41 replies to this topic

[James2]

I dull coat the tire and decal, though.
 

 

 

 

I use coins to cover the wheel while painting, dimes work perfectly.

[dodgefever]

I dislike these newer ribbed wheels, but I'd still rather have them than the one piece Japanese style.  How is having no inner bead detail an improvement?

[Casey]

These rubber wheels and matching tires are here to stay, so get used to 'em. 

[1930fordpickup]

Probably has more to do with costs. 1 piece design = less material . means cheaper to tool up + to manufacturer = a small costs savings per kit.

Might be only a few pennies per kit, but figure that over hundreds of thousands of kits and the costs add up pretty quick

This is spot on .

Just to add a few notes .

Any way they can save over the long haul is a plus for them. If the tooling is cheaper to make it will be cheaper to fix , and take less time to repair to get back on the floor for production. Complex molds take more time to repair. They are just keeping it as simple as they can. 

Edited by 1930fordpickup, 14 April 2013 - 02:56 AM.

[G Holding]

I believed they did it to stop us from interchanging wheels with different kits...

SURE.............  

[raildogg]

Oh man, you've hit my sore spot. Kit manufacturers are really dissing the market here. They are just not hearing us! Kit wheels and tires, plain and simply, suck!! If we, as modellers and consumer, can be a voice, I'd like to see us get through on this one. We need to see a new, modern, and accurately done, mold made so the tires match the types being offered by the likes of TAMIYA and AOSHIMA and lets not forget about FUJIMI. These are some of the best ones around. Stop the madness and man up, gives us wheels and tire that fit and are up to date. Hear us!!!

[Greg Myers]

Why aren't the tires made from a more rubber like material? Some old Revell kits had rubber like tires. Alan Rabb of Ma's Resin uses a rubber like material.

[Craig Irwin]

I can trim the tabs off, what I want is for them to quit making the custom wheels in 20 or more inches in diameter.

[Shardik]

I can trim the tabs off, what I want is for them to quit making the custom wheels in 20 or more inches in diameter.

[Greg Myers]

I can trim the tabs off, what I want is for them to quit making the custom wheels in 20 or more inches in diameter.

[Brett Barrow]

The Stacey David car and 62 Vette (the most recent kits I can think if with the new style tires) are a more rubber like material.

Personally, I like em the more I work with them. I especially like that it gets the sprue attachment off the wheel lip. No more tearing chunks out of the lip or sanding flat spots in them.

Put the tires in the sun or warm them in a dehydrator or with a hair dryer and the go on a lot easier.

It also seems like revell and amt have finally agreed on a common size for 15" wheels after what? 50 some years?

[G Holding]

I still remember a long time back.....Heck it was 2008 and all the wheel issues were about the wheels you LIKE now?...Time changes, I buy a lot of AFTERMARKET wheel sets, and can depend on fitting them up...every build!  Yep, thats why I build models, not glue them together.

[Casey]

Why aren't the tires made from a more rubber like material? Some old Revell kits had rubber like tires. Alan Rabb of Ma's Resin uses a rubber like material.

 

Some Japanese kits do too, and they dry out and split in a few years. Revell's 1/16 Funny Car and Top Fuel tires were made in Japan for many years, and they eventually dry rotted and cracked, too, so maybe the softer compounds aren't the answer. I have a few softer rubber-like tires from the Monogram '55 Ford pickup which are still holding up well, but I can't recall any vinyl tires cracking and dry rotting, so maybe the material makes a big difference in terms of longevity.

 

I wouldn't mind of kit manufacturers went back to including styrene tires again, either. We prep and finish every other part of a kit, so why not the tires? It seems other than sanding the mold seam or the entire tread area tires are an afterthought to most.

 

As someone mentioned earlier, when tires have whitewalls or sidewall lettering added before the tires are installed, the flexibility of the tire is a major concern. Maybe that's why Revell was going to include tampo printed whitewalls in the '50 Olds kit (and future kits?) and why Round2 has invested heavily in tampo printed slicks and whitewalls, too.

[Ford guy]

The new wheels with tabs make it alot harder for young kids (and old guys with arthritis) to assemble.

The more they make these kits harder, the less new modelers will be willing to buy/build more. It seems the manufacturers are hurting themselves trying to save a few pennies. 

 

I think every kit should come with a set a custom wheels.

 

I'll buy a 2-n-1 kit before I'll buy one that can be build only one way. 

[Harry P.]

I think every kit should come with a set a custom wheels.

 

And I think every time I order a Big Mac I should also get a free order of fries.

 

But the world doesn't work that way.

[martinfan5]

 

And I think every time I order a Big Mac I should also get a free order of fries.

 

But the world doesn't work that way.

 

Wouldnt it be nice though to get free fries with a Big Mac, or a free cholesterol screening

[Harry P.]

Wouldnt it be nice though to get free fries with a Big Mac, or a free cholesterol screening

 

A free cholesterol screening would probably be the better choice!

[martinfan5]

 

A free cholesterol screening would probably be the better choice!

That will come with a free side of fries

 

I guess I should post something close to the topic at hand,  I love opening up a Japanses kits, because you get the smell of fresh rubber, kind of like the smell that when you walk into a tire store/shop

[Danno]

Would you like fries with your rice, sir??

[martinfan5]

 

Would you like fries with your rice, sir??

 

Yes I would please,  chicken fired rice and fries sound good