I need some information concerning making molds and making boats. I have a plug but need to know how to make a mold. What kind of materail should I use? What is the best way to remove the boat without it becoming a blem?

Now on to making the boat. How do I make a gelcoat? and What is the best fiberglass to use? Where can I get it the cheapest?

Thank you in advance for any help.

Take a look at this site. Working up the mold from the plug starts around page 10.

http://www.valsparcomposites.com/mol...troduction.htm[/link]

Freak,

The site that Tachikaze listed is a great source of information.
Gelcoat is purchased and sprayed or brushed into the mold after parting solution is applied to the mold.
As for mold making material, use fiberglass if you intend to make more than one boat.
I've used plaster for making single parts with a good deal of success, but I wouldn't suggest it.
For making parts, West Systems epoxy is the product of choice.
You can mix it according to your desired working time and it's lighter than polyester resin.
For separation use PVA and plenty of paste wax, using this method you can spray water into the mold joint, disolving the PVA and leaving you with a cleanly separated part.
Use fiberglass matt sparingly(it's heavy and a pain to work with), try to get a weave, perhaps a few different weights and 2-3 layers should be good depending on the design of your plug.
As for cost, you can go to www.fiberglast.com or try a local marine/boat shop.
Good luck.

SB...

for all my fiberglass work i use west systems epoxy resin.. 105 resin and 205 hardner, i buy 1 gallon of resin and 1 quart of hardner at a time and the bill comes to around 85 bux (west marine). i can do about 6-7 boats with that, and still have plenty left over.. i take it your new at this so i would also suggest getting a mesuring cup, to mesure the resin/hardner mix.. STAY AWAY FROM THOSE PUMPS! they are nothing but a nightmare.. I mesure by eye but some people just cant do it. Your drying time will vary from product to product but with the west systems, it takes about 4 hours to be ready for the next coat.. Also when you layer you glass, YOU HAVE TO SAND! you need to get rid of the waxy layer or your hard work will be useless and a waste of time. As seabiscuit said.. use lots of pva and wax, and to release from the mold cleanly, use water.. it will practically fall out.

Hope this helps ya a little bit.

Jesse

ok, i am not much of a boat person, but i got a 1/2 way build kit for a fire boat at a garage sale (hey, it was 10 bucks!) my problem is that even thought everything was included, the plans were in german and french, its a german made rc fireboat called the Dusseldorff, anybody ever herd of that boat? i just need some plans in english!!! \


ErikJ





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what would happen if there were RC aircraft carriers that launched planes?

If it is the "Robbe" version of the kit,
http://www.alansmodels.com/boats/rb_dusseldorf.htm
I would contact "Robbe" via their web site
http://www.robbe.com/
And find out if it is possible to get a set of duplicate plans in english.
(with Japanese models it's enough to just follow the graphics)

YAHEY!!!

bingo!!!!

that was it, i contacted the company, and am going to find some plans in english!!

Thanx!!!

EJ