"Blue Stuff"

So there's a modeling techique that involves using this stuff called "Oyumaru" or branded under Greenstuff world, it's called "Blue Stuff. (which I mentioned back in my Doombull conversion post)" It's a thermoplastic that softens in water at boiling temps, which then becomes soft and pliable, not unlike a silly putty. 

At this stage you can form molds and press plastic bits into them. There is a limited amount of working time as the substance cools. Once cooled you can mix your epoxy putty of choice (typically its a 1:1 mix of "Green Stuff" and "Milliput"). Green Stuff for the resilience and slight flexibility and Milliput for the rigidity and sandibility once cured.

I wanted to try my hand at cloning some bits and seeing if this would be a viable route to get some extra bits (short of setting up 3d printing).

They come in short rigid blocks. Drop em into boiling water, and wait a few minutes and they soften up to a gooey consistency. They cool and become rigid once more and can be use many times. Personally I wouldn't drop them directly into a cooking pot with boiling water nor a drinking glass you intend to reuse; no telling on the microscopic level if bits of the Blue Stuff get left behind in said vessels....rather I pour the boiling water into a small cermanic vase that I had laying around and dunk the stuff into that to be safe!

My first attempt - a belt bit from a "Darkoath Wilderfiend". Once one half cools, you leave the bit embedded and heat up another wad of Blue Stuff to press on top. Per YT videos I've seen, folks suggest leaving divots as registration marks to align the two halves (simply pressing the end of a brush into the soften mold will do).

Close up of one half of the mold

Once both sides are cured, you can remove the plastic bit and fix up some Green Stuff/Milliput to fill into the recesses

I put a dumbbell  weight plate as well as a small medicine ball to press the mold down to ensure the putty material gets well pressed into the impressions on the molds. There's probably more efficient ways, but this is what I had at hand!

The result! Not bad for a first attempt. It cures quite rigid and can be sanded. However the details are a little muddy, and there's a lot of flashing. Definitely there is a lot more experimentation to be had. There's an art to making the mold itself as well how much putty to press into the mold for sure! I'm sure there's also a method to selecting what bits and how much detail you can get away with as well.