USAC_1957 Posted December 19, 2006 Posted December 19, 2006 Hi all, I was lucky enough to pick up and unbuilt kit of the first model car I built-the AMT Sunbeam Tiger (It's actually the AMT/Lesney re-release from the '70s). I've been gathering some reference pics for the build, and I've seen several cars with Minilte wheels. My question is: does anyone cast 4-lug Minilites? I have a couple of alternate ideas, but those wheels look good on that body style. TIA Happy holidays!
Chromecop Posted December 19, 2006 Posted December 19, 2006 4-lug minilites are available in the ESCI Escort Mk II and also, I believe, in some kind of Peugeot Rallye edition kit from Heller/Airfix in 1/24.
USAC_1957 Posted December 19, 2006 Author Posted December 19, 2006 4-lug minilites are available in the ESCI Escort Mk II Is this the same Escort kit that AMT released? I seem to remember the AMT kit was based on some ESCI tooling...
Chromecop Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 I really don't know. But IIRC the AMT Escort was a mkIII and had the XR3 wheels in shape of a four leaf-clover.
Gregg Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 I think the Fujimi Toyota Celica has them also. It's the `70s Celica, blue box Will try to check
Ken Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 I have a couple different celica kits I will look at each one. I know the one does, I will check the other. If I have two sets and they are what you are looking for I will let you know
Exotics_Builder Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 These are Fujimi 4 lug Minilites that I got several years back. I don't recollect what kit they were in or if they came as a wheel set. I think they were recently released as wheels but were quickly bought up and out of stock.
jbwelda Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 say exotics builder, you wouldnt want to sell or trade those would you? i asked, no begged is probably more appropriate a term, for them a while ago to no avail. i need them to replicate the wheels on my 1:1 miata. replica and miniatures of maryland makes some inserts of 8 spoke minilite/panasport wheels but right offhand i dont recall if they are 4 or 5 lug.
USAC_1957 Posted December 20, 2006 Author Posted December 20, 2006 These are Fujimi 4 lug Minilites that I got several years back. I don't recollect what kit they were in or if they came as a wheel set. I think they were recently released as wheels but were quickly bought up and out of stock. those would be perfect... 8)
Exotics_Builder Posted December 21, 2006 Posted December 21, 2006 replica and miniatures of maryland makes some inserts of 8 spoke minilite/panasport wheels but right offhand i dont recall if they are 4 or 5 lug The Replica and Miniatures sets I have are 5 bolt. I think those are the only ones Norm offers, no four bolts. Lyle Willetts could likely confirm as my R&MofM catalog is not the most current. those would be perfect... One thing to consider if you find these wheels is that they're relatively wide if you're trying to fit a period correct car with appropriate tire. You could always file a set down to appropriate width, though. RandD unique sells Minilites, shallow and deep offset, but I don't know the number of lugs carried and the website photos are too small to tell. You may want to contact Tony and ask him. The Fujimi wheels above are called "Watanabe" wheels and there are some on eBay. HTH Gerry
jbwelda Posted December 21, 2006 Posted December 21, 2006 >The Fujimi wheels above are called "Watanabe" wheels and there are >some on eBay. oh those are the watanabe wheels? seems like i got a set of those around somewhere. now all i got to do is find them. thanks for the info.
USAC_1957 Posted December 22, 2006 Author Posted December 22, 2006 >The Fujimi wheels above are called "Watanabe" wheels and there are >some on eBay. oh those are the watanabe wheels? seems like i got a set of those around somewhere. now all i got to do is find them. thanks for the info. The Watanabe denotes a series of wheels Fujimi made-not just the Minilite wheel pictured above. I did an eBay search and found 2 or 3 other styles of wheels sold under the Fujimi Watanabe series. None of the Minilites, though...
Exotics_Builder Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 Here's the wheel sets to look for: Supposedly Aoshima also made a set, but I've never seen it here in the US or in Vancouver, BC when I'd go up there during our Seattle area living. I thought I saw a set during a quick scan on eBay. I did find the above Fujimi wheels on Hobby Link Japan, and it appears they have some in stock.
jbwelda Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 hmm now you tell me. oh well i suppose i will find a use for the two sets i bought off ebay last night...the photos were so small i couldnt tell exactly but i believe it was the "watanabe #2" that looked closest so i did a buy it now on them...and in the process i figured i might as well buy the metal watanabe wheels at the same time. now maybe onto hobby link japan. i bet they want as much for shipping as for the wheels themselves. but thanks.
Exotics_Builder Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 now maybe onto hobby link japan. i bet they want as much for shipping as for the wheels themselves. but thanks. I just got my first order from Hobby Link Japan. I used their standard shipping and the price wasn't outrageous. Package made it within 15 days delivered to my door. One RS Watanabe is 15" and the other 17" per the specs. As I said earlier, I don't have the pakaging or remember w here I got my wheels from.
lordairgtar Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 Didn't the Tiger come with Minilites, too?
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now