News and updates

[Daniel]

Dear Peter, I promise to save on my meager salary and buy a set of SSKL
have when prepared.
A greeting

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

The new order for parts in now in, a mixed bag and all old stuff.

The hope is that the etched parts will be back with me in a week or so, thus K3 wheels will be back in stock at that time, as will those for ERA E Type and Maserati 8CTF

A new wheel for the later P3 Alfa Romeo will be available at the same time.

The new turned parts will take about a month longer and will see the arrival of three new ‘low volume’ wheels.

The first wheel, mentioned in a previous post, has been made be specifically for the SSK/SSKL Mercedes, with just 12 wheels available, so, 2 sets of six or three sets of four. Four wheel sets expected to be £24.50, six wheel sets £36.50.
Sorry Daniel, they cannot be sold for less...

The second low volume wheel will be a special for the Mercedes W154. These cars sometimes ran with 22” rear wheels. I have some suitable 21” parts, so have ordered the parts to complete these wheels. These will also suit the W125 and the W154/163.
Expected cost is £25.50, or £26.50 for W154/163 with drilled brake drum etches.
5 x sets will initially be available.

The third wheel is an Auto Union equivalent. This set now has a dedicated wheel in 19” diameter with a matching 21” rear. The price is expected to be £27.50 for a set of wheels, numbers initially limited to just 3 kits.

Pictures of prototypes should be posted once the photo etched parts arrive.

Peter.

[Mark Huber]

Peter,

PM sent.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

The wire wheel supply is now all changing. Far too many types and sizes are making things way too complicated so as folk may have read elsewhere, I am stopping all 16” wheels with the possible exception of that for the 4CLT. The possibility of the occasional small batch (max perhaps of 6 sets) is possible if I need other spoke etches from frets with 16” wheel parts included. Maserati 300S/250F have now run out, all others are in stock.

The only wheel size to be maintained for the present is 19”, though problems with etched parts have limited the numbers available. It is hoped that the problems will be resolved and the missing wheels will then become available.

Just one new wheel is now ready, a new example for the Alfa Romeo P3. Originally made for a planned scratch build, GT Models are to make one soon.



A 19” wheel, 28 spokes outer laced with 42 spokes (in 2 etches) centre laced.

Within a couple of weeks it is hoped that a new set of wheels for the 1937-39 GP Mercedes mentioned in earlier posts will be ready, with the characteristic large rear wheel. The prototypes are shown below.



After a brief period earlier in the year when almost all wheels were available, the varieties to be had are at present limited.

Apart from the 16” wheels, the following are the only ones available at present.

‘Standard’ Alfetta with 17” rear and 18”front. 60 spoke
‘Late’ Alfetta with 18” front and rear. 84 spoke
MG K3, standard spec 19” wheel.
Mercedes W125/W154/W163, standard 19” wheels.
Alfa P3.

A few 18” wheels will be available again in a week or so, pending an order of turned parts.

Most 17” parts are being held back for the proposed GT Models 4CL Maserati.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

Here's one of a few clearance offers, all to clear stocks of wheels which I have stopped making, or those which are over-stocked or simply not selling.



These are 16" wheel kits with a Borrani pattern, 54 spoke with 3 eared nuts, handed of course. These are re-worked Austin Twin Cam wheels.
Front rims 5mm, rear rims 5.5mm. 6 sets.

When these are gone, a few sets of late Alfetta wheels will be available.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

The wire wheel project is again being cut back, though as I type, a new order for parts is being put together.

With hindsight, the venture into the smaller sizes was perhaps over-enthusiastic with most builders opting for the cheaper alternatives. Larger sizes have done a little better and I guess continue for a while to come.

The website no longer shows prices, just a guide.

Availability is fluid, so please ask.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

The last 'new' wheels are now being drawn up, whilst a few sets of earlier wheels are again briefly in stock.

An A4 fret, my new standard fret size is to contain etches for;

Aston Martin DBR2

Mercedes Benz 300SLR/W196

Auto union GP 17" front wheels

17"/18" for later 30's Delage, Delahaye, Talbot, Bugatti etc

Modified bugatti T59 spoke etches - maybe these will work!

Wheels again in stock are;

Alfa Romeo 8C, Maserati etc, 19" x 72 spoke.

Talbot Lago GP

Centre laced and side/centre laced 72 spoke Borrani

Mercedes W125/154/163 including large rear wheel option.

All the above are limited to a maximum of 4 sets each.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

A revised fret for the latest 'new' wheels is now all but complete.

An A4 fret, my new standard fret size is to contain etches for;

Aston Martin DBR2

Mercedes Benz 300SLR/W196

18" for later 30's Delage, Delahaye, Talbot, Bugatti Riley etc

Modified Bugatti T59 spoke etches - maybe these will work!

All the above are limited to a maximum of 4 sets each.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

Prior to the news,a note that I intend to tidy up this board, getting rid of anything which I consider off thread or out of date. Please pm if there are posts etc which should be retained.

New stuff coming on well, old stuff going.

The last 16" parts are now being processed, the only one which is certain to work is the Aston Martin DBR2. More suited to this forum is the last experimental wheel, a Borrani to suit most 1950's Ferraris. It might work, but none of the others have, so far.

My new etching company do A4 sheets, rather than the A3 I was used to, with tooling costs halved, even if 'per fret' costs were much higher. similar costs overall with increased flexibility.
As a result, my 'personal' etch stocks are to be halved, with the result that 3 sets of each wheel previously unavailable, are available. Thus Maserati, Lancia, 4CLT, Austin TC and ERA are available in limited numbers. Sorry, no Jaguar, Aston or HRG.

New stuff is coming, old stuff back in stock, well, some. 21" beaded edge kits are at last available, but only 3 sets, though more parts are ordered.

Indy car from the early 30's, 20" x 70 spoke, there should be one or two sets spare.

Bugatti T59, the re-worked outer etches have overcome the 'splitting' problem and thus consideration is being given to making a run. The low volume involved will dictate a price of about £30 per set, almost twice the last price of the LMM sets.

A new wheel is the 18" x 70 spoke wheel. Long planned, it was brought forward after a request to do so. Made to suit many late 1930's cars such as Delage, Delahaye, Bugatti and Talbot, it is also a perfect fit, if not quite correct, for the GT Models cycle wing K3.

Now being drawn are the last proposed 'new' wheels. Not really new, all are likely to be variations on a theme, such as the 17" version of the dedicated Auto Union wheels. A few more steering wheels are also on the cards.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

A little progress here and there. Here's the latest and possibly last 16" wheel, made for the Aston DBR2.



The last proposed 16" wheel is one of my less than successful 'experimental' wheels, and is to fit primarily the Mercedes Benz W196 and 300SLR. I'll be working on the new tooling after Christmas, and if these work, the 16" range may live a little longer.

The Mercedes wheels for the W154 has done well and has had a second run. These wheels have tipped the balance and the project is in the black again, that is, until the big machining order in the new year.

Rudge nuts, out of stock for over a month have at last arrived.

Unfortunately none of the new Indy wheels are now spare, though another small batch may be made if the FWD Miller wheels are made.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

News for the start of 2014 relate to almost certain progress, combined with a continued winding down.

The up side is the hopefully imminent completion of the first proper cross-laced wheels, the prototype having now been made, and with a few mods to tooling, the 'production' wheel, complete with corrections, will be completed. If this new wheel does work out, the format will be extended to make a long intended 19" wheel for late 1930's Alfa's.

A last effort to find someone to take on the manufacture of at least some of the 16" wheels is now under way. If unsuccessful, the last of the 16" wheels will rise dramatically in price due to the high price of low-volume parts required to complete the remaining kits and wind the project up.

Preliminary work on a new drawing for wheel spoke etches is under way and includes earlier proposals.

The main subject for this etch is the long intended wheels for the C Type Auto Union, with 17" front wheels and 19" rears. An optional, very limited large diameter rear will be available. The Miller FWD wheels are again intended but will be limited to just 2 spare sets since only one enthusiast has expressed any interest.
Contents will not be finalised for a few months...

Happy New Year, Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

The wheel intended as the last 16" is the first of the cross laced wheels to prove practical.



It's a common 1950's format, and in the image shown is a Borrani.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

Work on the new Auto Union wheels are now well advanced with all 'production' parts now on order. initially intended for the GTM C Type, they are also correct for the B Type, and acceptable for the A Type.

The front wheels are a scale 17" diameter and have an actual 4.5mm rim width. The rears are a scale 19" diameter with an actual width of 5.5mm. Larger diameter wheels were at one time made and may be considered again in the future if there is sufficient demand.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

It's all change.

With the 16" wheels no longer being offered, most of the others now follow suit since so many parts are now running out.

Wheels will still be made, but only for the GT kits, and even then the numbers will be cut back.

Proposed wheels are;

Auto Union C type. Standard spec with 17"x 70 spoke fronts and 19" x 70 spoke rears.



Alfa Romeo 12C. Various used, only 18" x 70 spoke all round will be made. Correct wheels with complex construction will be made with cross laced spokes. A slightly cheaper and simpler centre laced option will be available.

Bugatti T59. Work is progress after the earlier problem was diagnosed and rectified. Due to the limited numbers expected and the special parts involved, these will be limited.

The big wind-down is now in progress.

Peter.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

Visitors to the website will note a number of changes.

There are officially no wheels offered for sale!

The 'Wheels by Size' Catalogue is turning into 'Past Wheels'.

A new 'Wheels by Car' section has been opened.

The project is being somewhat cut back as suggested earlier with the result that only a few different wheels will be available at any one time. A few of the other wheels remain, but I'm in no hurry to sell them.

Wheels to be made are as follows, all will be limited to some degree.

Auto Union B and C Type will be ready next month.

Alfa 12C should be available in late April.

Proposed, but not certain are;

A further run of Mercedes for the W125.

A limited run of Bugatti T59. Half are already spoken for if they are made.

After that, who knows.

Peter.