De-snapping

Rockford · Saturday at 07:08 AM

I wasn't sure if this was worthy of its own topic but it's been keeping me occupied so I thought I'd show everyone.

You all know I build 1/32 Snap Tites and try to improve the look of them. I've sorted a system for deepening the awful shallow wheel dishes but it invariably led to the loss of chrome wheels, which isn't always a bad thing, but sometimes you want a polished finish.

I'd pondered solutions for while. Aftermarket? Not really affordable for me. Chrome effect paint on my usual plastic insert? Doesn't stand up to handling and there's a lot of it in building the tandems. I was determined to get something because the tandems on my 352 were starting to annoy me, they spoil the look of the truck.

I bought some thick-walled aluminium tube for a few pounds, it's an extruded piece, no seam in it.

I very gingerly cut 3.5mm slices from it with a hacksaw or pipe cutter, both have their advantages and drawbacks. I need about 3.2mm in the finished form so the extra 0.3mm gives me room for filing and polishing.

After I had the 4 rings I made a rough jig where I can hold the 4 together and file them simultaneously to the same size. I used progressively finer files as I go along, then change to wet and dry paper, used wet until all the deep scratches are gone.

I then add a chamfer on one side to simulate the edge of the wheel dish and start buffing with metal polish and a buffing pad on my motor tool.

The wheels themselves are reduced by 3.2mm at the inner mount, which I then used on the outside of the wheel as the hub, I just reduce the diameter with a file. I rub the edge of the rim away so the outer edge is flat.

The overall effect is excellent and improves the stance of the trucks no end. I've also been adding sliding 5th wheels where possible. I'm really pleased with the improvements I made to my Freightliner conventional. As well as the tandems and the 5th wheel I reduced the front track, replaced the quarter fenders and painted under the wheel arches on the hood.