casting round balls
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ontarget
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Very nice Bluehawk. I'm impressed! Have you considered selling some of your figures?
Where did you get the molds?
Where did you get the molds?
Thanks Target.....I did sell them in hobby stores many years back but no longer...not enough interest (they are lead alloy and this is California).
If you or anyone else is interested, I can cast and put together a set which includes the soldier and rammer (2 pieces)...the cannon (4 pieces)...cannon balls...powder barrels (cast resin already painted)...gunpowder (granulated charcoal)...and ground cover (colored sand).
You supply the wood base, glue, solder, and paint...you can use expoxy instead of solder if you choose.
$25 + $5 shipping priority mail.
*Specify if you want the Napoleon or Parrott rifle*
The Napoleon cannon wheels will be the same spoked wheels as the Parrott rifle. The Napoleon mold won't cast them reliably anymore but the Parrott's fit and look good!
The soldiers are 54mm and the cannons are pretty correct for that scale...I also have some Medieval knights but never made an example to exhibit but can take some pics of them if anyone likes that time period.
There are no real directions except: file/sand the parts smooth that need it or to fit ...soak them in cheap vinegar for a minute to "etch" the metal...rinse with water...when dry, paint with your fav acrylic or epoxy model paints. (apply a white base coat first)
The ground cover "sand" is easy...just lay a thick, even layer of white glue on the base board...cover with a thick layer of "sand" then dump it off...it leaves a nice even layer on the board!
Super glue (thick) or epoxy works good for gluing the figures to the base board.
That's all there is to it!
If you want to see larger pics for detail just send me your email address.
I have a line on picking up a mold for another figure...the "cannoneer"...pulling the lanyard/firing the cannon...will make that available, if I get it, at a special price for anyone that orders a cannon set!
I purchased these molds many years ago from a guy up in Oregon or Washington state...don't remember exactly which at the moment.
(
If you or anyone else is interested, I can cast and put together a set which includes the soldier and rammer (2 pieces)...the cannon (4 pieces)...cannon balls...powder barrels (cast resin already painted)...gunpowder (granulated charcoal)...and ground cover (colored sand).
You supply the wood base, glue, solder, and paint...you can use expoxy instead of solder if you choose.
$25 + $5 shipping priority mail.
*Specify if you want the Napoleon or Parrott rifle*
The Napoleon cannon wheels will be the same spoked wheels as the Parrott rifle. The Napoleon mold won't cast them reliably anymore but the Parrott's fit and look good!
The soldiers are 54mm and the cannons are pretty correct for that scale...I also have some Medieval knights but never made an example to exhibit but can take some pics of them if anyone likes that time period.
There are no real directions except: file/sand the parts smooth that need it or to fit ...soak them in cheap vinegar for a minute to "etch" the metal...rinse with water...when dry, paint with your fav acrylic or epoxy model paints. (apply a white base coat first)
The ground cover "sand" is easy...just lay a thick, even layer of white glue on the base board...cover with a thick layer of "sand" then dump it off...it leaves a nice even layer on the board!
Super glue (thick) or epoxy works good for gluing the figures to the base board.
That's all there is to it!
If you want to see larger pics for detail just send me your email address.
I have a line on picking up a mold for another figure...the "cannoneer"...pulling the lanyard/firing the cannon...will make that available, if I get it, at a special price for anyone that orders a cannon set!
I purchased these molds many years ago from a guy up in Oregon or Washington state...don't remember exactly which at the moment.
(
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ontarget
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Bluehawk Definitely interested but the discressionary funds are a little tight at the moment.
Had to pass up a .45 cal CVA front stuffer (dont know model) for 130.00 at the pawn shop today. Hope it stays put for a little while
Had to pass up a .45 cal CVA front stuffer (dont know model) for 130.00 at the pawn shop today. Hope it stays put for a little while
ThomasT
Member
Hey Bluehawk those tin soldiers are impressive. I used to have a neighbor that molded figures and other stuff. He was from England and must have been a popular modeler there. He said had cast a solid gold tank for king hussain of jordan. It was written up in model mags over there. He had two centrifuge machines and showed me how they worked and how he carved the rubber mold disk. I can't for the life of me remember his name though.
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scrat
Member
Are those cast from the Hard rubber molds. i tried it once could not get it right. When casting bullets you need to heat the mold to get the lead to flow right and fill the mold. When you poured the lead in the rubber mold it would cool quickly and harden up not filling out the mold. How did you get them to work correctly.
You keep casting and casting and casting until at least one figure comes out right! :banghead:
The hardest thing to cast are spoked wheels...with the RTV rubber molds it's not too bad because you can drill tiny vent holes into it to help the alloy flow...the Napoleon cannon is a metal mold and although holes are drilled the spokes won't fill out anymore.
I spent over 3 hours (a week ago) constantly pouring/casting in the Napoleon mold and not one wheel was useable!
The Parrott rifle mold is made from RTV...not exactly a soft mold...pretty tough mold, but you have to be careful with alloy temps so you don't burn it.
The hardest thing to cast are spoked wheels...with the RTV rubber molds it's not too bad because you can drill tiny vent holes into it to help the alloy flow...the Napoleon cannon is a metal mold and although holes are drilled the spokes won't fill out anymore.
I spent over 3 hours (a week ago) constantly pouring/casting in the Napoleon mold and not one wheel was useable!
The Parrott rifle mold is made from RTV...not exactly a soft mold...pretty tough mold, but you have to be careful with alloy temps so you don't burn it.
OP
OP
ontarget
Member
Blue, the cva is a percussion rifle.
scrat
Member
i got to get my mold out again then. it was such a pain in the azzz 700 degree lead and rubber mold.
qajaq59
Member
I remember making the tin soldiers out of plaster of paris , which was tough enough. But to do it with lead has to be a real bear to do. You patiences certainly outdoes mine. Sounds like a neat hobby though.
The end results are worth the trouble...I don't think there are that many folks today making these on a "hand made" basis because of the patience required. I could be wrong though.
There are better alloys than WW's or linotype for casting these but it's too pricey...linotype captures all the fine details of the molds and that's good enough for me!
There are better alloys than WW's or linotype for casting these but it's too pricey...linotype captures all the fine details of the molds and that's good enough for me!
scrat
Member
this is the stuff to get for casting soldiers.
http://www.rotometals.com/Pewter-Alloys-s/23.htm
http://www.rotometals.com/Pewter-Alloys-s/23.htm
Scrat
Thanks...I know about and have cast with pewter in the past, and as you can see it's $13/pound vs. linotype $2.50/pound
I don't think anyone will want to pay 6 times the price for a pewter cannon and soldier!
Besides...not much nostalgia when you compare lead-tin soldier to the sound of "pewter soldier"!
On the other hand, if anyone wants a cannon set cast in pewter, I would be happy to do it with a 50% deposit.
Price would be $100/set (that's bare minimum what I could charge)
Thanks...I know about and have cast with pewter in the past, and as you can see it's $13/pound vs. linotype $2.50/pound
I don't think anyone will want to pay 6 times the price for a pewter cannon and soldier!
Besides...not much nostalgia when you compare lead-tin soldier to the sound of "pewter soldier"!
On the other hand, if anyone wants a cannon set cast in pewter, I would be happy to do it with a 50% deposit.
Price would be $100/set (that's bare minimum what I could charge)
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