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Mould Maker

Specialist UK model-unit mould maker: designs and builds moulds (block, jacket, silicone, fibreglass, multi-part) so casts are accurate, repeatable and production-safe.

Duties

• Design mould strategy from sculpt/master (parting lines, keys, jackets)
• Build silicone, resin, fibreglass, plaster and hybrid moulds
• Register multi-part moulds; solve undercuts and air traps
• Maintain mould inventory, release agents and SDS
• Brief Casting / Model Makers on pour process and demould
• Repair moulds; plan multiples for action/breakaways
• Uphold chemical H&S, extraction and waste rules

Reports to

Supervising Model Maker / HOD Model Maker

Works with

Sculptor, Model Makers, Paint Finisher, Mechanical, Coordinator (materials), H&S

Career path

Model Maker → Mould Maker specialist → Senior / Supervising (mould lead)

Day to day

Assess master; build mould walls; pour silicone/jacket; demould and QC; label and store; support first casts; fix flash/alignment issues.

Call times

Workshop-led: model unit often starts earlier than general unit call for build days. Standby Model Makers match unit call when covering shoot. Overnight cures, paint and last-minute hero makes before shoot days are common — always read the workshop schedule against the call sheet.

What to wear

Workshop PPE: steel toe-caps or production-approved boots; eye/ear protection; gloves suited to task (nitrile for resins, heat-resistant where needed); dust mask / respirator for sanding, spray and chemicals; apron or workshop blacks; hard hat / hi-vis if yard or stage rules require. Clean blacks when delivering to set. Chemical-resistant gloves; respirator as SDS requires; eye protection always for pours.

Tools & kit

Mould-making hand tools; clay walls; mixing sticks/scales; vacuum chamber access as workshop provides; PPE; release agents and mould soaps as production supplies.

Tips

Confirm title, agreement, budget band, prep/wrap, kit/machine fee and workshop location on the deal memo. We never invent Bectu figures — check bectu.org.uk / Props Branch Prop Modelling and Prop Painters cards. On smaller shows Model Making may sit under Props as Prop Modelling; larger features often list Model Making as its own department.

Software

• Excel mould inventories & cure logs
• PDF / photo notes of parting lines
• CAD for complex jacket layouts when used
• SDS libraries / shared Drive
• ChatGPT for process checklists (verify against SDS and HOD)

Related roles

Sculptor (Model Unit), Model Maker, Paint Finisher / Model Painter, Mechanical Model Maker

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