How to flatten a/c tires?

How much bulge? You are replicating the effects of a loaded tire in smaller scale. I see loaded aircraft tires everyday in my job. The bigger (heavier) the bird, the higher the tire pressure (for a normal load. ) So, all is needed is a sanded "flat" spot. However, if your bird is "over-loaded" with cargo or ordinance, the load weight exceeds the tire pressure, & you see a "bulge". Look at your cars rear tires. Then load the trunk with the kitchen -sink. See what I mean? Remember that less is better, & most aftermarket tires are bulged to much for a "normal" load. Good luck.

Something not near as dangerous as a hot iron or boiling water is a light bulb. (on preferably)

I agree that the clothes Iron is the best way to go. I have done this many times and it has worked great.
Another way to go is to use the burner on an electric stove. The only thing to remember with this is to hold the tires on a cold burner then turn the burner on low. As the burner heats up it will melt very quickly.

Either way you decide to go just try to remember to do all the wheels you want to bulge at the same time. So you get the same amount of bulge on each. If you melt too much off one than the other. The plane will either sit cantered or one wheel won't touch the ground at all.

Hope this helps
Paul

If the hubs are keyed, be sure to dry fit the strut and mark the tire bottom so you take off plastic in the correct position. Don't do what I did late last night and make the tire flat 90º off of the horizon. You'll have to knock off the key and fill in the gap.

-J

Scared of some hot water, but ya gonna put your hand on a hot iron

This is what I got from my source:

"There is a very slight bulge depending on the munitions load. With the load that I have given you there would be a slight buldge."

Weapons load was:
2 - AIM-120's - wing tips
2 - AIM- 9's - under wing LX's
2 - 370lb tanks
1 - ALQ-131
1 - AN/AAQ-28
4 - GBU-12s, 2 on stan3 and 2 on stan 7

In case anyone else wants to build a Hill AFB 466th FS F-16.

In 1/48 flattening is a rather good effect, I do not bother for 1/72 though or I just light sand them.....It is supposed to be a must for proffesional competitions, but personally I do not give a toss about it...

QUOTE: Originally posted by mastermodeler Just don't flatten it too much, the F-16 carried a pretty high tire pressure and there's not much bulge.

Hmmm...I wonder if I could skip it then? I'll contact my "inside source" (the weapons shop supervisor at Hill AFB who I'm building this for) and ask him.

Thanks for all the input!

Just don't flatten it too much, the F-16 carried a pretty high tire pressure and there's not much bulge.

QUOTE: Originally posted by wibhi2 I've done what MikeV suggests and it works fine.

wibhi2, do this process create the bulge on the wheel that represent it, like its supporting the weight of a plane?

I've done what MikeV suggests and it works fine.

I have also heard that you can put a piece of wax paper over your clothes iron and then push the wheel against the iron to flatten it.
I have never tried it myself.

Mike

The two ways I am familier with is to snad it, but you dont get the pressure budge. The other way is to put on a thick glove, grab your locking treezers and put your tire in the tweezers then dunk them in near boiling water for a couple of seconds then gently press the tire down on a flat surface. Becareful when doing this, you either get it right or you ruin the tire.

-Jeff