Steve T Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 After more than 20 years of searching for, recovering and preserving ground dug WW2 relics, there is something I’ve always wanted to try but never quite got round to it. Well, I now HAVE got round to it! I ordered a silicone moulding kit, (Polycraft GP-3481F RTV Silicone Mould Making Rubber kit), and made a mould from a No. 36M grenade. I took off the pin and striker arm, as well as the base plug, then sealed up the holes, (the 36M I used was a drilled practice version), with masking tape. I found a container in which it would fit nicely, mixed the stuff and poured it in! A very nervous 12 hours followed, where I had visions of me having to pick silicone rubber out of my lovely No 36M for weeks on end. I got the mould out of the container and cut 1/3rd of the way down it to free the grenade. A quick wiggle and a tug and the grenade came free. IT WORKED!! I had a lovely silicone rubber mould of a No 36M! So, I then tried casting my first replica with Plaster of Paris. I used a rubber band to hold the mould together where I had cut it. Another nervous period of 2 hours passed, and I then decided to see if the mould had worked and the replica could be retrieved from it. A bit of jiggling and out came a perfect casting of my grenade. VERY PLEASED!! So pleased in fact, I cast two more. I will now leave them to dry for a few days in the airing cupboard, tidy up the imperfections in the casting and then paint them up. I will also drill the striker column hole and fit a relic 36M base plug. I’ll post more pics once complete. The original No 36M from which I made the mould The mould empty and then full of plaster of paris. First one cast........ ....and then another,....... and another...... Looking forward to showing you the completed articles Steve T 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fred Karno's Army Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 Fantastic if you decide to sell any give us a nod @Steve T they look great mate . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve T Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share Posted April 6, 2016 Thanks H&J. Wait until I've painted them up etc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Field Marshall Lenny Posted April 6, 2016 Field Marshall Share Posted April 6, 2016 I'd have one, just to say I own a @Steve T original. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve T Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share Posted April 6, 2016 LOL!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fred Karno's Army Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 You should have a go at a sectioned one Steve,I am sure there would be calls for them,they sell similar on Evilbay for £40 .Just as a gap filler for displaying for tight buggers like me . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve T Posted April 7, 2016 Author Share Posted April 7, 2016 That would involve a whole different world of moulding though H&J, and not one I am about to take............but thanks for the suggestion 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve T Posted April 7, 2016 Author Share Posted April 7, 2016 HELP !!!!!!!! I can't stop making them!!!! I need to join Replica Grenades Anonymous or something.................. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davejb Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 Stop making male and female ones then, then they wont multiply when your backs turned!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PmMeYourCats Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 This is what happens when you feed them after midnight... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve T Posted April 8, 2016 Author Share Posted April 8, 2016 Hehehehehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve T Posted April 11, 2016 Author Share Posted April 11, 2016 After making the mould and casting some replica No 36M grenades, I have now 'test' painted a couple to get my colours and washes right. I've done a practice white one, and a 'steel' one. Original cast shown also for comparison. The striker column is a short bit of dowel cut to size and shaped. The spoon was more difficult and I tried various methods before settling on the one I'm using. A mould cast out of air dry clay, and the same clay used to fill the mould, with a paper-clip bent into the right shape to give structural support. I think they are coming out ok. Oh, and I am using original base plugs Ground dug and cleaned up. I have around 100 so I can spare 10 to add a bit of cudos to my replicas What do you reckon? The 'spoon' moulds, original and clay replica. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davejb Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 They look great but I think your dowels are a bit too long, you can solve this by deepening the spoon grooves slightly, and shaving the dowels down so they just stick up above the spoon shoulders by a few mm, the spoon would then be at the correct height so it fits into the striker about 5mm from the top, but apart from that they are very well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve T Posted April 11, 2016 Author Share Posted April 11, 2016 Thanks Dave. I am having issues with the dowels, in that if I cut them down to the correct length, they invariably break along the grain lines, leaving me with a stump. Hence why they are slightly longer than they should be Oh, and deepening the spoon grooves only partially solves the issue. I have tried that already What do you reckon so far @Ham & Jam @HetzersGonnaHetz @Manu Della Valle @Waffenamt ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manu Della Valle Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 (edited) @Steve T For starters thank you so much for asking my opinion!I agree with Dave who knows M36s much better than I do but they look absolutely great nonetheless!I've worked with polyurethane resin for my models and I'd suggest you,if I may,to make a mold with RTV rubber and cast them in resin..it won't chip and you can make quite a few with them with a single mold!PU resin gets hot while curing but since there are no tiny details to worry about the results will remain unchanged for quite a few copies! Cheers Manu Edited April 11, 2016 by Manu Della Valle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve T Posted April 11, 2016 Author Share Posted April 11, 2016 Thanks Manu I will be trying resin at some point in the future Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davejb Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Thats a good idea from Manu, or you could try using the same casting clay, it dries rock hard and can still be tooled and as theres no spring to the spoon you should,nt have a problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fred Karno's Army Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 I think you've done a bloody good job to be honest ,how robust are they @Steve T I don't mean for throwing lol,it would be good if reasonable priced reproduction levers were available I think with one of those and the dowel problem solving they would be spot on museum quality. Very impressed mate,well done !. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HetzersGonnaHetz Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 @Steve T They look great pal, if you ever do a display of a grenade wielding partisan they would look the part. Quality Replicas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve T Posted April 11, 2016 Author Share Posted April 11, 2016 Thanks H&J. Replica No 36 spoons are £5, which is too steep for these replicas, hence why I made them myself. The clay block cost me £3 and will make about 50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve T Posted April 11, 2016 Author Share Posted April 11, 2016 Work in progress........... 4 more on the way Difficult to match the shellac coat, but I don't think I am far off..... Had a look on the webz and am painting them up as different variants..... @Ham & Jam @Waffenamt @Davejb @Manu Della Valle @HetzersGonnaHetz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davejb Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 They are looking the dogs gilhooleys, and you aint far off at all with the shelac coating, especially the middle one, have you tried adding some white spirit to the mix, it will give a slightly Matt finish as though they are aged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HetzersGonnaHetz Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 The painting is soo good mate, could easily make an experienced collector have to take a few looks to realise it's not pukka. Great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manu Della Valle Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Me likey a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major General Bil4338 Posted April 11, 2016 Major General Share Posted April 11, 2016 These are fantastic, consider me in the market for a couple as I've no originals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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