Darren Baker takes a look at a silicone mould for producing your own slate roof tiles from Diorama Debris and gives it a run out to see what can be achieved.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Good review darren. Looks like a very useful mould to have.

Thanks for the review Darren. I would like to see some more reviews from this company. Any chance there will be more in the near future?

Sorry Luk that was the only mould I was sent, however I believe the rest of their products should be of a similar quality. I would like to try one of the larger moulds such as a wall section just to see if it works as well as this one did.

Indeed, my thoughts exactly. That wall section looks interesting, if the fitting for the corners is nice and tight. You could then replicate an entire house with these moulds. It would be a nice change from all those shot up buildings from Mini-art for example. Also the curbstones mould is interesting, I am a little doubtfull about those round ones. Could be difficult in getting them out in one piece. They should send you some more review samples, it is good publicity for them !

While I don't have direct experience of Diorama Debris moulds I do have experience with similar silicone moulds from Hirst arts and as long as you use good quality plaster and let it coure long enough then there should be no problem getting even the more complex shapes free of the mould without damage.

Hi Darren

Thanks for the review. When time and money allows I'm going to get a few of these moulds.

Apologies for posting a link to another site but Lou Herd has done some work for Diorama Debris and its some of his stuff you see as photos on the DD web site. He posted a couple of threads over on MilMod showing his development and build work for those interested.

See here

Weathering a roof
http://www.militarymodelling.com/forums/postings.asp?th=79627

and this one, showing how to create a building etc.

http://www.militarymodelling.com/forums/postings.asp?th=71117

Hope they are of help.

Alan

P.S. Are you going to the Poole Model Show next month Darren?

Alan I have no issues with this as it shows what some of the items can be used for that can be made with moulds from this company

Luk; Diorama Debris has offered to send me another mould for review and which is the brick wall mould. As soon as I get this item I will see what I can manage with it and give you and others a better idea of what can be accomplished with these moulds. So far I am very impressed with the mould quality and I suspect that this other mould will be equally as good. I did look at the pan tile multi-part moulds and while I suspect it will challenge you to begin with I think it can be mastered in short order.

Now that is good news!
And kundos to them for reacting so quickly.
I will be waiting with great anticipation and,with your first impressions, keeping my credit card ready

Thanks Darren !

Greetz
Luk

I do always prefer to buy in the uk if at all possible, but I had a shock at their prices, when compared to the Chinese company J's Work. I dont mind paying a few pence more for uk stock but will I think stick to buying Chinese from Lucky Model as for the price charged here, I can buy almost three from J's Work, with free airmail post.

John I can fully understand what you are saying and it was also my initial thought as well, however the quality of the moulds is very high and I truthfully believe these moulds will give you a lot longer service. I have a couple of moulds from the company you mention and I had to take a scalpel to the moulds to use the method I have here as the surface was not level, its no big issue but I do believe this is getting what you pay for and there is room for both in this market.