
Builder Last Online: Mar 2023


Model Scale: 1/8
Rating:
Thanks: 2

Started: 02-10-13
Build Revisions: Never

When I was building my Toronado model, I had a huge roadblock: the tires. Nothing was available in the shape and scale I was doing. In 1979, I went for the first time for vacation in the USA. I went to Reno to visit the Harras museum and there, I bought "the complete car modeller" by Gerald Wingrove. Bingo, there is a description how to solve my problem! If I had now a method, I still not had the products. I bought first a red silicone product which was good for the various steps of making tires or other moulds but inappropriate for tires. Later, I discovered a product made by Dow Corning "Sylgard". It's a two part system, a black and a grey one. When mixed, the result is "light black" if I dare to use this expression. The company I asked for one can each was generous: I got them for free. Some years ago, when I needed more "rubber", I saw the price; I almost fall off the chair!
With some steps forward and sometimes more steps backwards, I finally made the tires for the Toronado. Then, in 2003 I began again with modelling. Indeed, I just wanted to do better wheelcovers for the Avanti; it ended with a 90 or 95% new construction. The plan was to keep the original tires: they came from General Motors when they had their modelling competition in the mid-sixties. Almost at the end I decided that new wheels and tires were a necessity. At about the same period, I decided that a Mark II model would be a good thing as long as I can use tools. So, suddenly, I had to do about 10 tires, of course with two different dimensions.
As I had a decent result with the Toronado, I used the same 30 or more years old' system . Today, I would do the master tire with a different method with some inspiration from this forum. The master tire for the Avanti was done with a rework from the Toronado master tire. For the Mark II, I had to do another one as the outside diameter is real large.
Here is the beginning:
As you can see, this is a real large piece of brass, almost too large for that small machine. Why brass and not aluminum? Well, I like brass, its ability to be worked easily with short chips and easy to solder.
As the small motor is quickly overheating, progresses are slow:
Now, almost half a kilo of brass is gone:

You can see that hand tools are used, no CAD machine here!
The structure is done, but what about the thread? Again, with the material I have, a little imagination is needed. The thread details will be done the same way as with the orher master tires: machined bands of brass:
As I wanted something more elaborate than a simple zigzag, the small machine was set-up to mill the bands:
And more milling:
The end result:
And now? here the brass and his properties are great: the bands will be soft soldered on the master tire:
It takes a long, long time to heat that huge mass of brass:
I was glad when all were in place; there is excess solder which must be cleaned:
Bias-ply tires have usually some indentations at the transition between the thread and side wall, they are milled:
Another view:
After many days of work, the master tire is ready. The view of the back side:
And one of the front:
There is a large indentation done on the front side wall; this is for the white wall.
A tire shows the name of the manufacturer. All my tires are "Good Year" because the script is easy to do with paint. "Firestone" is in comparison a nightmare. Here is the preparation:

With some steps forward and sometimes more steps backwards, I finally made the tires for the Toronado. Then, in 2003 I began again with modelling. Indeed, I just wanted to do better wheelcovers for the Avanti; it ended with a 90 or 95% new construction. The plan was to keep the original tires: they came from General Motors when they had their modelling competition in the mid-sixties. Almost at the end I decided that new wheels and tires were a necessity. At about the same period, I decided that a Mark II model would be a good thing as long as I can use tools. So, suddenly, I had to do about 10 tires, of course with two different dimensions.
As I had a decent result with the Toronado, I used the same 30 or more years old' system . Today, I would do the master tire with a different method with some inspiration from this forum. The master tire for the Avanti was done with a rework from the Toronado master tire. For the Mark II, I had to do another one as the outside diameter is real large.
Here is the beginning:
As you can see, this is a real large piece of brass, almost too large for that small machine. Why brass and not aluminum? Well, I like brass, its ability to be worked easily with short chips and easy to solder.
As the small motor is quickly overheating, progresses are slow:
Now, almost half a kilo of brass is gone:
You can see that hand tools are used, no CAD machine here!
The structure is done, but what about the thread? Again, with the material I have, a little imagination is needed. The thread details will be done the same way as with the orher master tires: machined bands of brass:
As I wanted something more elaborate than a simple zigzag, the small machine was set-up to mill the bands:
And more milling:
The end result:
And now? here the brass and his properties are great: the bands will be soft soldered on the master tire:
It takes a long, long time to heat that huge mass of brass:
I was glad when all were in place; there is excess solder which must be cleaned:
Bias-ply tires have usually some indentations at the transition between the thread and side wall, they are milled:
Another view:
After many days of work, the master tire is ready. The view of the back side:
And one of the front:
There is a large indentation done on the front side wall; this is for the white wall.
A tire shows the name of the manufacturer. All my tires are "Good Year" because the script is easy to do with paint. "Firestone" is in comparison a nightmare. Here is the preparation:
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