How Miniatures are Born

[@stephenmassam6584]

Thank you for this very informative video. I have been spin casting for some years now using an alternative cold cure rubber system on a very small scale, and was very impressed with your home made approach. Spin casting is just one of a number of things I do here in the remote Falkland Islands, and as an experienced taxidermist and sculptor for 40+ years I'm very familiar with the use of cold cure silicone rubbers of various kind and mould making, so this is why I opted for the cold cure rubber method. However, over more recent years the demand for my pewter work has grown and having now seen your setup (almost as messy as mine) I'm now inspired to look further into making my own vulcanising system. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@madmoosebaits]

This was an awesome video for me. I am going the DIY route for my fishing lures and this helped a ton

[@TomMasonSculptor]

Such a great video. Thank you very much for sharing your process and showing alternative to buying big expensive machinery!

[@WarGamerGirl]

I love seeing stuff like this. It's always fascinating to see how stuff is made.

[@Tennethums1]

First thing I thought when I saw the "spinner" was, "Drill press". For those looking to make one of those simply buy an old drill press and use the top part that has the same motor/belt assembly. You'd have to attach the circular plate to the top of the pulley system but that would be easy enough. You'd also have the added benefit of multi speed and reverse.

[@Angus_McGyver]

very interesting! I would like to see more of how the pattern is molded into the flat disc. I am only familiar with pouring liquid silicone or something around the patterns.

[@cleetus1973]

I don't really know anything about Miniatures or do anything with them but I watched your vid anyway and found it really interesting. Thank you.

[@petermitchell7914]

I had no idea it was done this way! No wonder miniatures are expensive! This was informative AND helpful. Thanks so much.

[@jakemaverick911]

That was truly awesome! thank you for doing all that and putting it up....recently been looking into such things myself, but with the cost of the machine sit was never going to be a realistic option for me- but now you got me thinking! TBH the best i could personally hope for was just hand pouring/ gravity fed molds, only done resin so far but even those metal melting pots are ahrd to come by and expensive! maybe one day...

[@rhyflermaerch]

Its an inch deep when closed, but the cavity is an inch and a quarter. The top has an inset so it seals nicely if you can't get it all the way closed. Doesn't smell much when cooking as long as you close it all the way. With pewter I can remelt my mistakes and cast again.

[@DaMastaCheef]

Wow that was pretty cool! I've played mini games for years and never had any clue as to how they were cast. Thanks!

[@leinadreign3510]

I want that picture in your back! I need it! Best picture I have ever seen ^^ Where are the tacos?

[@rundinj]

Very nice, also nice Absolute Sandman in the back

[@rhyflermaerch]

Built from scratch winging it as we went. I plan to do a more detailed video of some of this stuff since there is a lot of interest.

[@rhyflermaerch]

I am getting around 600rpm. The Lee pots do corrode, but still seem the best option. They last a little more than a year are are easy to recover from if they do leak.

[@rhyflermaerch]

Molds last thousands of spins. I have acquired some molds that were made in the 80s that still run fine.

[@rhyflermaerch]

They can be made of several things: Two-part epoxy putty like kneadatite or procreate, milliput, pewter, copper, brass. If you are using low-temp silicon molds you can use some plastics or 3d prints. Often masters are combinations of these things. Brass and pewter for weapons and putty for flesh and clothes, for example.

[@avenger038]

love this video !!! awesome stuff and great set up !!!

[@beanboozer]

So I noticed after looking around online. The online stores I bought it from is kinda expensive, I think I paid 300nok for 150gr of pewter and a melting pan, but I've seen UK stores with better offer for bigger amounts. Lately I've casted pewter in air-dry molds and delft clay sand, and I think the clay actually gets better result. My goal is to sell jewelry, so I need molds that doesn't cost too much.

[@washaway]

making my first resin mold this week, this has helped me a ton thank you.

[@MadiLush]

My table is a disaster too, but I could pick things out blindfolded... I swear. lol...

[@Pete-from-Tn]

Would love to see more info on how you built your spin casting machine? I plan on building one within the next few weeks. And could sure use any help or links to others that's done the same thing.

[@Undeadbit]

I agree, this is the video of the year man.

[@chrisdixonstudios]

Thank you, i am trying to set my son up with similar system for different products in epoxy.

[@rhyflermaerch]

Cool! Let me know how it goes or if I can help.

[@xenacats]

That was interesting and fun, thanks for posting. Loved the first person casting...felt like I was playing Skyrim for a bit there :-P

[@johndonnellan5794]

What is the cost per figure if you have original master figures to make a mold taking into account the cost to make a rubber Mold ? thanks this has been very informative

[@RivynPlays]

Dude! How many molds do you have?! thats insane xD

[@TheBones1970]

Would be interested to know more on your set-up please? Size of Motor/RPM etc etc? Shame the camera didn't pick up the shots of how pulley mechanism was set up. Great work. Cheers

[@Panhead49EL]

Used to go to the Ral Partha factory in Cincinnati back in the mid-80s when I was a D&D playing-high school kid. Really neat to see it can be done at home. Any plans to show how you make the initial figures that are used to make the molds? Thanks for posting the vids.

[@PsyckoSama]

You sir are a prince... now to find out how much to have someone build me the vulcanizer and the plates...

[@FlakZone]

awesome vid. very interesting to watch even if i never actually do it. just seeing the process has been... educational. so thanks for that. subbed and am keen to see what else you get up to.

[@rhyflermaerch]

The disk blanks are pre-made and then I make a mold using them. Is that what you're asking?

[@Pete-from-Tn]

What did you use for the shalft? Guessing you used Pillar blocks top and bottom? I thinking about using 1/4" plate for both of my plates top and bottom do you think thats good enough? Looking forward to getting this build and start pouring.

[@rareu4532]

Muste be very fun to make this kind of work!! The dreams comes true for us Warhammer nerds hahahahah... I have always think how the hell could the figure be so good, and here is the answer =)...

[@rundinj]

Two questions first what kinda start up cost did you have? I know you had an in with the machine shop side but ballpark. And second would you consider doing a video on your green models? Do you make your own protopieces or do you buy them?

[@Caustictherapy]

Very cool and interesting vieo .. one question ... I know you quickly went over the vulcaniser but hew do you creat the molds from the blanks ? I take it you buy the rubber moulds in, fit them in the vulcaniser sandwitch your sculpts betweenthem then cook the molds so they melt round the sculpts then you take out and vent/gate/channel them etc .. am I right ? have you done a video on this process in its own righ ?

[@rhyflermaerch]

+Caustictherapy I did a slightly more in depth video on that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWG0eKSEgrWNgNk

[@rhyflermaerch]

I usually pay $12-15US per pound of pewter in the US. Since pewter relies on tin, and the price of tine fluctuates wildly the price is always moving. Just a few short years ago I was paying $6 per pound.

[@rhyflermaerch]

A dimmer won't work because its a capacitor start motor. If I switched motor types it might, but then I'd have other issues with the constant on/off. These troubles could also be because I am using an ancient motor. Might clear up when i rebuild the thing.

[@rhyflermaerch]

@minitzonthesun You cannot in a normal mold. The paint would boil and make a mess. You might be able to do it in some of the nicem low temp molds, however, I wouldn't try it. Your best bet there is an RTV, or room-temperature mold that you pour by hand and let sit overnight and then pour resin into instead of using a centrifugal machine.

[@beanboozer]

I'm currently a Newbie at this, I recently started making pewter jewelry in my kitchen, using air dry clay and oven baked jewelry to press into the mold (it's a start), but I was wondering: Where do you buy cheap pewter and mold material? I've been thinking of silicone molds, but I'm worried the hot pewter will melt it. As for the bigger machines and melting pot, I'll get that later when I'm better this.

[@rhyflermaerch]

I am completely self taught. I have always been 'mechanical' so that helped quite a bit. Lots of trial and error!

[@otacon451]

This video was excetionally helpful. I do have a question, is there any way to beat Smooth-On prices for mold making materials ($100+ / gallon)? I'm just not sure if there is a large market for what I'm making so it doesn't make sense for me to invest too much in the materials. Google is saying plaster might be my best bet-- do you have any thoughts?

[@cardyfreak]

This is superb! Nice one for doing it all yourself, that's a cool setup you've got going there! If you need any plumbing doing ill exchange services for necromunda style miniatures lol! I live in England mind so place might be flooded by the time I get there.

[@videosbypelle]

Is it the pr-2 or pr-3 type of mold that you use? Have you tried the mold discs from contenti? If so, which have you tried and which do you think would work best for 25mm scale figures with medium-high detail level?

[@rhyflermaerch]

R98. Those other bits of metals in small percentages help flow and shrinkage as it cools.

[@rhyflermaerch]

Thousands and thousands of spins. I have some molds from the early 90s.

[@donaldleggett]

That was awesome. Video of the year. I do have a couple of questions. Do you cast master in pewter? How many times do you spin a master to get the production castings? Also double posted to TMP...

[@paulgibbons2320]

Cool video. Very interesting.

[@RvBnerd618]

Dat Invader Zim poster at the begining. O_O ME GUSTA

[@rhyflermaerch]

You can buy smooth-on in smaller quantities. There is a $30 or so kit. Plaster doesn't sound like a good idea to me!

[@rhyflermaerch]

One of my other videos on mold vulcanizing covers how I do a mold from the start. I would link but youtube won't allow links in comments. Resin should work in spin-casting. You would probably gate the molds differently.

[@JohnGunter_Johnprime]

Thanks for making the video, very cool!

[@rhyflermaerch]

I use regular organic rubber from Conquest in California. Temperature-wise I don't think normal organic rubber will run that hot. Well, it probably will but the mold won't last long.

[@MasterOfDungeons]

GREAT video! many thanks for the new inspiration :-) In your opinion is it possibile use resin instead of pewter? to make something more similar to the classic plastic miniatures and more economic or please give me some advices on other materials what i must buy on smooth-on to build a mold like your one? there is a video where you build one of your mold from ZERO? thanks again

[@MachineLordZero]

How much do the different parts cost? Like, the setup, the rubber, the pewter bars, and so on.

[@a01011900z]

awesome tutorial and info session!

[@vanska64]

Great video, thanks for posting, I did just in my first RTV molds and casting 1/72 scale of Roman soldiers (a copy of caesar miniatures, of course, for own use). I would like to try a spinn casting, but I think it is too expensive / difficult to make a few ten/hundred (max) fiqures .. ... (hmm .. thinks) ...... well, on the other hand, how to separated the boys of men ....what they pay for their toys. Post more videos for centrifugal casting ,please, thanks a lot.

[@MuellerNick]

Oh, forgot ione question: That fancy wheel in the center, with the spokes: Is that for distributing the molten metal? I've seen one on the other vid, where the spokes are not strictly radial. Does that make a difference? Do they point in the direction the mold spins? Thanks!

[@donaldleggett]

@rhyflermaerch One more question..and I swear I'll leave you alone (for today anyways).. How tall is the vulc can? I'm assuming appox an inch high..and the top plate with the 3/16" insert applies the pressure for the average 1" high mold?

[@hobothehill]

Super neat video, I was looking at Roto metal's site and I was wondering which pewter mix do you find works best for miniatures casting and how does the percentage of the other metals like copper and antimony effect your finished miniatures? That might be a dumb question but I just always thought pewter was pewter. I suppose that's why I'm the one painting miniatures and not the one pouring them.

[@rhyflermaerch]

Mold blanks are $15-20 each. A pound of pewter goes from $10-15, and is your biggest expense besides initial startup costs for the machine and vulcanizer. The day to day doesn't cost much.

[@MuellerNick]

Great vids! Thanks a lot for your effort! I have a few questions: Master mold vs production mold: You do use a master mold, because your models aren't suited for high temperature? So if my models are say out of brass, I could directly go with a production mold (disregarding number of parts in that mold etc.). Right? 375 degrees: Is that Celsius or Fahrenheit? At about what RPM does your mold spin? Will have to look for a source of that rubber here ...

[@DiMoNico1981Swe]

ok, I have search after casting mashine but they are expensiv... I hope you upload more videos, is awsome to see figures borns =)

[@jakemaverick911]

thanks, nice page---just looking now---I'm intrigued by your 15mm sci fi, any chance you can put actual pics of minies up? been planning a tiberium wars diorama---so lot of custom scultping and converting planned! dunno if you know the computer game, but i dnt think they'll be what i'm looking for...15mm sci fi very hard to find though!

[@diaz5292]

Very cool video! Thanks!

[@1artguru]

Great material. Could you pass some info how fast is the spin? I would like to build one of those centrifugal casting tools.

[@rhyflermaerch]

6-700 rpm for my homebuilt machine.

[@1artguru]

@@rhyflermaerch Thank you!

[@andrewkay113]

I just have 2 short question if you could answer them please, the molds are re-useable until they depleet? And last how many figures apx do you get from a poind of pewter? Thanks

[@rhyflermaerch]

@donaldleggett I do cast my masters in pewter, I do all my casting in pewter. I run the master mold a dozen times or so. Enough to make a production mold and then some casts to set aside for safe keeping.

[@HSLaFever]

where do you get the rubber molds from that you use in your vulcanizer? do you pre-order them, or pour them?- thx

[@jeffbrown5394]

I'm interested in making a spin caster like this one; I don't have two grand for a used one. I'm thinking about using a drill press for the motor and spindles. I'm not sure the spindle would be strong enough to spin a large plate. can you decribe the plate spindle settup you've made here?

[@rhyflermaerch]

Yes, that makes sure the metal flows evenly.

[@Dr.Flint-Dibble]

Thank you. You helped me so much man.

[@desdemuedi]

Hey, this video is 100% awesome, You are really prO! I'm from Poland and I'd like to start some metal casting on my own but I faced a real problem. Maybe this is easy for You, but for me this is HORROR! :) What kind of alloy/metal do You use to cast miniatures? I was looking for some bismuth but the price is very high. Should I use lead, zinc alloy? Please help me! Best regards!

[@rhyflermaerch]

Sorry, a bunch of these were marked as spam, not by me, and I missed them. Low temp molds are cooked for 2-3 times as long.

[@roadkillontheweb]

Fantastic information! Thanks for sharing.

[@BlaiseMibeck]

I learned something new -- Thanks!

[@SgtOddballz]

Nice video! I learned a lot just seeing this video...I really appreciate the knowledge and work people like you do as I tried making molds b4 and epic failed at them :).

[@donaldleggett]

@rhyflermaerch Heh...Not the brightest question I've ever asked... Do your greens normally survive the master mold process?

[@andrewkay113]

Also with low-temp silicon molds do you cook it for the same time and temp?

[@donaldleggett]

One more question(s). What temp is the oven running at? How long are you preheating for?

[@ZaGaZigZag]

So, how do you get the original figures to go in the mold? Do you carve them? Do you buy a master figure? Where do the originals come from?

[@rhyflermaerch]

They are sculpted by hand or 3d printed. You can only use certain materials, materials that can withstand the heat and pressure of cooking the molds.

[@rhyflermaerch]

The master mold cooks at lower temp so my masters survive the process. They could be run in the high-temp molds, but there is a better chance of the masters crumbling and cracking. 325F RPM... I need to calculate it. I am not positive.

[@BrickJunkies]

Have you ever tried to cast aluminum ?? I know it's melting point is much higher than pewter. But I'm looking to have some small detailed aluminum parts cast.

[@stefanfolkerts3126]

aluminium doesnt melt that easily to be cast...needs to be done under a special athmosphere,otherwise it doesnt work. Even fusing it is a hard work and needs special equipment. Other part is you need a rather hot flame (650 degree?), and the needed special gas is rather expensive, mostly used for creating jewellry.

[@BrickJunkies]

+Stefan Folkerts Would you be interested in making parts for me? I'm working on the master part right now, and need to find someone to make the cast parts for me. What kind of part do you need to start with to make the spin mold? Here is a link to the part I'm working on: facebook.com/Shinkansen500/posts/758183377620376 The wheels will not be part of the mold. Here is another link to another version of the same part a different company made.: radicalrouting.com/500/cars/500_05/i_images/photo_06.jpg Let me know if you'd be interested. James

[@rhyflermaerch]

@Gravegore Molds from Conquest. Pewter from them or Rotometals or Ney Metals.

[@sltkr2000]

great video, but was wondering how to make mold of plastic models, since the plastic will melt at high temp and end up loosing all their detail...

[@rytisulevicius4777]

what about finishing of the thing you molded do they need pany polishing or?

[@pintandoydemasbyel1931]

Great video, can tell me wich miniatures are those, brgds

[@Trueskorn]

Sorry, I typed that comment into the wrong video...however I find this Video OUTSTANDING! I have a few questions if I may ask them. How deep is your vulcanizer form? 1 and half inches...3? Also dose it smell much when it is cooking? Also you views on plastic vs pewter would help me. Thank you.

[@Quello_di_una_volta]

Nice video! Thanks Sir :) How about vulcanizer? I know vulcanizer machine doing a progressive pressure and heat the silicon rubber at 150° C

[@gambit1001]

this was a very amazing video, i learned alot - THANK YOU! I do have 1 question; when making the master mold, what are the figures made of when you sandwich them in the oven disk? Are they also pewter, or some other material? I am asking because I also wonder what the original figure that is hand carved is made out of, and if that is what you use in the oven master mold. thanks!

[@OmahaRenegade]

Awesome video! Thank you so much for making this. Would love to try this myself. And your machine is beautiful BECAUSE it has duct tape on it! :) Would like to see more about how the mold itself is made, though, unless that's one of your trade secrets.

[@krzysztofk9750]

hello! i have a question - is there any easy and cheap way of making molds? i need to copy few things i made for my orks, and its not for sale, so i dont wanna waste a fortune for making molds... thanks for any answer, regards k

[@rhyflermaerch]

The easiest way would be to get some RTV rubber and resin. Look at Smooth-on, they even have handy videos.

[@Abbeville_Kid]

Where do the figures come from prior to making the master mold?

[@Tennethums1]

I believe they are sculpted large scale at first. I'm sure some people are skilled enough to sculpt them as small as they eventually become for production but I know some would sculpt them say, 6 inches tall ay first, then they are scanned using a 3D scanner then "printed" at its smaller scale via a 3D printer. In this way you get crazy detail as you're shrinking an already detailed figure even smaller.

[@derekhand6480]

Tennethums1 Pretty much every company that still casts in metal sculpts at the size they are to be cast at. Check out here: www.reapermini.com/Greens to see examples of mini sculptures.

[@rhyflermaerch]

Tennethums1 All of our stuff is sculpted to scale! Even the tiny 6mm tall humans and aliens. We do some 3d printing as well, but by far most of our stuff is done by hand at the final sizes.

[@jas_bataille]

Nope Tenneth, there are definitely sculpted as small as they are casted... 3D scan is not used at all... even today 3D scan is a top-tier technology that is only available for research and intelligence agencies/armies. Actually if you gonna go the 3D route, there is more and more compagnies hiring people to sculpt minis on a computer and then the minis are printed. :)

[@drewdavis8249]

Tennethums1 actually most companies sculpt at scale to start off. 3D printing just isn’t good enough yet to make originals

[@minitzonthesun]

Can you cast a green if it has been painted? Have you ever done it?

[@LegatusIX]

What is the main center gate in your molds cast from?

[@rhyflermaerch]

There is no 'cheap' pewter! Unless you get leaded pewter, which is fine, and even legal to sell, but might drive people away. You can gravity pour pewter into silicon molds, I have done it a number of times. You won't get the exact detail you get from spincasting and your mold life will be really short.

[@snegovik3d]

What, then I can choose the rubber in the Addiction that would cast metal 380 degrees?

[@juancho1000100]

Hello, I wonder where they sell the materials to make metal mold and pewter in America please help with the info thanks

[@jokerrabit]

for your pattern figures are you starting with figures made from something other than pewter? what material are the figures made from that you use in your vulcanizing?