The tires crack and split after a few years. I have started to spray some clear flat on them to help stop that; I have also made some crude replacements from Magic Sculpt.
I made new tyres for mine with automotive vacuum tubing. The tubing I used even has some ribs running down its length that sort of simulate tyre tread.
Randy Lehrian Jr. said:
Since Bob is mission accomplished and the thread has taken a bit of an informative tone, I’ll help to further coax it down that path.
I have a question as to the rubber tires durability out in the weather. Does the sun do them in? I recently saw one without tires on Fee-bay.
What is everyone’s experience here? Any one know of good replacements?
I had bought a Hubley kit off eBay that a couple of the tires were in pretty bad shape. I used one of the good tires and made a mold, then cast a few in resin. You have to modify the rim a bit to get the tire on, but it worked.
I don’t usually leave mine outside for very long, maybe for an open house or an ops session.
One thing I had wanted to try, but never did was use the ribbed rubber stuff that holds screen in windows and doors. It’s pushed into the groove around the window and holds the screen. I have some that’s about the same thickness as the tires and is black. Couldn’t figure out at the time how to hide the seam.
Not a bad idea ken and I doubt you’d see much of the seam except in close ups. They also make a rubber dip for your tool handles that comes in black tha should be able to be painted in to fill the seam (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
If you make straight cuts, and are careful with the rubber cement, the seam isn’t that noticeable. I did have to cut a slit in the tubing to fit around the rib on the rim.
David Marconi, FOGCH said:
Not a bad idea ken and I doubt you’d see much of the seam except in close ups. They also make a rubber dip for your tool handles that comes in black tha should be able to be painted in to fill the seam (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
I have some of that rubber stuff in a spray can. Lowes carries it. Used it on the gutters. Hmmm, that might work.
I was talking of the dip product but the spray may work as well. Spray into a cap and brush on.
Tires are a problem… Here is what I have done.
The white rubber tires can be replaced with tires from the Flick Trix toy bicycles as shown below. These fit the Hubley model T rim and pass very well for early black tires. Those listed as “Series 1” are the best fit and appearance there are other upgrade tires (sold as custom accessories) that work. Be careful of what you buy as some of the upgrades can be very knobby or gimmicky looking. I find these by the handful at garage sales and on E-bay.
I have also cast wheel / tire sets in resin. This is the wheel and tire as a single piece. Clear cellophane tape was placed over the spokes to let the mold separate for removal. A little clean up is required. Paint to suit and you are in business. I found that during casting it was easy to fill the mold then pull it slightly open before squishing it back together. This forced the resin into all of the small details with out need for vacuuming the mold.
Here are the masters with a vent and support to aid in filling the mold. They are painted with spray enamel to keep the RTV from sticking to them. They are a little beat up from having been molded. Usually have to do repairs before making a new mold.
The tape is on the backside also a piece was placed over the center to keep the hub open.
They are glued into the mold box upside down. You can see the tires in the top full row, third from the left.
And here is how they are removed from the mold.
This is basically a split mold. The tape is so thin that after casting I found that some of the area between the spokes had no resin layer at all. Those that did have resin flash was easily removed. I have a sack full of these somewhere but cannot find them right now. When I do I will post a pic of the castings.
Ooh. I like the idea of the cast resin tire and wheel! I guess I need to get back into mold making…