Sacto John,
I have no problem posting here. Maybe it will help someone else too.

Your 1st question was about the mold making silicone. Are you refering to the RTV mold material? I have never used it personally because I prefer my molds to be hard; RTV is flimsy and has a tendency to give inconsistent results like a dull apearance to the plastic. The resin enables me to make changes if I don't like the final results. For example, I made a lizard mold that had very realistic feet that were very hard to pour, so I used my dremel and shaped them into paddle feet. More action in the water and easier to pour.

2nd: You want to know if you can make a mold out of a pre-existing plastic bait? Yes, BUT... the bait must have a flat back or stomach. If it has a round back or stomach, then you will need to make a 2 piece mold. For a 1 piece mold you will need the following:

pie pan (or small container to hold bait and mold material)
I use the cheap pie or cake pans from the dollar store.
super glue

Carefully glue the entire flat surface to the pan. Next mix up whatever mold making material you will be using. Mix it VERY slowly, and very well. The slower you mix, the less air bubbles you will create. Next, simply pour the material over your lure. Make sure you cover your entire lure and make the mold approximately 1/2" thicker then the bait. This will help the material last longer due to the high heat of the plastic when you pour.

3rd: Do you have any pictures of the process? Not of the actual process but of the finished material
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/mywoodsac/lst?.dir=/Resin+Molds&.view=t

Finally you wanted to know about the smell. I'm not sure what you are refering to. If your plastic is putting off a strong odor, it's possible you are heating it too fast. Heat the plastic slowly, stirring it frequently. I cook all my plastic in the microwave. It's much quicker and doesn't require as much effort. I use a fan to help blow away what fumes or odor are created.

If you have any other questions let me know. I'll try and help the best I can. Here is a pic of some of my custom craws. This is a top and bottom view. They are about 4 1/2" long. They have a "custom" scent and micro rattles in the head. They are great for bulking up a jig, or just "T-Riggin". I made the prototype from clay and them followed the steps above. Hope this helps.






http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/834.jpg