waltmert Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 Gentlemen, I have noticed that a lot of the 1/32 and larger scale models tent to come with rubber tires. In fact, I just happen to purchase a large 1/18 F-104 model. Boy is she big and gorgeous! But, the rubber tires are all sticky and soft. I guess they are self destroying. Is there a process to stop the deterioration of rubber tires? Thanks, Walter Harold 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottsGT Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 I have read that the plastic of the hub reacts with the rubber and causes it to breakdown. So I wrapped the hub with bare metal foil. Got some old Tamiya builds I did this on that are still good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waltmert Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 I will try that! I wonder if there is anything you can spray on the rubber to stop the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 I'm not sure any are made, but you may want to try to source some AM resin wheels. I'm not 100% sure its anything he could/would tackle, but Harold of AMS resin has tackled some 1/18th wheel sets prior. It may be worth shooting him a PM. LSP_K2 and Harold 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Griewski Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 Some tidbits: Primer: I have sprayed Vallejo black primer on soft vinyl tires after roughing them up with sand paper. Adhesion was great until you compressed the tire resulting in cracks. Making Resin copies: I cast resin copies of vinyl/rubber tires from the Airfix 1/24 scale Stuka for my Me-410 resin kit. Not a good match with the type of RTV I used (IIRC one needs a tin based) but using a lot of mold release produced 4 respectable copies before the mold died. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 5 minutes ago, Rick Griewski said: Some tidbits: Primer: I have sprayed Vallejo black primer on soft vinyl tires after roughing them up with sand paper. Adhesion was great until you compressed the tire resulting in cracks. Making Resin copies: I cast resin copies of vinyl/rubber tires from the Airfix 1/24 scale Stuka for my Me-410 resin kit. Not a good match with the type of RTV I used (IIRC one needs a tin based) but using a lot of mold release produced 4 respectable copies before the mold died. Rick Some of the rubber tires contain Sulfur. It will react badly with platinum RTV. Tin bases RTV is the only way to mold them. Others have no issue at all, but I always use the messy tin based RTV on them just to make sure. I also post cure the rubber for a few hours at 170 degrees as well. Rick Griewski and Out2gtcha 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 1 hour ago, Out2gtcha said: I'm not sure any are made, but you may want to try to source some AM resin wheels. I'm not 100% sure its anything he could/would tackle, but Harold of AMS resin has tackled some 1/18th wheel sets prior. It may be worth shooting him a PM. If someone wishes me to do them, I would need them sent, and whomever sends them, gets the originals and resin copies back when I am done. Just be prepared for a bit of a wait. LSP_K2, Rick Griewski, Out2gtcha and 3 others 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 I heard someone dipped (or was it sprayed) them with Future then painted them. I think Future has a moderate degree of flexibility. Harold 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waltmert Posted December 6, 2018 Author Share Posted December 6, 2018 Right on guys, thanks! I cleaned them up with alcohol and they are no longer sticky. I am going to try the "Future" trick and see what happens. There is no easy way to separate the tires from the wheel to put aluminium foil so I am sure the sticky process will start again. I decided I am not going to super detail the model as I first thought, I am going to hang it from the ceiling just as it is and wheels up! Funny that even the pilot started to get sticky! He is going to have to sit on aluminium foil for sure! Harold thanks a million for the offer to cast the tires/wheels but if I am going to bug you with a resin set, it will have to be another F4U-5N set. I really like that bird. For now I am going to concentrate my time and efforts on the two 1/24 Harriers I have been working on for............ yeah, for ever!!! Harold 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 The Future will likely crack. Did this on a AMT 18 Wheeler to simulate Armor All on the tire....looked great until compressed. Ryan Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ringleheim Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 Not sure what materials Trumpeter and others are using on their rubber aircraft kit tires, but I have many Tamiya F1 cars with "rubber" tires that are now 30 years old; the tires are like new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 8 hours ago, Ryan said: The Future will likely crack. Did this on a AMT 18 Wheeler to simulate Armor All on the tire....looked great until compressed. Ryan Just curious Ryan , what compressed them ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 Hi Mike, When I slipped (stretched) them over the wheel hubs the stress of the action caused the future to fracture....so compress probably wasn't the right word. I will say I was able to touch up after the tires were in place. Ryan MikeMaben and Harold 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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