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Molding and Casting a White Crappie the Final part (The Casting)
By admin | July 15, 2008
Here is our Final steps in casting the blank.
After the PVA is Dry and the mold is ready to go.
We brush on the Gelcoat. The Gelcoat is your detail coat so make sure there are no bubbles.
I will be using a different resin for the fins so just cover the body.
We dont want this to be too thick of a coat, just enough to give us a good surface.
After the gelcoat is set we mix the resin for the fins.
This is just polyester resin with fiberglass chop added.
I dont buy fiberglass chop pre cut. I prefer to use fiberglass matting cut down to size.
This gives me more control over strand size.
This is put inside the mold and worked up into the fins. Keep it thin as it is just a detail coat like the gelcoat.
Next we add more polyester resin and chop to the inside of the mold, I also add the support block at this time.
After this sets we are ready to join the halves.
Get your clamps ready!
Pour in some more resin and chop and brush it up onto the sides of the mold and the fins. This will be the “Glue” that bonds the two sides.
Then put the halves together quickly, and clamp it together.
Only but the clamps on the edges of the mold and not on the fish itself, the pressure and heat will distort the casting if you do this.
After the resin inside sets yet is still pliable I start to open the mold.
I use a screw driver and work around the edge of the mold.
If it doesn’t separate easily DONT force it.
Run it under hot water and carefully work it open.
And there is our casting.
All we need to do now, is clean the seams, trim the flashing, do any rebuilding with apoxie and paint the fish.
HA! you thought we were done!
Here is the casting cleaned up
Here are Videos of the last step in the process.
I added some music this time, partly to liven it up and partly because i like a moron left my radio on while recording.
Thanks all and enjoy
Part 4
Part 5
Thanks all!
Ill follow up in the future with a painting tutorial on this fish.
Have fun and Good luck!
Topics: taxidermy |
December 31st, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Thank you! I’m in the process of casting my first fish ( a black crappie) and this has been amazing. Thanks again!
March 17th, 2009 at 8:47 am
amazing, best, wonderful!!!