Well and so - I managed to hit up a Hobby Lobby today (came out of there with kids, supplies, and coupons strung out behind me like a momma duck! The person in front would pay and hand the change to the next one in line for *that* one to pay and use a coupon, etc) and even looked at the "Cast'in Craft" clear resin over in the soap/candle making area. It was an epoxy resin, just like the water gel I picked up at WalMart. It was a 6oz pkg - 2 3oz bottles, 1:1 by volume mix with a sticker price of $12!! Holy crap, I paid about half that for 25% MORE PRODUCT! And am so far pleased with that product. Anyway, I read the directions and cautions, etc. Under molds, it said the epoxy resin can be used with silicone molds (HSIII and Quick-Set), but should only be used with a mold-release/conditioner. So, I picked up a bottle of it to use on my clear casts since I've already seen it could be pretty rough on the molds. Pricey stuff - $10 for a...4oz pump-spray bottle. But with a 40%-Off coupon to get it to $6 *and* figuring in it will protect the molds during clear pours, I reckoned it to be money well-spent.
The silicones were $5 more at this HL than the place I normally shop. Ugh. $29.99 for the 1# boxes of HSIII or Quick-set. Sure my coupon got that down to $18, but I got used to getting it for $14.99 at the old store. The old store is also a little closer - but I'll have to call and be SURE they have the product I need before I make that crazy drive.
I also picked up something Testors has out on the trail aisle - "Weathering Markers." A card of 3 1/3-oz paint-pens for $7.99 in a variety of colors, including "Aged Concrete," "Mud," "Grime," "Rail Brown," "Rail Tie Brown," "Rust," and three others. I figured I would get the "Earth Colors" set and see what they were all about. Maybe write up a product review with pics. Again, with a 40% Off coupon, I got them for under $5.
I passed on plastic this time, as I still have PLENTY of the Smooth-On 322 and a usable amount of Alumilite. The most needful thing was the silicone for making the durn molds!! Beyond the folks here at the 'Yards who have expressed interest in my parts, I've picked up another person interested in seeing what stuff I turn out. So, making good molds, more molds, and beating the air-bubble problem is of primary concern!!