There used to be a British company that made very nice vintage (pre-WW2) style wire wheels, where you laced them yourself with tinned wire. They used to be included in Etzel, Anderson and Front Motor kits. They had a name of (Compass Direction) Finecast, such as Northwest Fine Cast or Southeast Finecast. Anyone know whether they are still in business and whether they will ship to US? I’d love to build a couple of scratch projects, and a couple of kits that have terrible spoked wheels that could use decent aftermarket wheels.
Hi Don yes I have recently bought and built a set of south eastern finecast wheels and haven’t yet decided which model to them on…
They come with vintage Dunlop tyres and two ear ‘knock off’ centre caps and are from http://www.scalelink.co.uk.Unit 27, Applins Farm Business Centre, Farrington, Dorset. DT11 8RA & the telephone number is 01747-811817.
These were set no. SP03 at £11.75 initially for an MG TC, but off course will fit any 1/24/1/25 scale car.
I have just spoken to them on the phone and the shipping costs will be around £7.50 for two sets. (it might show more on invoice but will be credited back to around that cost.
Wow, thanks. I’ll go right over there and take a look!
South Eastern Finecast make some Photo Etched Wire Wheel sets as well, complete with tyres and knock off hub caps. Suitable for 1/24th scale cars like the MGB.
PS I enjoyed reading your Dreadnought article in FSM.
Don, there is a guy in Portugal that makes some of the best wires I have seen. They are a little pricey at around $24 for a set of 2, but they are beautiful and hand laced with wire. The only way I know to contact him is on the “Bay” as crazycar19.
Wasn’t there an article a number of years ago in FSM on how to make them yourself.
I’ve respoked wheels a number of times, but it is a lot of work and very time consuming. Bought the finecast wheels, and they are great! In addition to the project I had in mind, a friend gave me a kit that cries out for decent wires, so now I’ll have to order another set!