heeled feet. (The new fully jointed body is so.....floppy, came bow-legged, and I don't like flat feet, so....off with her head! :laughs: )

She and the 'Designer' Aurora we made last year are my two favorites of all the Sleeping Beauty dolls---both have the same pretty headsculpt, just a different paint job.
I just love dolls that look off to the side, so I can't help but love this new one in particular!


I have to sit down one day and take photos of all the Aurora dolls so we can see the comparison looks of all the various types/looks from around the world! The Japanese Aurora dolls (3 types --- Sekiguchi, Tomy and Runa) are beautifully made and superior boxed like gift items, but the faces are just so-so on two of them--Tomy & Runa. (The Sekiguchi is very pretty, but.....not perfectly 'Aurora.' She's nice and all, but....not my favorite look.) The Runa Aurora is super jointed like Obitsu/Volks, but her hair is molded and her face has a shocked look on it. (Too wide eyes, I think. ^^ Could easily fix with a nicer faceup, though.)
The Chinese Aurora is very elegant and pretty but sort of looks like Barbie----just like the original Mattel USA Auroras from the 90s and 00s do. It's funny to see the evolution of Mattel's Auroras! From a 'Barbie' look (I think they really just used a Barbie head on their early ones.) face to a more animated look, to the current big head animated look! I think there have been about 5-6 disparate Mattel headsculpts to Aurora so far.
The United Kingdom Auroras (Disney Store UK and Simba) are also really different! The Disney Store UK one is pretty---reminds me of the Sekiguchi one---very fancy and with definite medieval English influences to her gown, crown and 'sceptre', but the Simba one is kind of ugly and cheaply made. ^^;; I think she's my least favorite 1/6 Aurora!
The Dutch and Italian Auroras are small---about 7"-8" and quite interesting to see! The Dutch one has molded hair but is' a doll otherwise. The Italian one is nicer but she's made of JOINTED porcelain and creaks when you move her limbs. :laughs: Then the older US Disney Theme Park Aurora is super cutesy and chubby faced.
The Tonner Auroras are beautiful, but more realistic looking than animation and tall --- 16" and 22".


Maybe for my birthday week, I'll get to photographing and posting them all!
Anyway, one shot with Prince Phillip to leave off with: