Looking for a set of spoked front wheels and maybe tires for a Dragula build.

[moparmagiclives]

Any one have a set of front spokes they would part with, I've got lots of diff parts for trades

[eviltwincustoms]

By chance have you thought about lacing up your own set of custom spoked wheels? I have to say they would look 10x's better, just based on another members FED that is posted here.

Edited November 28, 2011 by eviltwincustoms

[Len Geisler]

Any one have a set of front spokes they would part with, I've got lots of diff parts for trades

Check with MAS, I snagged a killer pair of machined/photoetched spoked fronts from them @ NNL East last year, sorry I didnt get more

[moparmagiclives]

Thanks guys, I've never thought about doing my own because I want sure how to go about it, but It doesnt look to bad to do (haha)

[Evil Appetite]

this might help a little

http://www.straightlinemodeler.org/wirewheels.htm

[whale392]

Thanks for that link, Mike. I will have to print that article and template as I have several motorcycles in 1/24th-1/25th scale that could also benefit from that tutorial.

[BigDaddy]

I used that same tutorial from StraightlineModeler.com. It works pretty good actually. I had seen another tutorial on a different site, but even they suggested the straightline tutorial.

The only difference being that I carved my own wheel "hoops" out of .063 styrene. Just use a circle template and cut out with curved tip scissors. Cutting as close to my template line as possible gave me a round enough shape to start with. Then I drilled a hole in the very center of each circle I cut. Taking two circles at a time, I chucked them up in a dremel with a regular dremel arbor/mandrel. The kind that the cutoff wheels are held onto, with a screw. I spun them at a medium speed with a sanding stick to true them up to each other. That way, I had two "hoops" that were the same diameter. Since it takes two "hoops" to make one wheel. I also ground a rounded groove between the two hoops for the o-ring "tire" to sit in, using a round mini-file. Then I enlarged the center hole that I drilled and slowly augured it out with a dremel sanding drum, to the right inside diameter that I wanted. Going slowly here on a medium speed is important. Otherwise, the dremel will just melt the plastic or zoom it right out of your fingers into la la land.

After getting 4 hoops, I had the wheel halves, and could go on with lacing them with the styrene spokes. I also tried .013 beading wire, which works good, but you have to use superglue to attach them. I found that the styrene .010 rod works better and Tenax wont glue my fingers together !

Following the tutorial for making the hubs and lacing the wheels, I ended up with a nice set of scale motorcycle type wheels for my FED's. The only reason I made my own hoops, to get the diameter I wanted. Ive always thought the kit wheels were too small of a diameter. I ended up with 7/8ths inch outside diameter wheels. It takes a bigger o-ring, but found them at Ace Hardware for .79 each.

Sprayed with Alclad, they cut the mustard just fine.

Just my experience and method of doing it. Not perfect yet, but I was happy that I had something more prototypical than what comes in the kits. Unfortunately, it's rather an involved process and takes time. If you used the kit hoops, as the tutorial does, it may not take as long.

[Dragline]

I have built there wheels as per the instructions and it works flawlessly. I will never use kit wire wheels again.

Bob

Check my Garlits 1A build for proof.