Wheels and Rims

[skunk]

Another broadly defined topic.


For the scratchbuilder or kitbasher, getting the correct rims is always an interesting challenge. I have spent many hours (and piles of money) on acquring the correct wheels for a conversion. I myself have had to purchase two Herpa AC Schnitzer BMW 325i's in order to get proper wheels for a Donkervoort S8A, and on www.mo87.de Jens Müller (Stuttgart) tells of purchasing 2 PC Diablos for each Golf that he turned into streetracers, to get the extra wide chrome wheels fitted on the rear of the PC versions. Quite expensive, I reckon.

For 1/24 modellers, you can buy almost any rim/wheel that you might desire. Several manufacturers such as Fujimi have offered hundreds of different styles of wheels. Automobilias collection of wire wheels represent an excellent beginning, but, being no more than human, I want MORE! ;D ;D Maybe it's time for someone to pick up the slack... All I want is the gorgeous Campagnolo wheels fitted to the Lamborghini Miura

It must be a problem for every cottage manufacturer, as many end up with the same choice of wheels. Looking at the recently updates CJD page, I couldn't help but notice the prototypical accuracy of the rims this "French artisan" was able to fit to his models. Did he make them himself, or where did they come from?

I would love to see every cottage manufacturer in need of wire wheels including Automobilia's wire wheels, well worth any extra money.

[Sylvain]

Good subject, I always thought that wheels are really important in model cars. If they are wrong, the car looks immediately like a model. On real cars, almost each manufacturer have is own wheel and hubcap design, and this design varies through years.

I can understand that cottage manufacturers can not always design different wheels for their different models, but I can not stand it for big manufacturers.

For example, I was really pleased with Praliné models. Each car had is own wheels, and, as for real cars, the 1959 Cadillac has not the same wheels than the 1956 T-Bird, or the 1957 Chevrolet.

Today, Busch releases the same models, but only uses a few standard wheels that most of the time don’t feet to the cars. Another example, their Renault 4CV is a fine model, but the wheels are absolutely too big, and not accurate to the real ones.

[stanhas87]

Dear Sirs:

Matchbox,and Hot Wheels and standard wheels for all the cars.However,Lindberg-with their Mini-Lindy line-seem to offer the right wheels for ther vehicles.I remember that the ones from the Chevy Vega to be accurate;the ones for their Fire Engine are also like the real Vehicle.
Some time ago,Model Railroader had an article on the subject,and showed how to 'give' the right wheels to a Hot Wheels truck.The Final result was pretty good-and realistic.

[Christian]

skunk said:

It must be a problem for every cottage manufacturer, as many end up with the same choice of wheels.

This is a problem indeed mainly because of two reasons: 1. small and delicate parts like wheels are difficult to cast. Naturally, a lot of cottage manufacturers provide generic wheels or even none at all. 2.: it is very hard to make masters for prototypical wheels by hand*.

To include Automobilia spoke wheels with kits would be feasible for expensive models, but I somehow doubt that your average kit builder would have fun assembling them.

* I copied existing wheels for my Ford kit.

[Lee]

I would love to see every cottage manufacturer in need of wire wheels including Automobilia's wire wheels, well worth any extra money. [/quote]

Stoney Mountain had a set of spoked wheels for the Studebaker pickup but the mold would plug or the spacers would tear after only a dozen pours or so because it was so small. I think something like that would be better done with photoetching.

[Eric]

Christian said:

To include Automobilia spoke wheels with kits would be feasible for expensive models, but I somehow doubt that your average kit builder would have fun assembling them.

[/size][/quote]

Compared to Lion Models' spoke wheels the Automobilia ones can be put together with one hand tied behind your back. But then again, maybe I am not the average kit builder ;D

[Eric]

For a winter diorama I am planning I would like to replace the fancy alloys that are currently on the models that are going to be included, does anyone know of a source for 14"/15"/16"/17" plain steel wheels in 1/87 ?

[Christian]

Eric said:

... does anyone know of a source for 14"/15"/16"/17" plain steel wheels in 1/87 ?

Herpa's Wartburg wheels have a pretty simple design, if that's what you are looking for. If you could cast them in resin you wouldn't even have to afford a ton of the 353s.

[stanhas87]

Dear Sirs:

The wheels of the Dodge Monaco-kind of open,sporty ones-are not correct for the police cars.It should be black with a little round chromed hubcap at its center.The same applies to the Chevy Caprice;they never used full-dish hubcaps and on the new ones Busch painted the hubcap black,and that was wrong.The full dish is right for the civilian Caprice,on the cop cars they had something similar as the Monaco,but that little chrome part potrudes out of the wheel at its center and has GM's logo in it.The Vic is right:full dishes for both Civilian and Cop cars.

[BillC]

The original Busch/Praline Dodge and Plymouth models had the correct wheels. The rim just needed to be painted to match the body color. Not sure why Busch switched on the new Kansas patrol cars.

From 1991-1993, Chevy Caprice cruisers did have full wheel covers and some Chevy police cars had them through the end of production in 1996.

In 1994, the basic hub cap began appearing on the police package. I believe the Busch model is supposed to be a 1995 Caprice, so, as Stanhas87 noted, it should have a black wheel with a bright center cap.

[skunk]

Christian said:

Herpa's Wartburg wheels have a pretty simple design, if that's what you are looking for. If you could cast them in resin you wouldn't even have to afford a ton of the 353s.

I have those wheels on so many cars - they also appeared on the Herpa Golf, on trailers, all over the place. Very nicely done rims they are, too. ;D Would you consider them 13" or 14"? For a size smaller, the rims used by Norev are great steel wheels. The real problem is finding 15' ones, I am searching myself for a Maruti Gypsy I am working on.

As for the snowscape, I assume that Automobilia's chainset will see some service?

Sometimes 1/64 models may provide suitable wheels - 10 inches in 1/64 equals 13.5" in H0.

[skunk]

Notice that Artapo always uses the same wheels? Do they make them themselves?

[stanhas87]

Dear Sirs:

It seems to me that EKO uses the same wheels on all cars as well.................................

[skunk]

I was just looking at the Wiking MB 540K, and realized just how nice this model would be with a set of wires and some other, minor touchups. Sadly, Automobilia's fantastic wire wheels are much to small for any 1930's application.

Does anyone know of an equal quality set of spoke wheels, big enough for the 17" wheels I need? Is it possible to buy the wheels that come with the Metal 87 Hispano-Suiza separately?

questions, questions

[Eric]

Skunk,

those Metal87 wheels haven't been available seperately as far as I know. I guess your best chance in finding those wheels is looking for a wrecked Hispano-Suiza I have an identical problem with my Focus Mercedes 540K Coupe, that model needs big wheels as well....