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SPEEDEMON · 06-20-2003, 12:07 AM

Let me shed some light on this issue.

Pac-Min has been around for over more than a half of a century. Their models are considered state of the art and have not been surpassed by anyone yet in the commercial professional market of presentation-grade, promotional models for the airframe and airline industry.

I have been to the Atlantic Models factory in Miami, FL and have seen the Atlantic Models being built and their process on making these models. Their models are nice, but from what I understand from the process of these two are totally different:

The process of these two manufacture uses two different methods to mold their models, which is totally different. Pac-Min uses an injection process to use pressure in the resin to force the resin into the molds. Atlantic uses a pour method, which just pours, the resin into their molds. What’s the difference you asked? The injection process would be more compressed on the resin, making the mold more dense and heavy. It’s like the forging process, like some of the parts on an automotive, which eliminates more bubbles and gives you a more solid mold than the pouring process, which will not compress the resin and squeeze out the bubbles?

Pac-Min builds their mold from the blueprints on a CAD system from the air-frame manufactures such as Boeing, Mc Donnell-Douglas etc. which their mold is cast out of solid block of steel which is very expensive, but can be used many times over and over without losing any accuracy nor have any distortion.

Atlantic builds their molds out of rubber block which can be used several hundred time then has to be thrown away because the rubber will wear out due to heat and after many uses will distortion unable to hold their accuracy.

As I understand that the only company that have quality close to Pac-Min would be Space-Models out of England, but won't surpass the Pac-Min's.

Pac-Min does not do custom models for the public, but they do custom for their customers like Boeing and the airlines, which those companies can afford to have them do a custom model like 1 of 1 item.

What it boils down to is what you want and what quality is it that you’re looking for!

06-20-2003, 12:07 AM	#15
SPEEDEMON Senior Collector Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Francisco Bay Age: 47 Posts: 192	Let me shed some light on this issue. Pac-Min has been around for over more than a half of a century. Their models are considered state of the art and have not been surpassed by anyone yet in the commercial professional market of presentation-grade, promotional models for the airframe and airline industry. I have been to the Atlantic Models factory in Miami, FL and have seen the Atlantic Models being built and their process on making these models. Their models are nice, but from what I understand from the process of these two are totally different: The process of these two manufacture uses two different methods to mold their models, which is totally different. Pac-Min uses an injection process to use pressure in the resin to force the resin into the molds. Atlantic uses a pour method, which just pours, the resin into their molds. What’s the difference you asked? The injection process would be more compressed on the resin, making the mold more dense and heavy. It’s like the forging process, like some of the parts on an automotive, which eliminates more bubbles and gives you a more solid mold than the pouring process, which will not compress the resin and squeeze out the bubbles? Pac-Min builds their mold from the blueprints on a CAD system from the air-frame manufactures such as Boeing, Mc Donnell-Douglas etc. which their mold is cast out of solid block of steel which is very expensive, but can be used many times over and over without losing any accuracy nor have any distortion. Atlantic builds their molds out of rubber block which can be used several hundred time then has to be thrown away because the rubber will wear out due to heat and after many uses will distortion unable to hold their accuracy. As I understand that the only company that have quality close to Pac-Min would be Space-Models out of England, but won't surpass the Pac-Min's. Pac-Min does not do custom models for the public, but they do custom for their customers like Boeing and the airlines, which those companies can afford to have them do a custom model like 1 of 1 item. What it boils down to is what you want and what quality is it that you’re looking for!