Wheel help

[NetexxGT]

Does anyone know of anyway I can reproduce 19"-26" 1:24 scale wheels? I'm doing a model for 310 Motoring, a 7 series BMW (custom molded curbside kit from J&W casting) and the last thing we want to do is use Dubcity wheels (1:18 scale anyway) because of the connection they have with West Coast Customs. I have connections to ANY and EVERY tool, milling machines, cnc, hot lathe, anything. We are going to start producing 310 Motoring/Giovanna Wheels models in the near future starting with the 745i, G500, and S500, also we hope to have Hummer H2 (any other posts of models we should have are more then welcome). Thank you in advance.

[turbo type-r]

Diecast Duh Na Just Kidding

[MPWR]

How well do you know machining? Do you have/know how to use a CNC turntable with a mill? How many of a kind are you planning to make?

Wheels are one of the more difficult things to scratchbuild. You can machine them out of solid aluminum- looks great, but very effort intensive. A one piece pattern can be copied in resin, but it's tough to get good quality control casting one piece resin wheels- plan on using a vacuum and pressure chamber, it's the only way to eliminate air bubbles on a complicated casting like a wheel.

You could machine a two part wheel- turn a simple rims out of 1" O.D. aluminum tubing, and machine centers for them. Or, it's possible to make a pattern for a center, and cast resin copies of it, and use them with turned rims.

What are you planning to do about tires? Casting them yourself out of silicone is not easy! It's something I'm currently trying to teach myself to do- but I'm only trying with slick tires. I couldn't guess how to make a tread pattern, short of copying someone else's.

[NetexxGT]

I think we are going with solid aluminum. I will be casting the tires from silicone (It's not just me making the car, we have people helping us, I'm just here to make sure everything is done correctly).

[Jay!]

Design it in CAD, then "build" a master with a rapid prototyping machine.