RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Late Model Tiger 1 Metal Road Wheels Conversion Kit....
Hello Tankers... Last year I had posted a question on how to assemble this Metal road wheel conversion set I had purchased. I figured out how to assemble them but an unexpected answer i got back was what i had purchased was a "Bad Copy of HennTec road wheels" . With this new found knowledge I did not want to install them, so I researched to see if I could find a remedy. The only thing i could find would be 3D printing of which I have no knowledge and also I did not want to spend that much money just to detail my road wheels, So i went old school and detailed them by hand. They didn't come out perfect, but I think the end result is much better than the start.

Heres what i was starting with... When looking at the cart picture It does look bad...
I figured the first step would be to remove bad details... Next step was to invade my local ACE Hardware store to find some small washers, screws, & a nut for the center of the hub.
I used JB Weld for the entire process. Installing first washers for outer hub. Next is the inner hub step up with small washer... Next is the center hub nut... Next i installed the outer hub plate I was not able to find small enough bolts at ACE Hardware for the outer plate fasteners so I broke ou the
RP Toolz Hexagonal Punch and made some from a thin piece of copper. Heres what i ended up with... Once I was happy with the hub details I started to assemble the road wheels...

Had to modify Tamiya axles to fit properly... Much happier with the new results...

Definitely way better. I have one of those RP tools punch tools and I think it's great. I mostly use it with styrene. I guess I never even considered it could punch thin brass too.

Oh WOW this is AWESOME, You're BACK! I'm soo happy to see you at it again Burger Patrol!!! I have used this thread as reference for more than just my Tiger I. I hope all is well and I hope you continue to do your great work and get that old cat back in action.

tankme wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:45 pm Definitely way better. I have one of those RP tools punch tools and I think it's great. I mostly use it with styrene. I guess I never even considered it could punch thin brass too.

Thanks Derek, yea this punch has gotten me out of pinch many times Ive used it with Styrene, brass & copper. Seems to work well on all mediums.

MrChef wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 1:24 am Oh WOW this is AWESOME, You're BACK! I'm soo happy to see you at it again Burger Patrol!!! I have used this thread as reference for more than just my Tiger I. I hope all is well and I hope you continue to do your great work and get that old cat back in action.

Thanks MrChef, It has been awhile I was looking at my account, and my last post was this month last year...Crazy how life swooshes by so fast the older i get.
I'm glad your able to use some ideas from my build. That was always one of my big hopes that my posts would help some builders with ideas and solutions
to common build problems. I know I'm am always learning as well from other builders and for me that's half the fun!!
Hope your doing well my friend and I'm praying that i can finish this Tiger up soon. One concern I've started having that i did not think about, is adding all this metal weight to the kit. I'm thinking this will cut my battery run time way down. Live and learn i guess...

Burger_Patrol1 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:39 pm
RP Toolz Hexagonal Punch and made some from a thin piece of copper.
P1010033.JPG

Great tool. In picture P1010033 it looks like you worked on a gentle curved profile to the bolt heads. Or is that how the Brass cuts when punched? The mods look great. I'm going to have to get one of those hex punches.

Tankme, does the styrene cut in a similar fashion?

Ecam wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 1:48 am

Burger_Patrol1 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:39 pm
RP Toolz Hexagonal Punch and made some from a thin piece of copper.
P1010033.JPG

Great tool. In picture P1010033 it looks like you worked on a gentle curved profile to the bolt heads. Or is that how the Brass cuts when punched? The mods look great. I'm going to have to get one of those hex punches.

Tankme, does the styrene cut in a similar fashion?

Styrene ends up being a bit flatter.

Ecam wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 1:48 am

Burger_Patrol1 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:39 pm
RP Toolz Hexagonal Punch and made some from a thin piece of copper.
P1010033.JPG

Great tool. In picture P1010033 it looks like you worked on a gentle curved profile to the bolt heads. Or is that how the Brass cuts when punched? The mods look great. I'm going to have to get one of those hex punches.

Tankme, does the styrene cut in a similar fashion?

Hey Eric , yea i've noticed with brass and copper the punch will leave one side of the cutting rounded and if you flip the cutting over it will have more of a sharp edge. Ive found the the styrene as a rule will not have as sharp of an edge depending on how thick the styrene is or how sharp the punch cutter still is. Either way most times it comes out with a nice looking bolt head or a nut. I wish i was more of a techy, I'd invest in 3d printing. Maybe when i retire

3D printing small nuts and bolts is helpful, but it's much easier to just punch them out. If I had a bunch just printed, that would be one thing, but you never have on hand the size you need. Then going over to the resin printer, I have to load the file on the USB (no wireless on my resin printer), walk it to the garage, load the resin up, let it print, wash the resin print, let it dry, cure it, remove it from the supports, then in stall it.