by Retro Racer 44 » Thu Oct 06, 2016 11:47 pm
This thread seems to have fallen silent, and I hope it isn't from lack of interest in this project. I know Allan has been away, and others may have been busy with other projects but I have been quietly working on making wooden spoked wheels and skinny tires for 1911 racers.
I got advice from our two professional 3D shops, and thanks to both Matt from Changing Gearz and Jeremy from Devis3d Designs, I have come up with a method for making wooden spoked wheels that should work. My friend Ron has written the file for printing the wheels in clear plastic. The wheel itself will be like an insert wheel but with the hub and spokes in low relief as an integral part of the wheel. The hub, spokes and rim can then be painted (carefully) and the clear backing of the wheel will look like air. Ron is also making a buck for a urethane tire to fit this wheel, which will be cast and put on the finished wheels. A couple extra tires can even be hung on the back.
For now, the wheels will have to be glued on to the axles, but why not, most RTR slot cars have press on plastic wheels. I have a chassis that is finished and not in use, and I will test the wheels on it to see if they are strong enough. Once the test is completed we will know if it is worth making more.
So I haven't given up on this proxy idea, and I hope the rest of you are still in as well.
Cheers,
Keith