I've been working with polymer clay (FIMO, specifically) since I was about 15. I always thought it would be neat to sculpt customized bricks to use with my LEGO and Megablocks sets, but I've been kind of stumped about how. After much thought, several false starts, and some consultation with my little brother, I've come up with a workable solution.
This is a pretty cheap and fun way to make all sorts of specialized bricks for use with your building block sets. They won't ever replace the core sets, as they aren't as regular as the real thing, but they can add some awesome elements and your own specific style to your creations.
Essentially, I made metal stamps the shape of the dots and depressions of the building bricks. Polymer clay is wrapped around the dots or pressed into the depressions, and then baked. Once cool, the stamp is removed, leaving either the desired dots or depression that will mesh with the standard building bricks!
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Here are some tools and materials you will need.
Materials:
Materials:
- Liquid latex for mold making
- Mold conditioning spray
- Latex Caulk . . . maybe. See step three for my misgivings about this.
- Plaster of paris
- Plumbing solder (higher melting point than electrical solder)
- Polymer clay (I use FIMO out of habit, but Sculpey is cheaper and generally easier to find)
- LEGO or Megablocks bricks that you don't mind getting a little messy
- Wax paper
- Aluminum foil
- Cheap paintbushes (you WILL ruin them, so just go to the craft aisle at the dollar store and buy a couple packs)
- A mixing container for the plaster, I used an old cool whip tub
- An old metal spoon (also will be ruined)
- Propane torch
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Towel
- Something pointy and metal, like an awl or a fine pointed screwdriver
- Craft knife
- Baking sheet
- SAFETY GLASSES!!!
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Look on page 10 for Plaster Mold Casting . "A mixture of plaster, talc and water is poured around a pattern. (Take out the pattern)... , and the mold is baked in an oven to drive off moisture."
I would guess baking at 200 degrees overnight would do it.
This would prevent the solder from spattering.
There are low temperature metals listed in the book as well.
Basically, making plastic inserts for your clay. Hell, you could bulk fabricate plastic pieces with all sorts of ribs for connecting to the clay, and metal pieces to match, then churn out custom parts like crazy. If I wasn't in the middle of trying to sell our house (and all my toys in storage), I know what I'd be doing today.
You got my vote.