Before moving on with the test foot I'm posting a few photos per request. The first is a closeup of the lateral edge of the test foot. The thin horizontal lines were transferred from the clay model to the gypsum cast. This shows the fine level of detail that can be captured by the latex mold.
The second and third photos show the potential for inaccuracy in the molding process.
In the above photo A is the clay toe and B is the gypsum cement cast toe. The red arrows point to a depression and a ridge not present on the clay model. The ridge was created by the latex being too thin and bunching up, which in turn created the adjoining depression.
The above photo shows the aforementioned ridge and depression (2) along with a much larger ridge that bisects the toe (1). The large ridge is another defect again caused by the latex being too thin and adhering to itself.These defects are inconsequential in regards to the test foot but do illustrate some of the potential pitfalls involved in replicating casts. The TF1 did not need to be an exact copy of the clay model and the latex mold was only needed for one casting. Because of this the latex mold was made thin. Where the replication of detail is paramount or where the mold will be used numerous times the latex should be applied much thicker than previously described in order to prevent binding and to form a much sturdier mold.
