"Lost-Wax" Casting Goes Back to Ancient Modelers
November 1957 American Modeler

November 1957 American Modeler Table of Contents These pages from vintage modeling magazines like Flying Aces, Air Trails, American Modeler, American Aircraft Modeler, Young Men, Flying Models, Model Airplane News, R/C Modeler, captured the era. All copyrights acknowledged.

Scale modelers are always coming up with clever ideas for replicating intricate parts and assemblies that might earn a few critical points from the judges. The "wow" factor is reportedly an important part of winning the hearts of those who sit in judgment of your model. This "lost way" method of casting parts might be yet another tool in your arsenal. According to the author, "lost-wax" casting dates back to ancient modelers and was used extensively during World War II for high volume production of aircraft, ship, and land vehicles. 

"Lost-Wax" Casting Goes Back to Ancient Modelers

In the early stages of World War II when the British were forced to step up production of blades for turbo-superchargers the country's forging and machining resources were already stretched to maximum capacity. They adopted a casting method so old its origin is shrouded in antiquity. It is known that early Chinese and Egyptian craftsmen used this process known as "lost-wax" casting.

This is a procedure where an item modeled in wax is coated with a refractory "slurry" which sets at room temperature to form a mold. The mold is then heated to melt out the wax; afterwards it is baked hard. Finally, molten metal is poured into the cavity previously filled by the wax pattern and permitted to cool. Remove mold; there's your finished product!

When you go into mass production, though, the process requires another, earlier step. This is the making of an accurate metal die into which liquid wax may be injected to produce the pattern in quantity.

These photos from the de Havilland Company's foundry show (top-left) a lady inspector with a swirler vane assembly made of wax in two sections. In the background is a varied collection of intricate wax patterns.

Top-right photo: "Primary investment" comes by dipping the wax assembly into this "slurry" of fine refractory particles in a liquid binder. When the wax is melted and drains away, this coating remains as a shell to form a smooth, hard surface of the mold.

Photo right: Finished products are these castings which have complicated internal details that could not be fabricated in one piece by any other means. These have not been machined after casting, yet note the detail and finish. Swirler vane is at left.

Posted June 7, 2014