First Mauri ever is done!

Mauri is complete, I took some pictures past weekend. She has the best pair of eyes I have made, they came out really neat and even. I think I finally figured out how to make decent glitter eyes, the trick is to first cure one transparent layer of resin with glitter in it and then add second layer with pupil. This way the glitter particles stay behing the pupil and do not float to the surface.

I am polishing the master sculpt once again, some spots were scratched during mold making. I am using Tamiya fine surface primer over Rustoleum and the texture feels more smooth, but I have not sanded it yet, so I cannot compare the two. I'm worried the head may be too complex to cast in a single piece mold like Haru does it, but I just have to finish priming, take some pictures and see what happens. Worst case scenario I will have to modify and prime a home cast resin head to make a different latching mechanism, which should not be too bad.

Last mold, starlets, eyes, outfit, etc.

This weekend I finally have made a functioning mold for the left hand and have cast both hands. They came out right the very first casting, it was such a joyful demolding. I'm starting to think that maybe this whole casting thing is not for me... All the sticky gooey mess, expiring silicone, mold halves stuck to each other, awesome toxic release agent, BUBBLES in the mold surfaces. I am thinking about other dolls I may want to make in the future, but I cannot imagine remaking 15+ two-part molds ever again. But who knows, I may change my mind by the time I have another prototype in my hands :/

I also made another outfit and a pair of glitter eyes. Unfortunately I scratched the faceup while changing the eyes, so I had to touch up the stars on her cheek. I want to take some pictures of her in daylight, but that will probably have to wait until the weekend.

Kinda got tired of the constant struggle with bubbles and took a break for a few months. Unfortunately the faulty molds and bubbly resin are still here after almost a half a year and did not magically fix themself. I finally have enough parts with small bubbles to make one whole doll. Well, almost. I still have to remake a mold for her left hand...

I'm thinking to cast her through harucasting. I am not sure if i have the resources (time) to try it all over with a pressure pot, and without pressure pot it does not seem to go anywhere. I have to cast every part 3-4 times untill it comes out relatively bubble-free. Too many bubbles, too little progress :(
I made some clothes and a faceup for the one whole Mauri I have so far and I love how she came out. Need to make her some socks and shoes and she will be complete.

Junk casts

A lot of work still ahead, but at least here's  progress. Purple, bubbly progress...

CASTING!11

I'm finally casting parts! So far I have 4 functional silicone molds and I have cast feet, calves and thighs. The hip joint mold either must be slightly modified or cleaned, or I should try injecting resin with a syringe, the resin just doesn't flow right when I pour it. I will post some pictures of the parts I cast so far after I clean them a little.
I find it very encouraging that there has not been too many bubbles, I was afraid it was actually impossible to cast decent parts without a pressure pot, but it's working ok.
I can't wait to cast the whole thing!

Priming and sanding

As it turned out priming and sanding takes forever. But I am really happy that I am finally using the primer! I really dislike doing anything with clay, so I was looking forward something different to do after all the necessary clay modifications were done. I still need to add a little peg inside the head to latch to the bottom of the head back, but the magnet holders on top of the head and the head back are done and the feet and hand sockets should not need any further modification unless something breaks.
I guess one of disadvantages of printing all the parts at home is that the surfaces are still pretty grainy, even with the 0.1 mm hot end tip. After two light layers of primer and some sanding she looks like she is made of some spongy material. I am hoping to start the awesome mold making process this week, but we'll see how sanding goes.

Almost done printing!

Just the right forearm (third iteration) left to print.... I'm adding clay to reinforce the joint sockets and modify the elastic slots. I also need to add a structure inside the head and the head back to hold the magnets, right now the head back is held by two sided tape... Just want to use the primer already and cast :)