[JAK]

Gareth

The best looking, but still no where near right , set up I've tried is Ninco wires which are too small a diameter with Carerra Jag D type tyres. These tyres are the narrowest I have found but the combination gives a scale height. I've never seen these tyres sold as spares and cannot afford to buy the car just for the tyres so have nothing made like this yet.

Like you I'm building for fun rather than racing so the solid wheels might be the right scale but I expect to see through wires. Its part of the character of pre war cars.

Looking forward to seeing the new Scalextric Vanwall and hoping the wires will be that bit bigger.

I've a number of MG K and T variants waiting for suitable wheels so that they can be built. Hope that I can also use Pendle's plastic chassis to make the job easier.

 

[JAK]

Gareth

Just obtained a Scalex Maserati. At first look the wheels seem about scale size for pre-war type cars, particularly the fronts which are slightly narrower than the rears. The actual wheel hubs are still to small in diameter but overall they're virtually the same as the Airfix K3 wheels. Also come with brake drums.

The axle width is also near correct for a K3 although the wheel base is a little long. The motor fits under most of the bonnet but this can be corrected when the Maserati chassis is shortened. You also get a period style driver.

I hope to obtain a K3 kit so that I can have a proper look / test build at the weekend, or else it'll have to wait until half term week.

You'll have to have a look at one yourself, you may find it's just what you need for your other pre wars. (Are you going off MGs?)

If anyone else has used this or the Vanwall chassis for a conversion I'd be grateful for any helpful advice.

 

[JAK]

Hi bwaminispeed

Thanks for the info about your tyres although I think from my point of view they might come under the same fault as Nincos.

My problem with wheels/tyres, which Gareth and I expect many other scratch builders have found is hopefully explained a little more by the attached photo. Apologises for the quality.

I want to have models of pre war MGs. The only commercial 1/32 kits are the K3 and TC both of which had similar sized wheel/tyres. I trust the manufacturers to make a scale model so I assume that the two wheels shown below are correct.

As local shops have only just started stocking Ninco and SCX my knowledge of what is available in the slot world is very limited. The Ninco/Carrera wire hubs are a similar size, Nincos being better quality. The standard fitted tyres to these hubs give a smaller overall diameter but with the Carrers D type Jag tyres they are about right for the MGs.

This was the combination that I was planning to use for my models if a source for Carrera tyres had been found. With the release of the Maserati its tyres give the required diameter and with the narrow tyre width are near perfection for overall diameter and width.

The Bentley wheel diameter is correct but the tyre and width make it look ridiculous on a small car like the TC. I believe it would be impossible because of the way the wheel is moulded to reduce its width sufficiently for my needs before having to consider having scale sized tyres made.

My scratch building knowledge, like Gareth's is limited but I like what your saying about camber. The front wheels on these cars should lean out at the top but will need to be narrow to get the full effect.
If you have, or anyone else knows of any wheels/tyre combinations that could give a more accurate representation of the K3 profile I would be grateful for details. As this is part of the character of these early cars Ninco/D type Jag tyre width would be acceptable.

Note for anyone interested - the axles on the Maserati have knurled ends to grip the hubs.

 

[JAK]

Request to Nuro

As you've done a review on the CARTRIX Mercedes Benz W196 can you say how its wheels and tyres compare with those in the photo above. Tyres are obviously wider than the Maserati but do the hubs have a greater diameter.

I've never seen a Cartrix car in the flesh so chances of me being able to compare myself are very slim.

Thanks

 

[JAK]

Nuro

Many thanks for this information.

From all help now given it would appear that wheels for pre-war cars are still going to have to be a compromise as there are no wheels manufactured with the required large scale diameter.

For a scale look it will have to be the Maserati ones.
For racing I will keep with the Ninco at present but hopefully I will be able to see the Cartrix version (Newark swapmeet at end of month?) and then depending on spares availability either change to Cartrix or fit Carrera Jag D type tyres.