Alchemy Works

Repliscale Molding Compound & Wonder Putty

Reviewed By  Luke R. Bucci, PhD, IPMS# 33549

MSRP: $17.00 Thanks to Mike Evans at The Alchemy Works (www.thealchemyworks.com) for supplying the samples. Mike Evans, of Lunar Models fame, runs The Alchemy Works, which specializes in custom casting, and sells a resin line of dinosaurs, prehistoric mammals and WW2 figures. In February, The Alchemy Works introduced two new products - Repliscale Molding Compound and Wonder Putty. These two products are designed to work together. The Repliscale Molding Compound has two small plastic containers with Part A and Part B that are mixed in equal amounts to give a quick-setting film or mold around the part or surface to be duplicated. After mixing, the material sets up in a few minutes, and needs to be worked into the original in a minute. Wonder Putty is a two-part epoxy with high stiffness that takes longer to set up (15-20 minutes). For reproducing textured surfaces (like Zimmerit, feathers, fur, dinosaur skin or non-slip surfaces on ship decks), Wonder Putty is applied to the desired areas and after 15 minutes, the Repliscale mold is applied over the putty and pressed, then pulled away to replicate the pattern. Also, Repliscale can be used as a mold by pressing a part into it. Then Wonder Putty can be used to fill the casting and reproduce the part.

I tested the system on reproducing a 1/700 US Navy 5in single gun turret. Repliscale Part A is a light green goo, and Part B is dark green and gooier. Take care opening the containers as the goo wants to escape. Mixing went easily, and I put the goop into a plastic pill box and pressed a 5in turret into it without any prior preparation or treatment. After a few minutes, the mold was hardened and the turret came out cleanly, revealing a good-looking mold. Both Part A and Part B Wonder Putty materials are very stiff gels that are close in color, making mixing difficult to determine if complete. It would be nice to have one or the other Part a different color to facilitate mixing. The mixed epoxy was pressed into the mold, and left to cure overnight. After 24 hours, the leftover Wonder Putty was not hard. The copied turret popped out nicely and was also not hard. The copy was not as crisp as the original. At least the mold looked none the worse for wear, meaning repeated copies can be made from a single Repliscale mold.

Bottom Line: The Alchemy Works has produced a two-part molding and casting system to replicate complex, textured surfaces and to reproduce small parts. Repliscale makes excellent molds of solid pieces, and replicates complex textured surfaces well. Wonder Putty is more difficult to work with than other two-part epoxy putties for solid objects, but it would be ideal for texturing surfaces since its hardening time is very long. I was disappointed in the lack of hardness from Wonder Putty, and I wish there was more Repliscale to make larger molds. The intention of this system is to reproduce textured surfaces after seam filling or sanding of detail. Recommended for this use. *NOTE: Follow the instructions carefully and wear latex gloves when handling both Repliscale and Wonder Putty for your safety. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

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