Recluce's Cast helmets & hairpieces

by **Recluce** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:10 pm

While I am no longer able to fill regular orders I have been casting when I get the time and I've finally built up a good number of pieces. Many of them are hairpieces in colors Lego should be producing and I see a strong need for them in the castle community. That is why I've decided to open up my shop first to the fine CC users (ok, ok, I'll stop now before you all reach for your golashes). I am also listing my Star Wars line since I know many of you build in other genres as well.

Dumbledore Hairpiece $5 ea.
1x red, 1x lt. grey, 1x dark purple, 1x yellow/brown swirl

Hermione Hairpiece $5 ea.
2x dark red, 2x red, 1x medium red (darker than red, lighter than dark red), 1x dk grey.

Padme Long Braids Hairpiece $5 ea.
2x yellow/brown swirl, 2x red, 2x dark red, 1x white

Leia Buns Hairpiece $5 ea.
2x white, 1x dark red, 1x red, 1x blue, 1x dk grey, 1x sand purple

Qui-Gon Hairpiece $5 ea.
1x dark red, 1x red, 1x sand purple.

"New Style" Hood $5 ea.
1x dark red, 1x red, 1x dark purple.

Rebel Fleet Trooper Helmet $8 ea.
2x white

Death Star Trooper Helmet $8 ea.
5x black

Rebel Pilot Helmet $5 ea.
1x red, 1x black.

Imperial Guard Helmet $5 ea.
2x green, 2x blue, 1x black, 2x red, 1x bright red, 1x dark purple, 1x white.

Episode 3 Clone Trooper Helmet $5 ea.
1x white, 1x black, 1x blue.

Commander Fox Helmet $8 ea.
2x ea. (all come unpainted)

AT-RT Pilot Helmet $8 ea.
4x white (all come unpainted)

Episode 3 Gunner Clone Trooper Helmet $8 ea.
SOLD OUT - More coming soon!

Commander Neyo Helmet $8 ea.
2x white (all come unpainted)

Prices and colors are stated for stock on hand, that means very little wait time between payment and shipment. US shipping is $2, intl. shipping $3. Shipping does not include insurance but does include delivery confirmation. Once the package is mailed its no longer my responsibility, so if you want extra delivery services please ask!

Special deals: Order $100 or more for free shipping, delivery confirmation, and insurance for US addresses; free shipping for international addresses.

Contact Info: Drop me a PM or email to place an order, first come first served! reclucemage AT yahoo DOT com

by **Remyth** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:54 am

Hey, thats great. If it wasn't soo expensive, I would buy some. I know that you have to make a profit and everything. I hope that they sell well. Good luck!

by **JoshWedin** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:14 am

Those look great! This was really needed.

Remyth wrote:If it wasn't soo expensive, I would buy some.

That isn't expensive at all. Casting takes a lot of work and there is always a learning curve. Charging for that expertise is perfectly reasonable. In fact, 5 bucks per piece isn't even worth her time, if she didn't love doing it.

Josh

by **Recluce** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 11:11 am

Josh is half right. The price per piece includes materials and my time. Resin is a petroleum based product (gasoline). That means the price of materials has gone up dramatically, that is, when I can get it at all. I had to drive to another county to get my last order since my closest store has had me back-ordered now for almost 4 months. My prices are about middle of the road; you can find cheaper, but it's usually for rougher casts.

However, I do love casting, and I've got a bunch of new molds, so once I complete them I'll have some new pieces of stuff you all have been screaming for. In the mean time, moving some of this stuff out will certainly help me out in getting more molding material. That stuff is about $35 for 2 lbs, and I went through 2 lbs in 2 days last time. [winces]

P.S. I have to say this. The grey hairpieces are awesome. Just yesterday I figured out the right mix for them and they look just perfect. The grey bun pieces are perfect for an old lady, the Qui-gon pieces are perfect for LOTR elves (I was watching LOTR while casting), and the yellow/brown swirled colors are really cool. I was pretty proud of myself for those.

by **babyjawa** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 11:56 am

I want to buy some so badly, but I don't have any money because I spent it all on casting supplies. :cry:

So, Recluce, do you think I am underpricing my casted stuff at $3-$5 dollars? I can't say that it is the same quality as yours (because I don't have any of yours to compare with), but I am really confused about it.

edit: Sorry you can deletr this post if you want. I should've PM'd her. :oops:

by **Recluce** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:03 pm

BJ, you have to figure out how valuable your time is to you, and also really figure in all of the cost of materials. Things like measuring cups, cleaning supplies, and latex gloves are items a lot of people don't think about when deciding cost. I keep all of my casting chemicals in Nalgene bottles, the priciest on the market but also the best for being spill-proof (these are laboratory grade anti-corrosive plastic bottles). If you're just starting you probably just keep yours in the bottles they came in, but if this becomes a major hobby for you you will start to see some other costs. In terms of cost for your time.... you will get better as you continue, so you'll get more usable casts. I did, and that's why my costs haven't gone up with the recent hike in resin cost: because I am a more effective caster than I was before.

by **babyjawa** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:11 pm

Actually, all of may casts have turned out great so far. Except for one mold because I messed it up on accident when I tried to get out the original helmet.

Supplies haven't been that much of a problem. I have been using other things besides the stuff the recommend.Did you know that Dawn Dishsoap works as a great mold release? And I also use these little white plastic cups for the final mix of the resin instead of the measuring cups they use.

It's interesting.

Thanks,

babyjawa...

by **Lamanda2** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:25 pm

Wow, the quality of your casts is amazing Recluce,
I have been having troubles making heads or tails of your tutorial for casting helms, for some reason I am getting lots of bubbles,
even with a vent hole, but I hope to get selling some of my custom goblin heads once I get around to making molds for my two latest designs.
(I at least want to make some of my money back.)

As for my supplies, I am running very low on silicone, so I guess I will have to get some more. (At least I got about 20 molds out of it.) I got a catalogue from Micro-Mark the other day and they are having a sale, but I really want to find it in a local hobby store..now that would be a treat.

by **babyjawa** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:42 pm

I guess I am lucky that Alumilite Headquarters is 45min away from my house. Their products are easy to find around me.

by **Recluce** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:44 pm

Thanks for the compliment on the cast quality! I do try hard to make my pieces as close to lego quality as I can get them. Airbubbles are always an issue. When I first started casting I was getting about 1 usable piece for every 2 I cast. My ratio is a bit better now. :wink:

Still, I always have seconds, and usually put one or two into the orders I send out, you never know what you can make out of a second. Sometimes a little sculpting material will plug the hole up just fine, and all you need to do is paint. Othertimes, a trimmed up hairpiece turns out looking good. I have a baggie full of 'seconds' that I ordinarily would just throw away since I can't sell them.

Oh, and as for the molding "tutorial" not being perfect.... well that's because its not finished. Those are just pictures and really require the text for full effectiveness.

Anyone else have any questions? I've no problem whatsoever answering them. I'll answer anything about quality or cost, if you want to know. Yes, I'd like to make some money on these, but mostly I want to better the community. I like seeing my stuff in MOCs put to good use, too. So, hopefully my answers will either get you to buy my casts, or perhaps even take up casting yourself!

by **TheBohrok** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:15 pm

Those all look very nice. Also if the greathelms were ever available again, I would be very interested. I don't know if you got my last email about a week ago, but I've decided on the Hermione hair in white (if that's possible).
Thanks!

by **Recluce** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:03 pm

TheBohrok wrote:Those all look very nice. Also if the greathelms were ever available again, I would be very interested. I don't know if you got my last email about a week ago, but I've decided on the Hermione hair in white (if that's possible).
Thanks!

The greathelm will never be available. The first mold broke after about a dozen casts, and the second mold is NOT of a quality I will sell. Believe me, I tried one last night as was totally dismayed.

I did get your email, and your order went out to you today. Hope you enjoy them!

by **Remyth** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:06 pm

Remyth wrote:
If it wasn't soo expensive, I would buy some.

That isn't expensive at all. Casting takes a lot of work and there is always a learning curve. Charging for that expertise is perfectly reasonable. In fact, 5 bucks per piece isn't even worth her time, if she didn't love doing it.

I know...I realised that right after I wrote it. Sorry Recluce...no offense or anything like that intended. It is just that I do not have a lot of money, so it is expensive too me.

by **Recluce** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:22 pm

Remyth I understand..... sometimes I stop and think that I am charging too much. But that's usually when I haven't cast anything in a while!

I live on a budget too, and I do purchase Lego and customs accessories sparingly because of that.

by **Recluce** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:24 pm

Quantities updated, and..... maybe some new stuff soon too.

Recluce's Cast helmets & hairpieces

Recluce's Cast helmets & hairpieces

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