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A New Method of Making Foliage 

 For Miniature Dioramas 



INTRODUCTION 



Probably the most difficult problem encountered in the prepara- 

 tion of miniature dioramas has been that of finding or making 

 satisfactory foliage. My solution has been the development of a 

 method of making plastic castings of foliage in one-piece open molds. 

 The results have created a widespread interest in the process, with 

 an increasing demand for information. 



The process is not yet fully developed, and its use is constantly 

 producing changes in procedure; nevertheless, I have decided to 

 make it available in its present state of maturity. The following 

 set of notes is offered, pending further developments and the publi- 

 cation of a more detailed description. 



MATERIALS USED IN CASTING FOLIAGE 



Original molds may be carved in any material suitable for carving, 

 but molds used for casting plastic materials must be resistant to 

 the solvent used in the plastic. Molds can be reproduced from the 

 original, by regular casting methods, in metal, plaster, or any 

 other solvent-resisting material. 



Plaster molds for casting plastic should be impregnated with any 

 of the plastic solutions available for that purpose, provided the im- 

 pregnating material is not affected by the solvent used in casting. 

 Untreated plaster molds dry slowly and soak up separator. 



Metal molds may be engraved and /or made by the electroplating 

 process from originals of metal, plaster, wax, or plastic. 



Plastic molds of catalin have been found extremely satisfactory 

 to use, and they are easily carved, either with rotary cutters and 

 burs or with hand tools and scrapers. Unless a very large quantity 

 of foliage is needed probably it will be more economical and more 

 satisfactory to carve the additional molds from catalin than to cast 

 them. 



