Reader reviews of a kit featured on Starship Modeler.

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Your Two Cents: Steamrunner-class

The following are reader's opinions of the Steamrunner-class made by Starcrafts.

Reviewer   Tom Allison
Date Reviewed   Mar 29, 2002
Overall Rating       Average. Get it if on sale or you love the subject.
Comments I am putting together one of the Steamrunner kits right now. After taking it out of the box, the first thing I noticed were parts of the bridge area were filled in, because of an apparent mold tear. There were also undercuts on the secondary hull where the mold wasn't registered properly. I also noticed the surface of the kit has what appears to be either dimpling from a liberal application of mold release, pebbling from the use of talc as a substitute mold release. The clear red parts were also not vaccum chambered as they had a few bubbles in each. Which brings me to air bubbles. The surface had a lot of them. This is caused by the molds not being properly de-gassed. In my honest opinion, after seeing this kit, which I did not purchase, I would say that the price is not worth it.

I could have easily taken the original pieces, made better quality molds and made probably half a dozen copies for a little more than $250.00. My molds wouldn't have taken a dive on me for at least 50 castings. If they had, I would have replaced them. The resin that was apparently used is either SC-300 from smooth on, or some odorless white quick set resin. I would also guage that this resin was quick setting with a potlife of about 30 seconds, or up to 3 minutes which would explain why the main pieces weren't vaccum chambered to collapse the bubbles.

As a guy who makes molds and casts resin, as well as sculpts for a living, my review might seem harsh. These are the things I look at in any kit, especially since I know I could have done a better job of casting it myself. The ship itself was pretty well done, it's the casting that I have an issue with.

Tom


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