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Well , I did promise tires didn't I ?

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  • Member since
    August 2008
Well , I did promise tires didn't I ?
Posted by tankerbuilder on Monday, March 30, 2015 2:48 PM

Okay , Now this will apply to all who build anything with tires .

    There are two schools of thought here .One is to make a Looong strip and keep rolling it up till you've got a tire sized roll and glue it together .

     Well , that is one way .The other requires a little thought . First you cut some strips that are slightly angled .This will give you the taper at the side of the tire .Now make a hollow roll and do the same , with one difference Keep the tapers lined up diagonally .When you finish you will have a open center roll with a side taper to it .

     here's where it gets interesting .Make another roll that from front to back is only two thirds of the width of your tire .You'll see why in a minute . Now cut two circles that are bigger than the center opening in the tire .

     Now punch a hole in the middle with a small punch .Take this and form a tapered open center cone that has that center opening of the size of that tight small roll you did at the very edge of the cone  . Now glue the tight roll into this cone .Take another cone like it and glue it on the  other side of the tight roll .Now slip the large  tire coil on to the edges of the outside of the cone .Remember though to make sure the cones face inward at the center .when dry you should have a rough wheel that looks  like a child's wagon wheel .

    Coat this with Super Glue and let dry for a few days .Now sand to shape . All you have to do now is add any style of wheel cover you wish .That's basically a disc marked with the features you want . Glue this to the edge of the widest part of your tire over the cone edge .

     Make sure you cover the center piece with this part . You may wish to use the wheel - cover as a stop for your axle .

    There is a third way which is far easier , but leaves you with a pretty plain unit .Make a disc the size of your wheel/tire combination and cut them out and color them . Now make a small hole marking the center .Take and make that tight center roll again and glue the three pieces with the roll in dead center. Make a strip of paper wide enough to cover the edge of this two disc unit .

   Glue it well , let dry , sand lightly and mount on a pin axle . Here's a trick for strength .Take a piece of thin cardboard and cut it to fit just inside of the edges of the circles at the outside edge. Now glue your finish paper on the outside of this and the tire disc edges . Paint to suit .

   Want tread ? try this , get a pair of pinking shears and cut thin strips and glue them in parallel strips on the tire face and then paint . Well , there you have tires .The first was more suitable for aircraft and the second for a vehicle .You can also cut discs and when you think you have enough , cut four smaller than the originals .

    This way your tire sidewall has some shape . Glue , let sit , Coat with super glue , sand gently and  Paint . There's the scoop on tires . Don't forget , on the last make sure you find and drill or poke a hole at center .

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Monday, March 30, 2015 3:26 PM

Aren't you kinda tired after all that?SurpriseStick out tongue

.

But seriously, that sounds a bit like what I've been contemplating for scratch building a HUMVEE tire core for a resin cast mold.................Hmm

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 2:26 PM

You'd be right on track !

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 3:37 PM

Hopefully, not in a rut..........Whistling

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Thursday, April 9, 2015 12:30 PM

Yeah-LOL.LOL.

  • Member since
    May 2006
Posted by Rob Beach on Saturday, June 11, 2016 12:52 AM

Once upon a time, I came across an article in Scale Models Int'l (done by Harry Woodman) describing how to cut a single strip (of plastic card) to roll into a tire/wheel.  The strip varied in width such that the resulting 'roll' included the proper curvature of the tire sidewalls.

I have since attempted to create a tool (spreadsheet) that would allow a few inputs of general key features (outer diameter, inner Dia., width, sidewall curvature, thickness of media used... so on) which would then generate the shape of the required strip.  Something about rolling up a long strip and then having a properly shaped wheel seems appealing.

However, my math skills are insufficient (my poor calculus!) so I am forced to 'flail about' until it is resolved.  The primary issue seems to be that the layering isn't strictly 'circular' in nature (not a series of tubes...more of a 'toilet paper roll' effect) which has an impact on the sidewall curvature.

It would be a great tool to have; wheels are the 'bug-a-bear' of many a scratchbuilding & paper project, especially if you don't have access to a lathe.  I'm throwing this out in hope smarter folks than I may make a go of it.

Regards, Robert

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Washington State
Posted by leemitcheltree on Saturday, March 11, 2017 11:01 PM

That sounds great!  Do you have any pics?

Cheers, LeeTree
Remember, Safety Fast!!!

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