FichtenFoo Monoracer

[FichtenFoo]

The problem with O-rings (and I should had mentioned this) is that they're rubber with that unsightly seam down the middle. Removing seams from rubber is such a pain. Plus getting the inside part flat evenly to fit the rim (the rim being a scratch building problem on its own) is gonna be more trouble than its worth.

[FichtenFoo]

Fulcy allowed me to see the light in regards to scratching the rim and wheel. I now have a lathe-less plan and can get back on this soon! Yay! Thanks Fulcy! I'll post up the plan as I do it.

[Irk]

Fulcy allowed me to see the light in regards to scratching the rim and wheel. I now have a lathe-less plan and can get back on this soon! Yay! Thanks Fulcy! I'll post up the plan as I do it.

Cool deal - My mind went to scratching too - especially with that thin rim detail part.
L. Henning uses this technique: http://www.starwarz.com/modelshop/shapes.htm

Can't wait to see what you end up with!

[FichtenFoo]

Yeah... that's kind of what I was planning and that helps me visualize it better and know that my plan will work. Fulcy broke down the shape earlier and gave me a few suggestions and suddenly it all clicked.

http://mechaskunk.com/random/00000wheel.jpg

I am planning on using strips of laminated styrene to build up the green part over a can. Laminating them will help them keep the circular shape which is a trick I've used for other projects and on the Tallgeese crest this week. Then another few strips for the red and teal parts. I want to see if Plastruct makes a triangular strip styrene shape. That'll make the dark blue parts easier, otherwise I'll spread bondo oin there using a custom spreader made from styrene to fit that shape and get the perfect angle. Thing thick piece of sheet styrene with a "V" cut out of it. Finally the tire in yellow can be done with putty layered over more laminated strips.

[spiffitz]

The largest resin chunk I currently have is a hair under 2.5". I pour the leftovers into old shampoo bottles of various sizes so I eventually end up with round stock. There's enough to make a wheel but not a tire.

Anyway how about using a circle cutter to cut circular sheets, then laminating/layering them width-wise instead of trying to get them to lay flat around a can? Cut the wheel profiles, and in between them are spacers of set lengths e.g. 1.75" long styrene rods, set along the inside circumference.

The PVC pipe section at your local Lowes/Home Depot might have something you can use, too.

[Irk]

Hey Foo, do you have a mat cutter? They sell them at Michaels, Hobby Lobby etc. The cutter can slide along any straight edge and already has a blade in a fixed 45 degree angle. By using that to cut a strip of styrene you could simplify your design and have the blue and green areas be one piece (with exception to the small green ‘drop’ – make that a separate strip.) It looks like your blue areas are not quite 45 degrees but maybe you could tweak the design slightly.

[fredpekker]

How about a real rollerblade wheel? I would think it would be about the right size. If that's no good I know there's a company that sells some kind of rubber for making tires, but I can't remember the name. The LHS is closed on Mondays, so I can't find out til at least Tuesday but I'll try and find out as soon as I can.

[FichtenFoo]

Throwing this out there because it might be the best solution to get me started on this... What do you guys think of my producing this in 1/35 scale (small, yeah) but as a 2-3 pack with decals for 5 different racers and 3 different figures? Doing it in 1/35 solves my wheel problem and makes for a very fun/easy little racing set of kits.

[zerobxu]

"I'd buy that for a dollar!"

Seriously, though... Go for it. I'm in! 

[chaos_theory]

Sounds great, keeps resin cost relatively low. Would look wicked on a sloped track style base.

[FichtenFoo]

Cool... I started the wheel last night. I'm currently working on one other project (the semi-secret one) that I'll post images of soon.

As for decals to include with the kits, I should do a mini-comp or something for racer designs. I wanna do the corporate sponsored look, but not use real businesses. Kind of like wip3out.

[Sticky Fingers]

How's this one coming along? Still on hold?

[FichtenFoo]

hahahah... I haven't even thought about it till I replied to your build. Might have to get back on it as I started a wheel.

[Alb]

Do you have abandoned this project, Michael ?
I really love this kind of design and models !

BTW, this group build recalls me a project I've in progress ...

[FichtenFoo]

It's not so much abandoned as it is on the backburner. I have everything needed to do it... I just need to do it.

[Alb]

Great !   So one day or another we will se this one ! 

[FichtenFoo]

FYI: I'll have news on this build, good or bad, in a few days.

[Alb]

Uhm... that's a cryptic statement !   

[FichtenFoo]

Heh... I just passed this onto a guy to start on a 3D model. I didn't give him a deadline as he's typically pretty busy and wanted to do something not time sensitive. So FINALLY this is in the works! Yay!

The bad was that a 3D object company was trying to sell a horrid 3D render of my design based on my images. Thankfully, after some talking and vague threats, they removed it from their site.