Torq Thrust wheels

[Deuces-wild]

Hey Steve. I tried one a couple of days ago and it turned out ok. I used a 4" square piece of Glad Press'n Seal on the face then finished pressing it place with a Q-Tip. Then I trimmed around the outer edge of the wheel center with a sharp #11 blade. GO SLOW when your doing this!!!! Then lift out the piece covering the spokes. Cover the hub center with a round 5/16" piece of flat stock. I used an arbor for a 1.500" cutoff wheel made by Dremel to hold the wheel and cover the hub center at the same time. If you plan on using the cast in lug nuts, you may want to mask those off with Elmer's white glue by using a toothpick. The paint I used was Dupli-Color Hotrod dark grey primer . After you spray 2-3 coats of paint on the wheel centers, wait a couple of minutes and remove the outer mask from the rim. I then used a Q-Tip dampened with 91% isopropyl alcohol to wipe any residue off the chrome rim area. Once the paint has fully dried, you can remove the Elmer's mask off the lug nuts. And for a final touch, glue on a bullet nosed dust cap from the Big Deuce. Looks Sweeet!

[hot ford coupe]

Thanks for the masking tip. I want to make a set of those myself.

[EstebanLoco]

hey Guido, thanks for the tip and for posting the picture. I wonder if my wife would complain if I framed it and put it on my nightstand...

With my build style I will probably try and find a way to make a multi-piece wheel (separtate spoke section, hub and outer rim) using parts from different kits. The difficulty I have is that I want to use the Big T mags but I only have one set. If I start cutting and things don't work out...

I am also thinking of trying Alclad 's polished aluminum for the outer rim. So far my plans for the spokes are to use Tamiya 's light gun metal and then shoot it with Testors semi-gloss or even flat from a distance.

Thanks again for the tip.

Stevie

[Deuces-wild]

No problem Steve. I was thinking of another idea. Maybe you could use Elmer's white glue mixxed with some good ol' H2O to delute it a bit. Cover the spokes with a round piece of .010" flat stock of the same diameter as the spoke dia. Then airbrush the mask on the rim. You might want to add a few layers with drying time in between. After a day or so. you can airbrush the spokes with your choice of paint. Once the paint is dry, you could wash the masking with water. I'll give that one a try tonight and see how it works. If anyone else has a better idea, PLEASE let us know. Thanks!

[Don Garrett]

Steve.....I can send you another set of mags from a Big T if you want 'em....a removable center section is the way to go....that way you can control the rim width and the amount of backspace to suit any build.

[EstebanLoco]

Okay - now I am on a mission. Grandpa - thanks for the offer. I may have take you up on that.

I have gathered every 1:8 wheel related item I coiuld find and threw them in a box and I'm going to to start cutting and grinding until I come out with a set of believable Torq Thrusts (now that the pressure is off).

Has anyone tried using prescription drug bottles for wheel parts? It seems that if you found the correct diameter...

Stevie

[Don Garrett]

Stevie....figure out what you need for the inside center of the rim...(dia.) and we'll find something that's readily available and inexpensive. Email me name and addy if you want these wheels.......I'm messing around with some small dia. front tires for the Deuce, they will be 15" rims but smaller than the kit "littles".

[hot ford coupe]

Hey Steve, if you need an extra set of T mags, I can help you also so go ahead and experiment all you need. All you need to do is send me an addy and it's no problem for me.

[Deuces-wild]

GEE! Sounds like we're gettin' motivated again. Sweeeeeet! I have a couple of those pill bottles. They check at about 1.900" in dia. They fit perfect in a old Monogram tire. Now to go find my tube cutter.

[EstebanLoco]

Hey guys, thanks again for all the help and offers for parts. I may have come up with presentable prototype last night. I removed the center hub from the Big T mags (the part with the lugnuts) and replaced it with the entire backside of a Big Deuce mag (about 1/8 " or the thickness of the center hub). The lugnuts were ground off and the hubs drilled out to accept stainless steel lug-bolts later. This (back) piece actually fit pretty good to the Big T spoke unit and with some careful filing and sanding it doesn't look too bad. For the outer rim I am using the Big Deuce mag - inside half only. I used the nibbler to remove about 1/8" from the inner diameter so the spoke section could drop in. For the front wheels I am also using the Big Deuce inner wheel half for the Torq Thrust inner half. The rear wheels will use the Big T rear inners - slightly modified to look like the Big Deuce units. I also drilled out the wheel caps where they mount to the spoke unit with phillips head screws. I'll add simulated screwheads later. I am undecided about what to put - if anything - on the caps. I was happy with the 1/4" decopauged gauges so I may use this technique for the caps (with a cool logo maybe). Oh, and I also drilled out the spoke section to accept a valve stem later.

Right now the prototype is in the "primer shop". I'll post pictures later (I primered the spokes in grey and the rim and cap in white for maximum contrast).

[EstebanLoco]

here is the prototype. As you can see, I still have quite a bit of cleaning up to do on the spoke section.

[Deuces-wild]

WOW!!!!! Way to go Steve! One of these days, I"m gonna have to get me a mini lathe. I do have a ? for ya big man. What size screws are you going to use to bolt on the dust caps??? I have all the micro drills from .011" dia. to about .042" dia. No metric ones yet, but I'll git'em

[Don Garrett]

Stevie....why not lick and stick a tiny "SMC" on those center caps in the same style as the Crager logo? If Jeff suggests putting a "Happy Face" on 'em just ignore him (it's the meds from his surgery). Great job guy.

[hot ford coupe]

You nailed that one Steve. That's a Torq thrust if I ever saw one. I'd also like to know what screws you're going to use for the hub. Hmmm, a happy face, eh? Let's not be too hasty now. It could work. I did just take my meds about 10 minutes ago.