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Resin
is an ideal material for statue-type figures. Unlike plastic, resin
forming allows lower temperature and low pressure; which makes it
possible to use silicone mold, a much cheaper way than metal mold used in
plastic production. It is important to note, however, silicone mold is not
as strong and durable as metal mold; in fact, a normal silicone mold runs
only 50 to 200 castings, meaning more than one mold is required under
normal circumstances, so the so-called "cheap way" is only
true in low quantity production. As a result, resin mold cost is
usually priced in unit cost.
Another distinction between resin
and plastic products is that resin is less precise (but nonetheless
maintaining the artificial details) than plastic, which makes it not
feasible for using spray paint molds. That's why resin products are mostly
hand-painted, plus pad printing and sometimes decaling for certain spots. This limitation in making actually
enhances the product value, which, of course, attributes to another fact
that neater and more complex coloring can be achieved.
It is also important to know,
while resin is conceived more
valuable than plastic, it is fragile, meaning breakable if hit hard; so it
is usually limited to statue-type products.
What are the areas to look at in
judging good from bad quality? Design, sculptural details, casting
(distortion), polishing (under-sanding, over-sanding, chipping), painting
(accuracy, spreading, wrinkling, brush lines, insufficient paint,
etc.).
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