Any Budding Gerald Wingroves Out There

[HotRodaSaurus]

Have you attempted this?

I have a motorcyle kit and wish to spoke the wheels with wire rather than just leave the plastic spokes.

So have you attempted this or could recommend a website.

I know it is almost impossible to put in the correct number of spokes in a 1/16 scale kit without it looking cluttered as with super detailing, I also know that they have to be slightly offset at the hub to the rim.

Any jigs or fixtures available? Heeeeeeeelp me please.

This is the one thing that has always prevented me from building accurate bike kits.

The only stiff wire I have found is 0.020inch from the railroad model shop. Can you get thinner than this?

Thanks, John

[MrObsessive]

John, a while back a tutorial was shown on lacing wire wheels...................click here to check it out......

[Smart-Resins]

Straight line modeler has a tutorial as well. I have seen fishing line, wire and tiny plastic rod used. Several different techniques. All of the same basic pricipals are encorperated though. What I would suggest here though is to figure out wich wire rim you wish to represent as I know some have less spokes then others! this may help you figure out the spacing and better look for realism in that scale. I did one some time back using pins on a 1/12 bike. getting the pins in and keepint hte hub centered was tricky till I came up with a good jig. I took a board and drilled a hole in the center to place a rod the size of the hole in the hub. Then I drew my lines for lacing the rim. Then I used a string and pencil to draw the outer circle for the outer rim. I then made a support for the outer rim to sit on at the right height. Then I laced the pins in from the outside. Tacked them with TA. Once it was all done I went back around the rim with more TA. Getting the spokes done right was the tricky part, then the next huge tricky part was to drill ALL of the hole properly. I would probably suggest the plastic idea as it has to be much easier to do! Jody

[HotRodaSaurus]

Thanks guys, this looks a hell of a job but the finished thing, especially on that MG looks fantastic compared to the plastic moulded spokes.

This info from both methods looks a great guide for detailing cars, bikes and especially dragsters

Before I attemt this I am going to be buying up quite a few old kits with spoke wheels , part builts etc or parts missing.

The project is an Airfix BSA C15 which somehow will end up reprisenting my A65. A long term project I think as well as a couple of others in the bag(Big Jaguar and Trumpeter Pontiac)

Well anyway I do have most of an Airfix Honda 450 kit to play with so lets see how it goes.

Any more ideas always appreciated.

Many thanks,

John