Model kit production is a different discipline from general injection molding. The parts are small, the detail is fine, and the runner layout has to make sense to the person holding the sprue on a living room table. We mould kit sprues in polystyrene for scale model brands, promotional kits and educational assembly projects.
What we mould
- Vehicle, aircraft and ship hull panels and detail parts
- Mechanical sub-assemblies: wheels, brackets, gears and linkage
- Snap-fit demonstration kits for training and marketing
- Multi-colour kits on separate runners, packed in one box
Why polystyrene
PS takes fine engraving well, holds a crisp edge on small features and bonds cleanly with standard model cements. For kits that will be handled roughly by children, a high-impact grade keeps the parts from snapping at the runner gate.
Specification
| Material | PS, high-impact grade, natural or pre-coloured |
|---|---|
| Runner size | 120 to 400 mm, layout optimised to the press |
| Detail | Engraved panel lines, rivets and bolt heads from 0.3 mm |
| Tolerance | ±0.05 mm on mating features |
| Tooling | P20 or S136 steel, 300k to 500k shot life |
| MOQ | 1,000 sets per kit |
Gate and runner design
Gates are placed on hidden faces wherever the geometry allows, so that a clipped part shows a clean surface. Where a gate mark will be visible, we flag it in the DFM note and propose an alternative, usually a pin-point gate on an internal rib.
Decoration
Water-slide and dry-transfer decals can be sourced to the buyer's artwork, and we can supply the kit with a numbered instruction sheet showing assembly order. Painting is not part of the standard scope; kits are supplied in bare plastic or pre-coloured plastic.
Related categories
Larger molded toy components are covered under building blocks and model kits, and tooling for this type of part sits in plastic molds. Resin grades and colour masterbatch are listed under plastic materials.
Project flow
Send 3D data (STEP or IGES) with the intended part function. We return a DFM report within 5 working days covering draft angles, gate positions, ejection and runner layout, then quote tooling and piece price together.
