New additions to the range

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

A new thread. I'll be using this as a route to introduce new wheels as they become available.

One of the original objectives of the wheel project was the production of vintage (and I mean 'Vintage', 1930 or earlier) wheels, with the intention that they should be such that daylight can be seen through the wheel. I'm almost there.

The picture below shows the first 'production' Blower Bentley wheel.



The brake drums have yet to be made. Wheel construction follows the standard format, whereby the original design permitted the spokes to be under light tension, as per prototype practice. The tyre used is from the Carrera streamliner, to the best of my knowledge the only narrow tyre of this diameter available. The rim is a scale 21" nominal diameter.

Below are the two special parts made for this wheel.



The tyre retaining flange is very deep, 2mm as opposed to the standard 1mm. I would guess this is to avoid tyre flex, but of course it also serves to strengthen the otherwise somewhat flimsy rim.

Unlike the standard wheel hub, that shown is made in steel. the inner etch will be soldered to this to transmit drive. The inner end of the hub is extended to slip over a 3/32" axle, with the O/D of this sleeve made to take a 2.5mm I/D ball bearing for a future front wheel alternative application.

There is no immediate intention to sell complete kits, merely parts, so these wheels are suitable only for the man with a lathe.

Blower Bentley, set of (8) formed etches, 4 x hubs, 4 x rims and 4 x etch spacers = £17. (Four sets only at present)
Standard Bentley/Mercedes/Invicta etc, set of (12) formed etches, 4 x hubs, 4 x rims and 8 x etch spacers = £21. (Eight sets only at present).
Both of the above will require inner locking rings made to suit.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

Hi John.

I'll either be using all front tyres (for earlier applications) or all rears (for the later cars). I think that until the early/mid 1930's, all tyres tended to be the same size front and rear.

I did speak to Paul Gage about his tyres, he was very honest, and said he was not entirely happy with the result, especially compared to his other products. His tyres are made with open moulds, so the inner faces will be roughly finished and air bubbles will be present. I'll certainly look at making my own tyres.

The Carrera tyres are not interchangable front and rear. Whilst the fronts have the 2mm flange, the rear flanges are about 3mm, whilst the rear tyres are of course, wider.
I'll probably experiment with a 'ring' pressed onto the flange to support the rear tyre properly. I'll be making so few of these that the cost of having special rims made would be excessive.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

Hi Martin.
It is highly unlikely that 'the slightest tap' will deform these wheels, though they will indeed be more susceptible to damage than a standard plastic wheel or indeed an aluminium wheel with or without insert.
I would guess these wheels would be of no interest to those worried about knocking off mirrors or exhausts, damaging screens etc.
Assembly on some form of jig will be essential to ensure the wheel runs true.

Peter.

[Chris Wright]

I've got a couple of Austin 7 specials that need see thru wheels, they're not worth completing without them.

Great looking wheels peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

I'm slowly sorting out bits and pieces for the 'last' fret, which will include a very limited number of 'specials' (as well as a combination of wheels from earlier frets). Already drawn are those for Mrs Jo-jo, whilst standard A7 with an extra row of inner spokes was started but not completed.
I already have the correct outer spokes for Marys' rear wheels, the fronts are just an A7 variation.

Unfortunately since numbers would not warrant having the Austin hubs made, any A7 wheels would only really suit modellers with lathe access.

Peter.

[Chris Wright]

Hi Peter,

Yes I have a very nice Mrs JoJo from Tony, and I really like to finish it looking a little more like she did at Brooklands, rather than the modern rebuild, what ever you produce I'm sure will work, just keep us all in the loop, I'm sure they'll be fabulous. (in other words I didn't quite understand what you meant regarding wheels for Mrs JoJo) but I'll figure it out.

Then we'll set up a proxy race and get Martin to enter Bloody Mary, and I'm sure there will be a few dual wheel ERA's and I'm sure you have a hillclimb Bugatti?

Thanks, Chris.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

The last try out from the latest wheel fret is this. Stock wheel parts have been used, thus the inner area does not look quite right.



The wheel was first seen on the T59 GP Bugatti, but of course went on to be used on a few other racers.

Unfortunately the inconsistent etching resulted in a weak spot being created on the outer etch, such that on forming the etch into its' cone shape, the inner part of the etch was splitting.
Eventually it was found that by limiting the degree of coning, the split could be stopped just before the two sides parted company. efforts over the next few days should how effective this fix will be.

The answer of course is to modify the drawing, but that is a long way off.

The wheels are best described as a 'representation' of the full sized wheels, since 20% of the spokes (the cross laced row) missing. The wheel is also not deep enough due to the forming problems, though any subsequent re-draw would hopefully rectify this problem.

One of the new Alfetta sets is seen below. As mentioned in another thread, the fronts are 18", the rears are 17". They can also be supplied 17" or 18" all round. These 60 spoke wheels seem to have often been used, including pre-war. The kits come with brake drum etches.



The 17" wheels will also be suitable for both pre and post-war Maserati Voiturette/GP cars and can be mixed with the 16" version.

At present being worked on are the last 'new' wheels, those for the MG K3 Magnette and those for the ERA 'E' Type. This now means that a full range of ERA wheels is now available! Pictures in due course.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

Clearance.................

When I have the spoke etches made, I draw up an A3 sized sheet which will include a variety of different wheels. The quantity of each wheel must be estimated, and inevitably, the estimate is wrong.

I now need to re-order for the spokes which have run out, which means I must also get those for which I over-estimated demand.

The best way to settle the situation is to sell the excess parts at cost, so here are the first bits on offer, for the budding DiY wheel maker.



The nuts are not excess stock, they are provided to make things easier for the budding builder.

The spokes are flat and in 6 thou stainless, the whitemetal nuts are as they come from the casting company.

The etches are approx 15mm diameter, and are used in 18" wheel kits.

The picture below shows what could be made up by just making a rim and centre to suit.



As said, it is an at-cost clearance, so the price per set (for four wheels) is just £1.00 plus shipping.

I have several sets....

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

A likely addition, albeit in small numbers, is the 21" wheel without the 'see-through' feature, but instead having a standard 'solid' centre. The first set is being assembled now, and if satisfactory, a few 'production' parts will be ordered up.



These wheels are destined for a Bentley one day. Centres will be made the same for front and rear, though only the centres for the front will receive 'finning' on the brake drums.



Only really suitable for the Bentley and Mercedes of the era due to the large size of the brakes on these cars, efforts will be concentrated in due course on the see-through wheels for the earlier, and usually smaller cars with smaller brakes.

Carrera tyres are fitted, but with a set working out at £6.00 (and I only want the fronts!) renewed efforts at tyre casting cannot be too far off.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

One of the problems I have found with this wheel project is guessing the numbers of each part which I have made. The machined parts are easy, each part is ordered individually. The cast parts not too bad, each of the two moulds has three different parts (one pair and one single) and I somehow guessed the quantities about right.

The spoke etches are another matter, with sods law dictating that I got the balance all wrong, with only small numbers being made of the most popular wheels and in one case, large numbers made of a wheel which has simply has no takers. A new order just made to re-stock on exhausted etches means the stock of slow/non-moving parts will increase.

The sensible thing to do from my point of view is to build up wheels, using some of the unused parts, and the first of these wheels are now completed.



This wheel set uses scale 18" rims, with the front ones 5mm wide. The centres are those used on the Alfetta front wheels, but without the finning on the drums, which are left plain. The etches are the less popular ones from my 'mix and match' bag. The brake drums are from the Mercedes.



The rears are again scale 18" but with 6mm rims and standard grub screw fixing centres.

As usual, for 3/32" axle fitting.

These wheels are being sold ready assembled in order that they may have a wider appeal, and in due course will be listed on eBay.

The first six sets in this run will have the brake drums, later ones will not.

Supplied with tyres (£21 per set) or without (£18 per set), I would guess the first ones will go relatively quickly.

Please pm if interested.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

All of these wheel sets with brake drum detail are now sold/spoken for.

A 16" Borrani style wheel will be the next 'special edition' on offer. as before, this will be a combination of unused parts, and will not (to my knowledge) be a representation of an actual wheel.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

A new addition to the range. Now and then a new wheel results from an enquiry, this is such a wheel.

Many Indy cars seem to have run the same wheel in the 1930's, and that is the new wheel shown on this shot of the 1935 Indy winning Gilmore Special.



The Americans were the first to break away from the old beaded edge tyres with the 'straight sided', or 'safety' rim and tyre, still seen today on some commercials. The advantage was that in the event of a puncture, the tyre was likely to remain on the rim.

This is my version of the wheel.



As with most wheels, I reckon they will look better once painted.

Peter.