We are casting parts needed for our 1:20.3 model railroad. Tie plates, point slide rail braces, switch stands and lanterns. We go through the process of making a mold and spin casting metal parts.
If you have been following our work on our garden railroad, part of which is indoor, we are currently hand laying track in the switching yard using cast components: points, frogs, tie plates, point slide rail braces (chairs) and switch stands and lanterns.
Back in the 70's, we were making Dungeons and Dragons figures as Masterpiece Miniatures and Black Tower Miniatures. And after that fad died we found other uses for our casting equipment. Today only using it for our own modeling and generally screwing around.
From da wab:
The white metals are any of several light-colored alloys used as a base for plated silverware, ornaments or novelties, as well as any of several lead-based or tin-based alloys used for things like bearings, jewelry, miniature figures, fusible plugs, some medals and metal type. The term is also used in the antiques trade for an item suspected of being silver, but not hallmarked.
https://llagascreekrailways.com/
http://microengineering.com/products_rail.htm
A white metal alloy may include antimony, tin, lead, cadmium, bismuth, and zinc (some of which are quite toxic). Not all of these metals are found in all white metal alloys. Metals are mixed to achieve a desired goal or need. As an example, a base metal for jewelry needs to be castable, polishable, have good flow characteristics, can cast fine detail without an excessive amount of porosity and cast at between 230 and 300 °C (446 and 572 °F).