Enter keywords or a search phrase below:
Hi Aaron
I was flicking through FSM issues tying to find a certain article when I came across the recent 'Your most wanted model" poll article. While I was at it I re-read through the results (coz my memory span sucks) and when I got to the cars it got me thinking. I love exotic super cars and I love building them but a lot of them have a major shortcoming IMO. Their tyres and rims usually suck! I'm sure many will agree. Compared to photos of the original their shape is inaccurate, they're sometimes too narrow (especially on some Revell muscle cars), have hard to reach flash on the spokes, are commonly chrome plated and the grades and quality of rubber used for tyres often leaves a lot to be desired (once again, Revell). A great example of OOB tyres/rims would be Tamiya's Ferrari Enzo's set - almost perfect except they're chrome plated (very few Ferrari's have factory chrome rims). Fujimi's are quite nice too.
There was a quote in the lead up article to the poll results " ...when readers speak, manufacturers usually listen...". I would greatly appreciate it if you good folks down at FSM headquarters could convey this message to the manufacturers. Tyres and rims are very prominent features on cars and manufacturers need to dump more money into development of them to make them good IMHO.
Sorry if this seems like too much of a rant.
Thanks
I like to build older cars, especially older racing cars. When it comes to wheels and tires, the thing I think is sorely needed are decent wire wheels for older (pre-WW2) cars (and of course the tires to fit). Whether they are the string-um-yourself kind like the Finecast, or PE, they are sorely needed. There are some PE wire wheels in the aftermarket, but they are all for smaller diameter, wider wheels of post WW2 cars.
Don Stauffer in Minnesota
somenewguy " ...when readers speak, manufacturers usually listen...".
Scale Auto forum ALWAYS has a thread called "what unproduced model car would you like to see" and "what model car would you like to see re-released". i don't think any manufacturers have ever read one of these threads or they'd be able to work out what modelers are craving.
My Photo Album
Tamiyas wheels and tires are better by far. one thing you can do if you don't like the chrome is strip the rim. I've heard of people soaking rims in simple green (i could be wrong) and it takes the chrome finish off and you can paint whatever color you would like. I built the Tamiya Nismo R34 skyline and it came with 2 sets of rims, one chrome, one regular. but remeber the differnece with Tamiya vs. Revell. better quality but at a higher price.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.