Painting Loco Wheel Rims
- Thread starter jonte
- Start date
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Morning, Jon.
That is really fun. I love the fact that he built that 'jig' ( and made such a lovely job of it) for such , on paper at least, a simple job. That said, I suspect he's doing this on every loco, so the time spent designing and building the gizmo is a really good investment.
Wheely good.
Rob
That is really fun. I love the fact that he built that 'jig' ( and made such a lovely job of it) for such , on paper at least, a simple job. That said, I suspect he's doing this on every loco, so the time spent designing and building the gizmo is a really good investment.
Wheely good.
Rob
RichardG
Western Thunderer
The use of a stapler to provide a sprung sliding mechanism is really ingenious.
This is all quite timely for me - I was expecting to be painting wheel rims this evening. My wheels are installed permanently into the vehicle, maybe I can arrange something to spin them round at a constant speed. Must be worth a try.
This is all quite timely for me - I was expecting to be painting wheel rims this evening. My wheels are installed permanently into the vehicle, maybe I can arrange something to spin them round at a constant speed. Must be worth a try.
jonte
Western Thunderer
Ahh, so that’s what it is
The author probably mentioned it but as usual I wasn’t paying attention.
Jon
Bill Campbell
Western Thunderer
Just a thought for previously fitted wheels - would a rolling road provide the same function for spinning the wheels?
RichardG
Western Thunderer
At the moment I have just one 4-wheel horsebox deserving of white wheel rims. For the future, I can imagine seven more axles needing the same treatment. So it is not worthwhile me building a special jig.
I have supported the model in soft padding, this is a clean face flannel inside a sandwich box. Then fitted a soft rubber mandrel into the mini-drill.
In operation I am holding the mini-drill in one hand and letting the mandrel spin the wheel set while I hold the brush in the other hand. My mini-drill is a Dremel 'Stylus' and I am using this on its lowest speed setting.
This is one of my results.
Some white paint has gone onto the ring inside the tyre and I can try to touch this up later. I think the concept is right; using a motor to spin the wheelset does give a better result compared to turning the wheelset by hand.
For a loco I would try supporting the chassis in blocks of foam or even a vice, and driving its motor through an unmbilical. I think this would give better access for the brush compared to a rolling road.
I have supported the model in soft padding, this is a clean face flannel inside a sandwich box. Then fitted a soft rubber mandrel into the mini-drill.
In operation I am holding the mini-drill in one hand and letting the mandrel spin the wheel set while I hold the brush in the other hand. My mini-drill is a Dremel 'Stylus' and I am using this on its lowest speed setting.
This is one of my results.
Some white paint has gone onto the ring inside the tyre and I can try to touch this up later. I think the concept is right; using a motor to spin the wheelset does give a better result compared to turning the wheelset by hand.
For a loco I would try supporting the chassis in blocks of foam or even a vice, and driving its motor through an unmbilical. I think this would give better access for the brush compared to a rolling road.
adrian
Flying Squad
It is isn't it! Although I think I'd prefer some thing that runs an order of magnitude slower. As a spouse of a Forensic Scientist I have visions of a glorious white "blood" spatter pattern all the way up the nearest wall.
RichardG
Western Thunderer
It is isn't it! Although I think I'd prefer some thing that runs an order of magnitude slower. As a spouse of a Forensic Scientist I have visions of a glorious white "blood" spatter pattern all the way up the nearest wall.
I have repainted the insides of my own wheels using the same power source. Doing the wooden centres is quite fun, the paint looks like clay on a potter's wheel and watching the paint flow onto the axle to make a sort of miniscus was rather satisfying. More adventurous modellers might try to represent the wheel hub!
The rims were more difficult. The "overspray" on the wheel centres is from me doing the rims, the surplus everywhere else is from me painting the chassis. I think the YouTuber has done a neater job but I am glad I had a go.
AdeMoore
Western Thunderer
Another option a jig Jon is using over on RM,
On a completely different subject, I bought one of these jigs this week
https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/134629-bilton-junction/?do=findComment&comment=5843482
On a completely different subject, I bought one of these jigs this week
https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/134629-bilton-junction/?do=findComment&comment=5843482
jonte
Western Thunderer
Thanks, Ade.
I recall railroad modellers in America using something similar for their loco and stock wheels.
Jon