My periodic post again to trigger some vendor interest in period wire wheels. Only ones I know of currently available in US are modern- say sixties and newer, for wide tires.
The best wheels I found for pre-WW2 were from a place in England, I believe called Finecast, that were die cast rim and hub, with wire to lace the spokes. They were included in kits from Etzel, Jorgenson, and a couple of others, but those kit mfgs are all gone now.
It would be nice if a model car aftermarket supplier could find and import those wheels for us, or else someone else manufacture wire wheel kits (even PE would be okay if laced type is too involved) for those of us who build old race cars and passenger cars of that era.
Don, I know of a wheel supplier for the types you are talking about. He is in Gaia Portugal and sometimes they can be a little pricey but they are beautiful. Now, I have not purchased them myself but I have seen them and know modelers who have and they are spot on. You can find him on Ebay with the I.D. of Crazycar19. Even if you don’t purchase any, its worth the look at what he offers. The modelers that have purchased from him have had NO problems.
Don
I have some for a 1/12 Bentley I’m going to build for a friend, he’s payed for everything so I don’t mind. The wheels I found on Ebay are blow
www.ebay.co.uk/…/191226113829
They look amazing to be honest. The gentleman who builds then takes his time and for the price, which isnt cheap, I’d still say they would be worth it
Phil
Don ;
This has been a pia. for me too . I did get some nice fifties era wires from the outfit that makes them for the Lindberg 53 Ford kits .Those are Kelsey-Hayes types . I Have a set of 1 / 8 scale Rudge Wires w/whitewalls .Those are all I was able to salvage from a Jag XKE glue bomb .The wheels are Primo though .
Sadly , I do not have the Knock off Nuts . I did manage to study them carefully though . I then took sheet and rod ( square ) and built a wheel rim .Guess what I’m now waiting for the courage to do this .The Wrebbit Mercedes S.K. 1934 has a jig you use to make their wire wheels .
Trouble is all these are 1/20 or above .