I understand Vacuum forming. I have built my own former for small bodies such as 1/18 scale.
What I would like to get a better understand of is the process of making 1/10 scale molds. Are these all hand carved? Machined by CNC?

I know that measurements are taking to get to the tenth scale dimensions. BUT, someone has to be an artist or a machinist to get these molds perfect. I do mean perfect. The lexan models I have pulled with my homemade former show every detail of the mold ... including small particles & very light sand marks.

So, what are the molds made of? How are they made? No secrets need to be revealed, just the basics would be interesting.

Thanks in advance.

NitroWolf: You've got some good questions there. It seems like just yesterday that I was asking the same questions. I also remember that the answers were pretty hard to find. Mold makers in the hobby industry are a pretty tight-lipped bunch it seems. Fortunately though, I found a school that taught me everything I ever wanted to know. I enrolled in this school 13 years ago and have'nt stopped studying there ever since. I've sent you the link - check it out:
http://www.damu.com/sohk.htm

Dale ;)

LOL.. you're cruel! :freak:

OUCH....... :lol:

NitroWolf. I guess Dale mean's your S.O.L.

NitroWolf: I'm glad to see you've got a sense of humour. I realize mine's just a little on the twisted side.

best regards - Dale ;)

thats it I am never buying another proto body again, matter fact I am returning the one I just bought today for a homebrew one-who cares about the ripples and major blemishes--adds to the down force. Ahh kidding that is too funny, according to my wife I need to attend the relationship course, I am packing my suitcase right now and heading off to the dorm in the AM. I hope someone is there to enroll me.

NitroWolf: You've got some good questions there. It seems like just yesterday that I was asking the same questions. I also remember that the answers were pretty hard to find. Mold makers in the hobby industry are a pretty tight-lipped bunch it seems. Fortunately though, I found a school that taught me everything I ever wanted to know. I enrolled in this school 13 years ago and have'nt stopped studying there ever since. I've sent you the link - check it out:
http://www.damu.com/sohk.htm

Dale ;)

Wow! Dale, I'm honored that you replied to my post. I know how busy you are hijacking other r/c body mfg threads.

You probably thought I was wanting to become another competitor for you. So your instinct kicked in & you decided to insult my intelligence quicker than you did Rob's on the Windtunnel thread.

You know, sometimes a no-reply is better for your business.

NitroWolf: Guess I was wrong about your sence of humor. Certainly was not intended to offend you. Thought you might get a chuckle. So sorry.

Dale

Dang I thought it vwas funny as $^%& LOL yall dont take life so seriously its alot more fun that way :cool:

agreed

.......................

nitrowolf when i was in high school i took vacuum forming as a vocational course not an expert but we used anything that would not be effected by the heated sheet for a mold it seems that you have figured out the smaller scales should not be any diffrent for larger scales as long as you have creativity there is not one thing you cant do i think makeing your own bodys would be dam cool as long as you have have the skilled hands to make the molds and that takes some natural skill and or engineering education

There is book called " Do It Yourself Vacuum Forming for the Hobbyist" by Douglas Walsh that might get you started. I'm not sure how relevant it is today. I took a few classes in school on plastics and did some vacuum forming - mostly with polystryene. Lexan is probably one of the hardest plastics to thermoform. You might try to find a "plastics course" at a local college. It will take a lot of work and talent. There is always artcenter.edu and a degree in transportation design (lots of time, work, talent, and money).

nitrowolf when i was in high school i took vacuum forming as a vocational course not an expert but we used anything that would not be effected by the heated sheet for a mold it seems that you have figured out the smaller scales should not be any diffrent for larger scales as long as you have creativity there is not one thing you cant do i think makeing your own bodys would be dam cool as long as you have have the skilled hands to make the molds and that takes some natural skill and or engineering education

I'm not interested in making a mold for a larger scale. I was interested the technique & material used to have a smooth mold.

My wife & I foster children. Through fostering we have seen youngsters out there less fortunate than most. These youngsters need something to keep them busy so that they do not dwell on their situations. So, a few of us were looking to create a hobby for these kids. Possibly 1/18th scale r/c cars like sold at radio shack. The bodies would be painted to reflect their ideas.

Dang I thought it vwas funny as $^%& LOL yall dont take life so seriously its alot more fun that way :cool:

I don't know where I went wrong. This forum is suppose to be helpful...is it not?

I guess you guys got your laugh of the day. By the way, I don't think I take life too serious. But I do take serious the passion to help others, less fortunate or not.

There is book called " Do It Yourself Vacuum Forming for the Hobbyist" by Douglas Walsh that might get you started. I'm not sure how relevant it is today. I took a few classes in school on plastics and did some vacuum forming - mostly with polystryene. Lexan is probably one of the hardest plastics to thermoform. You might try to find a "plastics course" at a local college. It will take a lot of work and talent. There is always artcenter.edu and a degree in transportation design (lots of time, work, talent, and money).

Thanks for the reply. The "mold" itself is what I was looking to get info about....the material used and the process.

Hey Dude Not Laughing I Dont Think Dale Was Either I Mean What You Are Asking For Not Sure You Are Gona Get Maybe You Will But Take It Easy And On The Kids I Have 3 With One On The Way No What Its Like To Be Woried About What There Doing Just Got My Sons Racing A Few Weeks Ago Maybe It Will Keepem Straight Sure Hope So

Hey Dude Not Laughing I Dont Think Dale Was Either I Mean What You Are Asking For Not Sure You Are Gona Get Maybe You Will But Take It Easy And On The Kids I Have 3 With One On The Way No What Its Like To Be Woried About What There Doing Just Got My Sons Racing A Few Weeks Ago Maybe It Will Keepem Straight Sure Hope So

Willy, I guess I should have made two separate posts. The first part of my post was replying to yours. I thank you for your insight & information.

No Biggy Just That Alot Of Body Makers Gona Look Or Have Already Looked At This And You Did Not Have That Many Responses That Would Be Helpful Thats Why I Said Try And Use Your Creativity Who Knows You May Come Up With Something Better

NitroWolf: Wow, now I'm really feeling like a shmuck. I had no idea of what your intentions were - and they are quite admirable. I did however see you clearly mention your interest in figuring our the 1/10th scale mold process. When I started trying to figure these things out (back in the early 90's) it was very frustrating, trying to find good information. There was a lot of trial & error, late nights, gallons of coffee, that sometimes resulted in only failure & frustration. There were many times that I'd take a mold with 3 weeks of work invested, and have to throw it on a dumpster. (3 weeks of 12-14 hour days - 6 days a week -that is) As it turned out, I had to figure it out myself. When I finally did get it half-figured out, the major disributors in the US wanted nothing to do with me and my company because of the pressure they were getting from a kinda coalition of the 5 large, established big-name rc body companies (at that time). I got accused of some pretty bad stuff by the "Big 5", but they were always a little short on any real proof when it came to my wrongdoings. Either way, me and my family lived on mac-n-cheese for 3 years - making "minimum payments" on our growing credit card accounts. Finally, the distributors started to buy my stuff and I had a little cash flow, and the next thing that happens is a couple of brothers up in Jersey start a new r/c body company. These guys were "friends" of mine and I had sponsored them for a couple of years. They were always picking my brain as to: "Dale - how to you make these things," and softening me up with compliments etc. I naively told them a lot. Nice thanks. They eventually found that it wasn't the easy way to make a living that they thought, and sold the company. Now, in the last couple of years, PROTOform has become the target of at least a half dozen off-shore companies in Thailand, China, Japan, Taiwan etc (and even Holland). These companies back-pour just about everything I do except oval bodies. I do the design & developement work, I pay the licensing and royalties and they just flat-out steal it all - without conscience.
Now, I'm not telling you this because I'm trying to hi-jack your thread, bore you with trivia or gain sympathy. Just wanted you to know the framework of my thinking, and why I so hastily made jest of your original question. I didn't understand the context, because it wasn't made clear. My appology to you was sincere. I admire what you're doing with those foster children. We need more guys like you.
"Good" mold-making is not rocket-science, it's just extremely labour intensive. If you want to send me a PM with your e-mail address and/or your phone number I'll tell you anything you want you know about mold making. It's just an offer.


best regards - Dale

Dale your bodies are second to none! keep up the good work :thumbsup:
Bcnya @ the Birds :wave:

I am glad to see things took a turn for the good. I know Tim a little bit and he's a pretty good guy as far as R/C racers go. lol Dale does some great work (love that new charger!) and his response was indeed funny not knowing the circumstances, kind of a soft way of saying "mind your own business. I think I am going to steal that diploma to give to folkes who want to know how I do my business. Good going guys, keep up the good work!

NitroWolf- You may want to try looking at this website:
http://www.goblinart.com/about/Vacuuforming_handout.html

A lot of these sites mainly have to do with making various costumes for the "Star Wars" buffs (Stormtrooper outfits,Darth Vader helmets/masks,various SW weapons,etc) or other Sci-Fi characters,but the process is similar. Also,try a search using the word "vacuuforming". I've looked at some of these sites before & after looking at them,I have a much better appreciation of the work that these guys ,like Dale, are doing.
-George

Dale, thanks for the words.

I have no desire to start up a business....especially in r/c.

These forums sometime generate good information to help those looking....sometimes they go the other way.

It's all Okay.

Thanks.

Nitro Wolf maybe right heres where you went wrong
"Wow! Dale, I'm honored that you replied to my post. I know how busy you are hijacking other r/c body mfg threads.

You probably thought I was wanting to become another competitor for you. So your instinct kicked in & you decided to insult my intelligence quicker than you did Rob's on the Windtunnel thread.

You know, sometimes a no-reply is better for your business."

Maybe if you would have stated your true intent in your original post?
I stand by my opinion that way to many people take these forums and some of the comments made on them way to seriuosly.

Nitro Wolf maybe right heres where you went wrong
"Wow! Dale, I'm honored that you replied to my post. I know how busy you are hijacking other r/c body mfg threads.

You probably thought I was wanting to become another competitor for you. So your instinct kicked in & you decided to insult my intelligence quicker than you did Rob's on the Windtunnel thread.

You know, sometimes a no-reply is better for your business."

Maybe if you would have stated your true intent in your original post?
I stand by my opinion that way to many people take these forums and some of the comments made on them way to seriuosly.

Son, I'm not sure of the intent of your post. We are all over the deal. It's time for you to move on too. Go have some fun!

Hank, I know you are reading so please delete it or lock it up!

Thanks.