I always appreciate learning about new & better ways to accomplish a given task on the layout. 

Thanks for this very well organized step-by-step method.

 great tut on how to make molds out of inexcepensive products

I have made Molds from Rubber for 40 years and have lately acquired some great Rocks I want to make some 15 inch tall X 8 Rock molds for my RGS as well as a dozen other smaller molds.

It was going to cost me about $40.00 to $60.00 in Woodland Scenics Latex rubber. Not to mention 12 days to 2 weeks of coating and re-coating to get the molds thick enough to hold the shapes I want want to use.

I love the method shown in this issue and plan to use it to build some fantastic Mountains.

Dan

 I have always thought there might be a way to use tube silicone to make rock molds but I always figured it would be too messy and a pain to work with and getting it where you wanted it would be the big problem. its great to see someone has worked it out and shared the findings, thank you for sharing this.

Ray

Thank you for the kind words gentlemen.

It can get messy, Ray, particularly with the water. I've since made a few small molds without the dryer sheet and they are holding up well. By small I mean two or three inches and not very deep.

Roy

Roy - thanks for a great article! It makes me very inspired.

However - my English lets me down: What exactly is a dryer sheet?

Erik Wejryd, Sweden

Eric, dryer sheet is the anti-static material that is put into the clothing dryer to eliminate static.

Roy

I wonder if this is a common brand around the world? 

http://www.bounceeverywhere.com/en_US/products/original/detail.jsp?secti...

 Brilliant, Roy,

Beats the heck out of the old liquid latex method!

This is the type of artical that I want to read! 

Thank-you

Thanks for this one!  I'm definately going to give it a try!

Many thanks Roy for the excellent article on making rock moulds. This is the sort of stuff I really like because it is independent of scale and prototype. On top of that the method is easy and cheap.

Only thing was that I hadn't heard of dryer sheets here in Australia, but then googled them and found out. Don't know if they are widely available here but no doubt will be able to scrounge some from somewhere.

Tony

Victoria, Australia

Tony, if for some reason you can't get them in Australia you can use cheese cloth or any other thin porous material.

Roy

Product all the time. Nylon Stockings or If you can find the cheep Panty Hose in a plastic Egg called L-EGGS. they cost about 1 Dollar a pare here in the states and can be cut into 6 X 6 inch squares. One pair of stockings can make 12 or more reinforcement backings for the molds. I have used them for years and I usually put a stretched out section between the second and third layers and then another between the 4th & 5th and it actually gives the mold more flex. That was when I used the latex rubber that woodland scenics sells for making molds.

I will do the same thing with the silicon caulking to give the same flex to the new caulk. Best thing about Panty Hose is it is cheaper than even the dryer sheets if your married and your wife wears them. My wife does and she tears at least 1 a week so I have a constant supply of them.

Dan

First rate, this article and subject matter was "5 stars" all the way.  I'm responsible for a craft program at a children's camp and one of our craft departments is plaster plaques with Bible verses and plaster animals.  I have found over the years that the molds made of silicone are much more durable than any other type of mold that we have.

Excellent article, nicely illustrated and includes good step-by-step instructions.

Wonderful article and perfect timing as I was looking for methods to do my cliffs.  Thank you!

One question though: was there a technical reason for using clear as opposed to white or any other precolored silicon?

Thanks again!

Ian

No technical reason, Ian. White silicone could be used. I like the clear because I use plaster of paris to make my rocks and the little bits that might remain in the mold edges just show up better after removing the casting.

Roy

New techniques are always welcome and cheaper is better in most cases.  I have never considered kitchen caulk.  It seems to be more time-consuming and less capable of picking up fine detail than rtv rubber with casting plaster but it certainly deserves a niche in the list of alternatives.

Artarms

Baby wipes are pretty much the same fabric as dryer sheets. Tencel is the brand name of the non woven fabric base. 

I've never tried the molding compound, Art, but from my research and reading forum posting I suspect that the silicone method is much faster and much less expensive. The price of a small jar of molding compound here in my area of Canada is over $20.00, hence the search for an alternative.  I've made castings in as little as twelve hours after first forming the mold. The key to fine detail is the firm pressure needed when patting the silicone into the master.

Roy

Another prefect timekeeping comment! I picked up about a dozen nice rocks to use for rock molds and this seems like the method for making my molds. I'll be testing it out next week sometime.

Why didn't I think of that!  Very clever use of regular household products.  Great idea, thanks.  Russ

 Mr. Buchanan

This is the kind of article I want to read.  Inventive way to use every day materials to build and scenic a model railroad without emptying my wallet.  Thanks

John Ragan 

Nice article. I will have to try this soon.

Good one.

Thomas

Nicely done, and with great step-by step photos.

One question I have is whether there are any alternatives to dryer sheets. I don't generally use those because of skin irritation problems. I was thinking that a similar fibrous and porous kind of paper or material would probably work just fine.

Hi Steamdonkey.

Any fine open weave material should work. Ladies nylons have been suggested by other members and cheesecloth would also be an alternative. The reason I suggested dryer sheets is simply because they are readily available to be recycled.

Hope this helps.

Roy

Roy,

Thanks for the ideas. I think I am going to have to do this, since I want to get some unusual rock forms like basalt columns.

Best,
Adam

Roy...A wonderful piece! You've taken a technique (rock molds), simplified the materials & proceedure and given me a "Smacks-forehead" moment. Thanks for taking the time & effort to put this in readable form with most (if not ALL) of the kinks worked out for the fumble-fingered scenery sculptor. I'll have to "graffiti" your name on a cliff somwhere, in tribute!  Bob C.

Thank you all for the kind words. Bob, I also did the head smack when I first found out about this method. My first two or three weren't anything to write home about, but after that I was charging down the track.

Roy