Cheater slicks ?

[Jon Haigwood]

Anybody come up with a slick way to make cheater slicks (yes I did a search).

My AMT Racemaster slick tires are not exactly flat and I have to sand them down anyway so I would like to make a set of cheater slicks out of a pair or two

Thanks

[Snake45]

Yes, I've made them, and it's ridiculously easy.

Get an Xacto razor saw. The coarse cut is best but the fine cut works too. You don't need the handle, just the blade.

Now all you need is a nice flat smooth surface and a book. Lay the book flat on the table, and stick the razor saw blade in the pages where you want it (you're using the book as an infinitely adjustable space block). You can C-clamp this whole thing to the table, or just hold it with your hand. Now lay the slick flat on the smooth, flat surface, and start working it around the saw blade, about a stroke at a time.

When you've cut the first groove all the way around, don't move the book and saw at all, but flip the tire over and cut the second groove, which will be exactly as far from the edge of the tread as the first one was. It shouldn't take you more than 10 minutes to groove a pair of slicks, 15 tops.

[59 Impala]

Great tip Snake. I'm gonna use it fer sure. Dan

[Greg Myers]

There were "Cheater Slicks" in a few model kits. Johan had some

Edited June 2, 2015 by Greg Myers

[High octane]

Speed City Resin has some great "cheater slicks" in a few different sizes.

[Jon Haigwood]

Thanks, that sounds almost to easy Snake

I want to make some from the extra Pie Crust old school slicks I have in my tire and wheel stash.

[Longbox55]

I've used a little different approach to making them. I have a home made tire sanding tool that chucks up in a drill. chuck the tire up in it as normal, spin it up with a drill (I generally use a drill press, hands free and holds a steady rpm), mark where I want the grooves, then cut them in with a razor saw or file.

[DaveM]

I have chucked them up on the wood lathe and gone at them with the corner of a parting tool tipped on its side, but I like Snake's idea better. I don't even want to think about mounting them on the metal lathe.

Modelhaus makes a couple of types, and Stevens International used to sell repops of the Johan ones from the '64 Dodge. Those Johan ones are perfect for all of the Stock and Super Stock builds from the early Sixties.

I was thinking of cutting grooves into a couple of AMT Parts Pack M&H Racemasters for a project that needs "The Look" I am going to see if Snake's method will work with a broken Jeweler's saw blade that I have on hand.

[Jon Haigwood]

Let me know how that works out Dave

[BigTallDad]

Although I have a drill press and a wood lathe, I prefer to use a drill cradle to sand down, then cut the tread.

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=102101

[Muncie]

Snake's method works!

and no high speed spinning parts that can grab a blade... Don't need that story in the "you must be a model builder if..." topic

A variation is to subsitiute a block of the proper thickness in place of the book. - The block just needs to be the right thickness and large enough to give a stable suport for the saw. It is very easy to control the depth and make a consistent groove.

This method can even be used to section a tire to narrow the width. Works great with the rubber tires like Tamiya

[Longbox55]

and no high speed spinning parts that can grab a blade...

That's why I use the drill press. Mine is setup for lower rpm, as it's primarily used for drilling metal (high rpm=burned drill bit). Couple that with a properly maintained file or a good sharp blade that cuts instead of grabs, shouldn't have any problems.

I'm not saying the Snakes method is wrong or bad in any way, just different methods to accomplish the same goal. I do like the book idea, and you block variant. That could potentially be used with my method as well (the block, not sure the book would be good with a drill press).

[Guest]

I like Snakes idea. The book would make it possible to make them exactly the same, and you can fine tune it to make it exactly where you want it. Thanks! I'll have to remember that.

[zenrat]

The MPC Dodge Dart Sport they reissued in the last year or 2 has cheater slicks.

[dartman]

I use the mandrel I made for the drill press to scuff my tires.I get the tires spinning and

lightly hold the x-acto saw on them then finish up with some light sand paper on the rest

of the tire to even it all out.