How do I make molds and casts of miniatures?

Question

I am looking for a way to make some molds and casts of some of my Warhammer 40k miniatures, but the thing is I need to do it on a budget. Anybody know any easy and cheap ways to do this?

I am looking for a way to make some molds and casts of some of my Warhammer 40k miniatures, but the thing is I need to do it on a budget. Anybody know any easy and cheap ways to do this?
About The Materials:
I would be using plastic, not metal.
About Copyrights:
I would be using it for my own personal use in conversions to the miniatures that I already own, and since there is no store within 40 miles of my house I really doubt I would be using them in a competition, so quality is not a important.

Answer 1

I use silicone mold powder, available in craft stores. It's like jello. You put the object in and the silicone forms around it. then take the object out and your mold will be ready. Then use liquid polymer clay to make the item.

Follow the directions and be mindful of copyright laws.
.

Answer 2

Actually, you will not be able to do this cheap or easy if you want professional results. Metal figure casting requires heat resistant silicone which is fairly expensive (for your safety: don't use any rubber for this that is not rated for this). Mouldmaking and casting are pretty much an art and quite difficult to learn. It takes a lot of practise and understanding to get to the level you see in the gw figures. The high temperatures involved can make this dangerous. Resin casting is safer at lower temperatures. Cheaper rubber can be used though the resin can be expensive . Main problem with this is that you don't get the weight you're used to with metal figures and it's very hard to cast bubblefree.

Edit: changed and added to text following the extra info.

First a few things about copyrights since there are some common misunderstandings. There are a few circumstances in which copyrighted material can be used ("fair use") but "only for personal use" is not one of them. Also, whether you copy a small part or a whole figure, both situations are covered by the copyright law.

Since this is a hobby there are companies which will allow or disregard the copying of small parts for conversions but unfortunately GW is not one of them. They actually have their legal terms on internet. I've included them below. The clause in this case is:

"Do not cast any materials that are based upon Games Workshop material. Games Workshop has to maintain a strict policy on this to fight counterfeiters. We would also remind you that reproduction for personal use is NOT an automatic exclusion in respect of copyright protection in many territories worldwide."

The way they put it is even more restrictive than usual. Strictly speaking you are not even allowed to sculpt something following one of their designs or trademarks and then cast it.

So the only thing you are allowed to do is to sculpt generic parts which are not based on GW parts or pictures or anything trademarked. These you can cast and use. Cheapest technique here may be chaulk moulds and casting in epoxy putty. Messy, smelly and quite a bit of work but ok for small parts. The other option is pressmoulding in epoxy putty. A tad more difficult and more extra work is required there.

By the way, GW has another very strange clause: "Please do not combine our intellectual properties with IP owned by any third parties." Strictly speaking this would mean that they wouldn't even allow home made parts on figures. But I think they mean that they don't want to see part from other manufacturers on their figures. I have heard them banning figures from competitions for that reason.

Overal I think GW is doing their best to make sure people solely buy their figures and only use their parts for conversions. That's why you can mail order parts with them.

Summary: GW does not allow any copying of figures or parts thereof. So you can only cast home made parts. Cheapest methods are chaulk with epoxy glue and pressmoulding.

Hope that helps.

by the way, I know that 40mile problem. For me the closest store was actually in another country! That's what go me into miniatures sculpting in the first place. I couldn't buy the figures i needed for RPG's. :( If you want to give it a try: Go to the 1listsculpting yahoo group. Many professional an hobby sculptors there.