Appreciate all the enthusiasm and encouragement for this project - having your support for a project like this keeps me interested through the rough patches
The mould making material is a Japanese product, perhaps John or Toku can provide more details on where to get it. It substantially the same silicone based product as the material Alvaro posted the link to - you heat it in boiling water and smash mould it over the master part, then cast the new part out of the resin of your choice. For a casting resin with extended working time I use JB Weld 5 Minute Epoxy - a steel filled epoxy that dries to a tack free dark grey and is pretty hard. Available at most home improvement stores here in the USA. JB Weld makes good small parts as they will withstand handling and don't damage easily, but it sets in 5-10 minutes, so you are able to make them pretty fast.
Andrew - thanks for the heads up on the engine deck. Seeing your comment I was comparing the two Trop covers in Pz. Tracts and they are definitely different, but based on the drawings they actually have the same width and length - and they are also even about the same thickness in the Pz. Tracts plans, but the details differ. I will go back and sand mine smooth on top (which will sharpen and reduce the roll on the edge which seems to be the big difference) and add the early style screw pattern per the drawings, and that seems to do it - let me know what you think of that plan. If more is needed it will not be that hard to do more to them as they are not committed to glue yet. Please e-mail me about that if you have a moment.
For the barrels, some of you have expressed interest in getting one or more - I am not mass producing them but there are a few available. E-mail me off the board I will fill you in on that.
Again, thanks for all the great comments,
Adios till next time Compadres,
Konrad
