Custom scale rubber tires and rims

[jpolacchi]

This is an off question perhaps? I'm working on a personal scratch build project and it's a scale that's difficult to find parts for. There are not a lot of motorcycles or race bikes or even drag bikes in 1/8 scale. I'm in need of tires and rims in 1/8 scale and specifically for a drag bike. The tires are quite a bit wider. I've only found one or two kits on Ebay. Most are quite old, long out of production and unreasonably priced to spend money on only to strip it or deal for an old, poorly assembled kit with missing or broken parts just to nab the tires and rims if they are there. I've looked at RC kits tires and rims (but they are for cars, not motorcycles). I found one RC race bike in 1/8 scale but the tires and rims are far too skinny. Shapeways is no longer, so I can't look there. I'm basically making a 1/8 scale drag bike, but it is somewhat fictional. However, it requires some realistic look to it and the tires and rims being one of those things. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions...I'm all ears.

[robdebie]

I guess you'll get this anwer multiple times: 3D design & printing. I've done a few small '3D' projects, like the truck wheel and the tiny 1/72 airplane shown below. The results are excellent. But the usual barrier is mastering 3D CAD design. If that's insurmountable, maybe you can hire a school kid to do it for you.

Rob

[Mike 1017]

I have got nieces and nephews still in school. 

Thank you for the brilliant suggestion.

Mike

[jpolacchi]

Depends how expensive it is to have tires and rims made? I don't have any CAD software or experience. I would need to find someone who can make the tired for me. I supposed 3D printed the tires would not be printed in rubber, but resin unless the tires are printed in a way to re-mold them and recast them in a urethane rubber?

[Fantom]

Check out the facebook group large scale modelers…the owner prints and sells many parts for drag bikes including tires and rims 

[robdebie]

9 hours ago, jpolacchi said:

Depends how expensive it is to have tires and rims made? I don't have any CAD software or experience. I would need to find someone who can make the tired for me. I supposed 3D printed the tires would not be printed in rubber, but resin unless the tires are printed in a way to re-mold them and recast them in a urethane rubber?

Cheap it will never be, but that's also a consequence of wanting scratch-built 1/8 models! I cannot predict the actual costs, you'll have to give it a try and see. You can break it up in design costs and printing costs, to keep control. But I'm pretty sure you'll be hooked once you start, it opens up a world of possibilities.

A club member printed some 1/24 truck tires in rubber on his filament printer, and that didn't look half bad. The route you mention is another good one.

Personally I don't need tires to be made from rubber, I like them better in a hard material. Two examples below: an old Ertl truck tire cast in resin, the rear one flattened so the truck doesn't appear to be standing on its toes. And second a slick tire made by wrapping sheet styrene around the rim, and painted off-black. Everyone thinks it's rubber! Until I bounce it on the table, and you hear it's hard.

Rob

[jpolacchi]

I know what 3d printing is capable of. Much of it has to do with the machine and software itself, but largely the individual making the 3d digital model. I really only am needing tires and rims at this point. he only other think might be a 1/8 scale drive chain, but I might be able to make that myself or possibly find something already available? I'll be looking into it. Many thanks.

[OldNYJim]

On 12/3/2024 at 8:16 PM, jpolacchi said:

I supposed 3D printed the tires would not be printed in rubber

They make a 3d printable rubbery resin that’s perfect for tires 👍🏻

[Bainford]

15 hours ago, jpolacchi said:

he only other think might be a 1/8 scale drive chain, but I might be able to make that myself or possibly find something already available?

Look into fusee chain. It comes in different sizes, and one will probably be right for your needs.

[LDO]

What about 1/9 scale? There are diecast 1/9 Pro/Stock drag bikes on eBay. Those wheel s and tires might work. 

[Ulf]

On 12/4/2024 at 12:36 PM, robdebie said:

Cheap it will never be, but that's also a consequence of wanting scratch-built 1/8 models! I cannot predict the actual costs, you'll have to give it a try and see. You can break it up in design costs and printing costs, to keep control. But I'm pretty sure you'll be hooked once you start, it opens up a world of possibilities.

A club member printed some 1/24 truck tires in rubber on his filament printer, and that didn't look half bad. The route you mention is another good one.

Personally I don't need tires to be made from rubber, I like them better in a hard material. Two examples below: an old Ertl truck tire cast in resin, the rear one flattened so the truck doesn't appear to be standing on its toes. And second a slick tire made by wrapping sheet styrene around the rim, and painted off-black. Everyone thinks it's rubber! Until I bounce it on the table, and you hear it's hard.

Rob

Beautiful slick, a curious question, what glue do you use and do you glue the entire surface or only the edges or in the middle first and when the vapors are out (glue dried) then the edges?

[stitchdup]

you could have a search on cults3d. theres a few bike kits that might have what you need. i would recomend buying a printer if your going to be building larger scales as buying from vendors could be very expensive. for example, a 1/16 wheel uses nearly 3 times the resin of a 1/24 so a front and rear wheel may cost as much as a used printer would

[robdebie]

1 hour ago, Ulf said:

Beautiful slick, a curious question, what glue do you use and do you glue the entire surface or only the edges or in the middle first and when the vapors are out (glue dried) then the edges?

I used CA throughout. The first layer is difficult to do: you need to glue the 45 degree cut ends together, while not gluing the strip to the rim. Here's a photo sequence of another one I built. The rough ends were cut off with a JLC razor saw.

Rob

[Ulf]

1 hour ago, robdebie said:

I used CA throughout. The first layer is difficult to do: you need to glue the 45 degree cut ends together, while not gluing the strip to the rim. Here's a photo sequence of another one I built. The rough ends were cut off with a JLC razor saw.

Rob

Many thanks !

//Ulf

[ybsluos]

On 12/2/2024 at 6:14 PM, jpolacchi said:

This is an off question perhaps? I'm working on a personal scratch build project and it's a scale that's difficult to find parts for. There are not a lot of motorcycles or race bikes or even drag bikes in 1/8 scale. I'm in need of tires and rims in 1/8 scale and specifically for a drag bike. The tires are quite a bit wider. I've only found one or two kits on Ebay. Most are quite old, long out of production and unreasonably priced to spend money on only to strip it or deal for an old, poorly assembled kit with missing or broken parts just to nab the tires and rims if they are there. I've looked at RC kits tires and rims (but they are for cars, not motorcycles). I found one RC race bike in 1/8 scale but the tires and rims are far too skinny. Shapeways is no longer, so I can't look there. I'm basically making a 1/8 scale drag bike, but it is somewhat fictional. However, it requires some realistic look to it and the tires and rims being one of those things. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions...I'm all ears.

John check your PM messages.  I’m going to send you one.