Wire Wheels.

[Jalopie Jim]

........"HFC" - did I hear right? Are you planning to lace your own 1/8 scale wheels? If so, more power to ya', but I'm gonna settle for working lugs on steel wheels ;) Lacing wheels sounds like it would be enough to drive a person :D to eat crayons. :D

[hot ford coupe]

Dang !!! So that's how it happened. I knew it wasn't the spark plugs. I can help you out with the working lugs. I don't know if you've done it before or need help doing them but the way I did them was first to figure out how big the lugnuts should be. I then found a set of nuts and bolts I bought at a railroad model shop. They I think they're the same brand available on this site. They're made by Walther and come in 12 count packs in sizes 00-90 , 0-80 , 1-72 , and 2-56 . I think the 1-72 nut and bolt should be about the right size. I used the 2-56 and made some acorn nuts out of them. They look great. I drilled the holes in the brake drum, threaded the bolt through and superglued the bolt head to the plastic drum. Remove the chrome in that area first, of course. To make sure the bolt won't break away, I take a glob of styrene and MEK mixed and dissolved to a thick paste and put it over the head of the bolt. That should keep it very secure when it hardens. The rest is easy to do. Just pick your wheel, drill and afix.

As far as threading the wires, that's how Gerald Wingrove does it. I read that it takes him 3 hours to do one wheel. Me, it would take 5 hours and a whole box of 64 count crayolas. BTW, I think I may have figured out how to make a plastic jig. I'll let you all know when I'm done with it.

[Jalopie Jim]

Thanks for the "lugnuts" tips. :)

[Don Garrett]

Hey guys, check out the Deuce on pg.88 of the Dec. issue of Street Rodder.
Somebody has to master a 1940 dash for the 1/8th Deuce. Sweet!!!!!!!

[hot ford coupe]

Already in the works, dude. That's what I'm doing for the deuce coupe. In 1/8 scale, it's going to look great.

[docwatson1938]

HFC, lacing a set of wheels isn’t as hard as it sounds. Sure you make a few mistakes at first but if you make a good jig to hold the rim and hub well the lacing is kinda easy.
I learnt to do this after buying a gunz 1/12 Indian Chief kit, you have to lace the wheels for that.
For me the hardest thing was making the hub, I don’t have a lathe so I made them from plastic tube and stock styrene sheet. I have heard a guy used fishing line and painted it after, said that even know it’s a 'soft' medium once the lacing was finished they were very solid. He used a continuous length to do them too!!
Unfortunately I don’t have any pics of them, but I’m planning to do a set of 35 Ford wheels for a future 1/8 32 project.
Doc.

[docwatson1938]

OK, I just remembered an article I used from an Aussie model mag on lacing your own wire wheels, if anyone wants a scanned copy let me know and I'll e-mail you a copy.
Either that or if someone is willing could it be posted on the site somewhere??
Doc.

[hot ford coupe]

Hey Doc, I could use a scanned copy of that article if it's o.k. I'd definitley like to see how they do it. I don't have a lathe yet either but hopefully in a few months I will. Thanks in advance.

[docwatson1938]

It should be in your e-mail now,
Doc.

[ScaleMotorcars]

Doc could you send me a copy to. Also if you can the contact info for the mag. Ill call and see if its ok to post a copy for everyone to use. Thanks Daniel

[docwatson1938]

I would like to, but I cant find your e-mail??
HFC has a copy of it too. I will include a the contact info from the mag when I send you a copy.
Cheers,
Doc.

[hot ford coupe]

Thanks again, Doc. Once again, good to have you here.

[woodythx138]

HFC, lacing a set of wheels isn’t as hard as it sounds. Sure you make a few mistakes at first but if you make a good jig to hold the rim and hub well the lacing is kinda easy.
I learnt to do this after buying a gunz 1/12 Indian Chief kit, you have to lace the wheels for that.
For me the hardest thing was making the hub, I don’t have a lathe so I made them from plastic tube and stock styrene sheet. I have heard a guy used fishing line and painted it after, said that even know it’s a 'soft' medium once the lacing was finished they were very solid. He used a continuous length to do them too!!
Unfortunately I don’t have any pics of them, but I’m planning to do a set of 35 Ford wheels for a future 1/8 32 project.
Doc.

Speeking of 35 ford wire wheels I just finished a set for a friend ,they are modeled after the 17" Kelseys and are all steel and laced with steel spokes and soldered then true'd also did these aluminum 72 spoke Barroni wires for the steel 32 ford model of the famouse Deucarri car for the guy that owns the real car,I have been building scale model wire wheels for about 20 years now for tether car collectors all over the world and have gottin into the 1/8 scale hot rod seen,alot of the tether car guys are building track roadster.Chris

[Don Garrett]

Chris, do you offer the wheels for sale? I'm sure the guys here are going to go nuts over them.