Homemade tyres

[sztriki]

Hi!

I'm currently in the planning and drawing status of my very first scratchbuilt kit, which is supposed to be a DeLorean in 1:20 scale. I have some concerns with the wheels and tyres. I guess the wheels can be made from styrene (from which I'd like to make a mold and make them from white metal), but I have no idea how to make the tyres. I highly doubt that I'll find an aftermarket tyre set in scale, especially that the front and rear wheels differ in size...

So if anyone has a good method for homemade tyres I'd be very thankful.

[62rebel]

i'm unfamiliar with DeLorean wheels but if i were doing it from scratch, i'd look at the wheel/tire as a complete unit and break it down from there. the tire and outer rim can be turned from wood, laminated styrene, PVC pipe; the tread and sidewall can be carved into the master and then resin units could be cast from that, and fine-tuned to suit your needs. one thing about model building; what is IS in real life isn't necessarily what it needs to be made of on a model. if rubber is a must, then i'd find the closest tires on a diecast car or even in the R/C world and modify them to suit. sounds like we'll be seeing a new subject in a 1/20th DeLorean soon!

[sztriki]

i'm unfamiliar with DeLorean wheels but if i were doing it from scratch, i'd look at the wheel/tire as a complete unit and break it down from there. the tire and outer rim can be turned from wood, laminated styrene, PVC pipe; the tread and sidewall can be carved into the master and then resin units could be cast from that, and fine-tuned to suit your needs. one thing about model building; what is IS in real life isn't necessarily what it needs to be made of on a model. if rubber is a must, then i'd find the closest tires on a diecast car or even in the R/C world and modify them to suit. sounds like we'll be seeing a new subject in a 1/20th DeLorean soon!

Thanks for the advice! For now I'm gonna check out the local model store if they have some RC car tyres that can be used or modified. If that fails I'll probably go the way you advised...I'm not really eager to scratchbuild the template of the tyres, especially that the front and rear ones differ...So far I'm almost done with the baseic chassis, but I have no clue when I'll be able to make it, and make some good photos. If I do, then I'll probably start a topic, because it'd be easier to ask for help that way.