I started the hobby this year, and I took a break after starting my new job. I thought that this weekend would be perfect to start again.
Anyways, I am building the Trumpeter AS-90 1:35 kit I bought in June, and I can’t find the bloody Poly Caps for the road wheels. Where can I get cheap replacements? If anyone has a sprue to give I’d gladly cover the shipping with PayPal. Also any suggestions to DIY some of my own? I am missing 12 for the road wheels, plus the ones for the drive sproket and idler wheel.
Is there any way to just solidly glue the wheels on. You don’t need them to roll. If it’s too loose a fit, can you find some plastic tube to use as a insert or shim?
Agreed. Just glue the shafts in, you’re probably not going to want to roll them around the floor. I’ve done this many times with aircraft models, where the caps were missing or just didn’t fit right.
Gluing was my first though also, it doesn’t need to roll …
…but leaving that part out “might” not be an option.
I was checking out this picture:
It appears that the polycaps “might” be needed to center-up the wheels on the axles.
The axle shaft has only one diameter and that’s the same size as the polycaps inner diameter. I don’t physically have the parts to look at, but here’s a diagram.
Ultra, You have correctly identified your problem. If you just glue them on, they likely will not all be centered and then you’ll have possible floating wheel problems. I think you need to fill that gap with something. It’s possible you could use aquarium air hose cut into short pieces. If the gap is narrower than that, maybe plastic drinking straws would work. Otherwise, maybe just glue a piece of toothpick or thin plastic piece to two sides of each axle that are wide enough to center the wheel and then push the wheel onto that. There are probably other simpler solutions, as well. Have you tried calling Trumpeter to see if they’ll send you a replacement set? Barrett
Remind yourself that the tank never had all of it’s wheels flat and in line after the day it left the factory and drove onto the railroad car that delivered it.
Stick playdo, sillyputty, white glue, chewed up bubble gum; whatever into the wheel cavities and have some fun. Run it over your wife’s left arm and then, when she’s done having fun with you; squirt superglue in from the back to get the wheels all set up. Just align them vertical, no need to have them all flat up and down.
Aquarium air hose and heatshrink tubing may be problematic because of the relatively thin wall. You might also consider fuel hose/tubing from your LHS. They should have a selection of tubing with different inside/outside diameters. Keep in mind that when you push the axle into the section of tubing, the tubing will spread and increase the OD.
