petebuilt Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Does anyone have any good ideas how to replicate the treads in the main landing gear tires for the 1/35 UH-60? I'm thinking I'll have to scribe them somehow, but I definitely don't want to try freehand. I wonder if I could talk Doug Smith into doing a set of resin bulged UH-60 wheels? Probably not. Thanks for any suggestions, Pete Brown Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avus Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 (edited) I din't make the wheels bulged on my Pave Hawk but I scribed them freehand, millimeter by millimeter, or if you prefer milli-inch by milli-inch! :) Edited August 20, 2009 by Avus Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C-130CrewChief Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 You can glue a spindle where the axle goes then put it in a drill and use it like a lathe. When the tread is done drill out the axle again. Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony in NZ Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Hiya Pete Well, I did it once. What I did was lay the wheel on its side on a block of plasticard with my Tamiya scriber taped rigid on another block of plasticard. I marked out with a pencil where each tread line was to go and slowly rotated the wheel several times untill I got a groove going all the way around. The scriber was then packed up higher to the next tread line etc etc untill you have them all done. It was very tedious but came up actually quite good. I carefully ran the scriber around them all freehand and buffed it back afterwards. I guess a lathe or held in a drill would be easier.....but I never seem to do things the easy way. If anyone has better ideas, then I would be keen to hear them too. Cheers Anthony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Intruder_bass Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Definitly the drill method! Very fast and easy! Fix the wheel on some kind of temporary axle (I use piece of copper tubing), put it in the drill and while its rotatin gently press the scriber or just a needle to make the grooves. Now about the buldge Easy! Sequre the plastic wheel in pliers, put a frying pan on your stove and fill it with water just to cover the whole surfase (I am not kidding!) When the water starts boiling gently press the wheel (sequired in pliers) down until the desired shape is achieved. It might take couple of minutes for plastic to worm up enough... Since there is water on the pan - plastic wont melt (well... never happened to me anyways) If you have concerns about scratching the wheel with plier teeths - I use plastic clamp-looking ones for that and never put too much force... Takes a bit of practice - try some wheels from spare parts box first... Good luck! Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony in NZ Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Thanks for that from me too Andy! I usually wait until my wife is down the other end of the house and press them down on the hot iron(see real blokes do know how to use the iron!). The teflon coating on the bottom is great as the plastic just dosent stick. Cheers Anthony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CW4 Erick Swanberg Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 I wouldnt worry to much about a buldge on the real tires there isnt much of one so if you do one make it very slight Erick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C-130CrewChief Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 You are correct about the mains, but the tail tire often looks half flat though... At least on the Paves at work. Pave Hawks are a bit heavier I think.\\ Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
norbert Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Hi Pete I have a lathe, so I scribed them with the lathe. But I used with succes Andys and Anthonys method in the past. however, I remind the rear wheel was too big in diameter and I reduced it. Norbert Quote Link to post Share on other sites
petebuilt Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 Hey guys, Thanks to all of you for the tips! I think I might get up the nerve to give it a try. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
petebuilt Posted August 24, 2009 Author Share Posted August 24, 2009 Hey, I did it! I put a piece of tubing in the wheel mounting hole, placed it in a Dremel Tool and scribed the tire treads with a knife blade. It worked and it looks pretty darned good. Next comes the frying pan! Thanks guys, Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony in NZ Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 Fantastic news....... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
norbert Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 (edited) Take care, it doesn't look much bulged on the above picture. Make a test before Norbert Edited August 24, 2009 by norbert Quote Link to post Share on other sites
petebuilt Posted August 25, 2009 Author Share Posted August 25, 2009 Anthony BTW, you were asking on your thread how my UH-60 rotors were were coming along? I finished the tail rotor, and I just have a few fuse wires to put on the main rotor. I've done a few other little things. I'll see if I can post a few update pics this evening. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
petebuilt Posted August 25, 2009 Author Share Posted August 25, 2009 Norbert, Yes I agree with you, there seems to be just a slight bulge to the tire. I haven't done anything yet. I'm still a little hesitant about boiling two perfectly good tires! Although, if I could get it right it would certanly add to the appearance. If I do decide to fire up the frying pan, I will do a few test runs for sure. Thanks, Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C-130CrewChief Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 I just grip my tires with tweezers then wave them over a candle. After a few passes I smoosh them against my desk oh so gently. That seems to work for me, and I keep the wife agro down! I seem to remember a time when I was wet sanding in the kitchen sink........... Nuff said. Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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