Seeking advice regarding making a mold to use to fabricate several RC prop spinners

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#1

I’m interested in fabricating several simple composite prop spinners to use with clope soaring gliders built from Coroplast. Since these are for gliders there will be no prop to contend with so really represents a simple nose cone shape. The ones I’d like to make will be on the order of 60mm diameter and just slightly taller.

What I’m looking for are suggestions as to an appropriate mold design. I’m torn between fabricating a 2 part fiber glass mold that would be clamped together in use and then opened to extract the spinner versus making a mold by inserting my plug into silicone that is supported by a removable backer. With the silicone mold I would hope to be able to do a layup with the silicone supported in the backer and then pop it out once the resin is completely set.

In any case, I’d like to be able to use the mold a good number of times.

I’m new to mold making so please bare that in mind.

Thanks for any informed replies,

Hugh

#2

look at wyowindworks posts&videos. wet,jucy&bladdery.not shure if this is what you are looking for but it might be.

#3

Thanks for mentioning wyowindworks. It was a pleasure to watch his video. My need is vastly lower tech than what he is doing.

I’m really just looking for a good way to mold spinners like you see on this Choroplast model. I’d like to make several for myself and friends and thought that a simple silicone mold might be the easiest way to go rather than a two part fiberglass epoxy layup mold.

#4

Phil,

Thanks for the excellent push in an interesting direction. My need is actually much lower tech application though. Just a mold to make a few spinners for myself and some friends.

Here is the type of glider with an appropriate spinner. I’m thinking that a simple 1 piece silicone mold might be the easiest and quickest route.