Straight Axles

[Altered Ego]

Does anyone make resin straight axles like the Revell Willys Coupe kits have?  I am tired of buying entire kits just for the straight axles.

[Lunajammer]

If someone does, I wouldn't recommend it. My experience is they sag over time.

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, Altered Ego said:

... I am tired of buying entire kits just for the straight axles.

 

So was I.

They're easy to make. Pages 3 and 4 of the build below illustrate making an entire straight-axle, leaf-spring front end that can steer.

 

 

[Casey]

 

 

 

[deuces wild]

4 hours ago, Altered Ego said:

Does anyone make resin straight axles like the Revell Willys Coupe kits have?  I am tired of buying entire kits just for the straight axles.

I'd copy the one in the new '57 Ford gasser wagon... very cool setup....???

[TarheelRick]

One suggestion if you do decide to scratchbuild your own.  Use styrene tube and slip a piece of floral wire into it, makes it stronger and will not sag.

[Skip]

The “Parts Box” in Australia makes a wire reinforced true straight axle, plus some I-beam and tube dropped axles with the “Ford-Style” transverse spring.  I think they have an eBay store as well.  The only downside is shipping charges, so it pays to make a bigger order, buying ahead.  If I remember right they also have a shipping and handling charge which is why I always do a bigger order.

[Chariots of Fire]

Using just resin to make an axle will end in failure because it tends to sag or warp with time and a bit of pressure.  At least it needs some reinforcement such as a metal rod of brass or aluminum embedded in the resin to keep it straight.  An axle can be made using an original as a master and making a two part mold for it.  Casting resin can be poured with the reinforcement in place.  Once set, the resin axle should be fine.

I've done this a number of times using brass tubing as the reinforcement.  The tubing allows you to insert a smaller piece inside as part of the wheel.  This is a rear axle with brass tubing inserted.  On the right is the wheel hub that will be drilled out for a bushing that will fit over the brass axle extension.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Or you can just learn to solder and make non-sagging straight front tubular axles from brass. 

I-beam axles are a little harder, but entirely possible too.   

Edited March 8, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy

[MeatMan]

I imagine an I-beam resin axle wouldn't sag easily.

They are stronger by nature of their design.

[iBorg]

On 3/8/2022 at 2:50 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Or you can just learn to solder and make non-sagging straight front tubular axles from brass. 

I-beam axles are a little harder, but entirely possible too.   

When you're ready to do a tutorial on the i-beam axles, I'm ready to follow along. I have yet to find the right shape moded.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, iBorg said:

When you're ready to do a tutorial on the i-beam axles, I'm ready to follow along. I have yet to find the right shape moded.

 

One of these days I may do that.

In the interim, this is pretty much the process, but modified using common sense to make an axle.

The web would be traced on flat stock and cut out.

The flanges would be attached as per the video, after having been suitably bent to follow the curves of the web.

Then the flanges would be filed narrower, to look like a beam axle.

Brass tube soldered to the ends with a lower-temp solder would represent the kingpin bosses...which would be functional if desired.

Spindles would be made from brass channel and tube or rod, just as I did with plastic in the linked thread.