Casting a metal wagon wheel ?

[zulu`s 1000`s of em]

Hi , I have a problem, I have acquired after years of searching a Qualiticast Zulu war Ox wagon, but it is missing one wheel, so I thought I would cast the other. I have never cast in metal but did some research bought the correct materials and have made what looks like a good mould, but the liquid metal is not making down half of the spokes, I have tried more vents, less vents ,pouring from top and side and I am at risk of ruining the mould, if I have not done so already, how do I get to fill the whole mould and all the spokes in particular . Any help would be appreciated.

[Susofrick]

Never made a mould of my own, but have used moulds from Prince August. And wheels, especially spokes, were a pain in the donkey. Bigger scale, I know, but still. Did you use talcum-powder? I know we have some specialists among the members and they are into the right scale. Hope they can give a better answer, but wheels are tough. I wish you all the luck I can.

[Cryns]

Hello Zulu,

You need a spinning machine and a circular mould. By spinning this mould around it will press all the pewter through the smallest canals and press the air out. The technique you (probably) use at this moment will only work for simple massive objects and figurines.

Since you already made a mould I can recommend you to forget about the pewter and fill it up with putty.
Press both halves together. Open it. Scrape away the excessive putty. Close it again. Press both halves together again, remove the excessive putty again, and on and on until you will end up with an almost perfect wheel made of putty. Once painted it will fit your wagon perfectly.

[zulu`s 1000`s of em]

Thank you, I have asked the question elsewhere and been told much the same. I appreciate the reply and although I have failed to make the wheel,I have learnt from the experience ,so not all that time and money wasted.

[Beano Boy]

https://youtu.be/5vLhcg_FU9g
This sure reminded me of this!
See the Link Pards. It's a Blast! skip the adds!

My 54mm Soldiers.
i used to heat my two part metal molds up in a small gas oven,
that also melted the lead on top.( it was all lead in the 1950's)
i'd fetch them out and then pour hot lead into them.
Tip them upside down straight away letting
the metal flow back into the melting pot.
Opening the mold i was left with a shinny thin hollow casting.
Sure i got a few miss runs,who dosen't ?
Mostly i got good ones.
Although i had no paint to brush upon them. poor boy.

Mind you i,the poor widows son, was only 11 years old then
and had so much to learn about how to do it in life.

Later my older brother by 3 years melted them all down
into fishing leadgers . i can still laugh about that. BB

[zulu`s 1000`s of em]

Whilst a keen angler myself, melting my toy soldiers would have called for a suitable revenge , like cutting up his fishing rod and using it to make a wild west fort !

[Beano Boy]

Oh! That was in 1972 . i happened to be away when he did that, trying hard not to get killed in a little fly spec of a certain country's tiny war. i had grown up,at least as i then thought.

The lead came from some old Public Houses Pianos, we helped smash up as kids.
The city night life was changing over to Pin Ball Machines and One Armed Bandits!
The Pianos were dumped upon the City Dump!

Sorry about the invasion of this Topic.
It would be interesting to see the Wheel,cast up here.BB

[Kostis Ornerakis]

Well, I had the same problem. This is what I did:
The tin original is on the right. The left is a resin copy , sprayed with silver.

First of all I used plasticine. I flattened it using a metal rod and then pressed the wheel to reach the spokes. (No part of any spoke in plasticine) Then I poured the silicone mold.
The final touch is the part that was in the plasticine. (The small hole in the corner).

[Cryns]

Yes Kostis, what you did is of course the right way to do it when you only need one single replacement part.

But I expect modellers to have some leftover putty somewhere in their posession. But not a set of resin bottles.

And... why did you spray it with silver? No plans to paint the whole model?

Regards from Amsterdam

[Kostis Ornerakis]

Yes Kostis, what you did is of course the right way to do it when you only need one single replacement part.

I believe it also works for more than one.

But I expect modellers to have some leftover putty somewhere in their posession. But not a set of resin bottles.

I totaly agree whith this. Also here to say: I love your method.

And... why did you spray it with silver? No plans to paint the whole model?

I have no answer here.
Not for now. I had worked with it when I received it, just to stock it complete.

Regards from Amsterdam

Regards from Chania

Your friend Kostis

[zulu`s 1000`s of em]

Thank you all for your help and advice, it is appreciated. I obtained two wheels from Jacklex and that has saved me more work on this. I will cast something again now I understand the limitations of the method and my materials.