If you can obtain actual parting compound that is of course best but some substitutes that have been used by various hobbyists are; baking flour, talcum powder, baby powder and I've even heard of diatomacious Earth (from a gardening store) can be used. When using substitutes you may need to experiment because they may not work with certain molding sands (for example, it may work with oil bonded sand but not greensand) and they may be more sensitive to the moisute content of the sand. More.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.