Join the discussion on the following article:
Video: How to pour Hydrocal rock molds
Great tip. Just remember not to clean the cup and mold in the kitchen sink, as the hydrocal may clog the drain.
I’ve used styrofoam peanuts and they work just as well.
Rock castings that are flat on the back look like bumps on a pickle or a engorged tick on a dog when place on the layout. Very un-natural looking. By using a light weight mold with a lot of flexibility, you can wait for the Hydrocal to just start setting and then place it on the layout, conforming to the edges, shapes and contours of the sub-structure. Let it set / harden and then peal off the mold for a realistic, topo-conforming rock out-cropping.
If you used the measuring cup for the hydrocal and the sherbet tub to mix when you are through just let the excess set up and flex the tub over the trash can or your container for rocks.
Nice tip Cody. I also like John’s tip above about not cleaning up in the kichen sink.
Where were you with this tip a month ago Cody?!? LOL! I destroyed some fine castings because I didn’t use wet water as a release agent. But now I have plenty of rock out croppings and “another” excuse to lock myself in the train room…
Good tip Cody
Flexible rubber bowls with a rounded end spatula work very well in mixing in the materials. Ask your dentist about buying a flexible rubber bowl. They come in different sizes and they clean up easy.
Excellent suggestion…THANK YOU!
Great keep up the good woork
very good tip i never thought of it
Thank you for these tips - I will just prefer to do the hydrocal and water mixing in a rubber cup, and let the remaining mix dry. That will make the cleaning much easier. Surplus material may be crushed and used as rubbles.
Great tip.
The best part of modeling is the quest for different ways to do things and seeing things you see everyday as something that could help you model things even better
Neat
Very good tip. Wish I had seen this sooner. I always make a mess while making this rock castings. Although I use plaster.
I’ve used kitty litter instead of sand and that worked fine also.Had to improvised.
I knew those cats would come in handy some day.
I searched for a video like this because I am getting ready to pour a bunch of castings made from molds. I am glad I did. I did not anticipate the rocking mold problem. With a bunch of molds, the sandbox idea can turn the production process into an assembly line.