Scratch built wire wheels

[Mig Eater]

I have a project in mind that will require scratch building some wire wheels, I've never done anything like that before so any suggestions on how I might approach it? I have a vague memory of seeing someone used a custom jig that you would then weave wire around to make the wheels..? 

[Bozothenutter]

There's several ways, depending on skill for the most part.

Most important,  what scale?

There's machining 

Photoetch

Copper wire wrapping.

 

A good book if you can find it,  is the set by Gerald Wingrove ' The complete car modeller' 1 + 2

[Mig Eater]

I want to build the Tsar/Lebedenko tank in 1/35, scratch building the tank part wont be a problem but the wheels scare me. They are obviously very different from the wheels you'd find on a car (they are 9m in diameter!) but I thought this would be the best place to ask for advice as car modelers would have the most experience with wire wheels.

 

[Noel Smith]

A scratch built model of this subject won best of show at IPMS Scale Modelworld in 2022.

The model maker's name is Rafal Sikorski

His email is [email protected]

 

Bozo referred to Gerald Wingrove's books.      The wire wheel making is described in The Complete Car Modeller 1.    Book 2 is just devoted to making a Bugatti Type 41 Royale.

Edited October 24, 2023 by Noel Smith

[Admiral Puff]

Oh my! That's a bit more complex than what I've just sent to you!

[Bozothenutter]

25cm gives you some room to work with.

even wire sizes should be workable.

It looks like the wheels are wood?

L shaped sections maybe, with an outer rim.

 

Mind you, Copperstate seems to be planning one.

https://armorama.com/news/copper-state-models-tsar-tank

[Mig Eater]

@Noel Smith I hadn't seen Rafal's build yet He has done a great job, the most accurate build I've seen of this vehicle.

 

@Admiral Puff The article you sent me is a great starting point on how I could approach building the wheels, it's much appreciated.

 

@Bozothenutter Copperstate posted an unfinished CAD render of the Tsar on Facebook a year ago asking if there was any interested in a such a kit. Since then there hasn't been any updates, or even a conformation that they will produce a kit in the future. I'd prefer to scratch build one myself now instead of sitting around waiting on the possibility of a kit being released.