Yeh I used simple hobby-grade scrap ply. Nothing fancy. It’s working just fine. The spindly gear really soaks up the bumps so the plate seems to be more than sufficient.
FT Scout XL : Flite Fest 2022 Dawn Patrol Challenge
- Thread starter SP0NZ
- Start date
The Fopster
Master member
🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗. Sounds like this might be worth waiting for!
Ok, I just cannot wait to share this any longer. I’d like to preface this post with the knowledge that a video explaining everything will be coming this week. With that said, start warming up your 3D printer beds…
Ligbaer
50 Percenter
*sad no 3d printer noises*
The Fopster
Master member
Whoa - what??? Actual spoked wheels? That’s amazing!
Aslansmonkey
Well-known member
That is very clever!
So I've seen @willsonman do a LOT of cool, scale features on his models over the years. Many of those were more complicated and time consuming and flashy than this. But I have to tell you I am SO impressed with these. They look PERFECT, they came out lighter than commercial options, and he has obviously thought them out well enough to be repeatable for most of us. I suspect they are also deceptively strong even considering the fact the hub and tire are printed. I understand the aerodynamic reasons WHY spoked wheels were so often covered but it is a damn shame because these are DEAD SEXY!
Cudos to @willsonman for continuing to bring the scale side of the hobby to the masses and show us how to add these kinds of details to our models without breaking the bank. A quick google search turned up a source for assorted spoked WWI wheels for RC models (a place in Germany called Herbie Wheels.) They range in price from $85 - $180 per pair before shipping. At this size I'm guessing about $90/pair, and these look every bit as good and weigh less. My friend, you've outdone yourself this time. Looking forward to the video, and looking even MORE forward to seeing them in person!
cyclone3350
Master member
I've done the same in the past on a couple of 24" FF models. I'm with U on that one.
Some progress on the prototype (number 3 if you count Ben's and Josh's).
PRO TIP: I've started using Elmer's purple glue sticks to do all my paper fold overs. So much cleaner, faster, and easier than using hot glue.
I've been using printed servo mounts so I don't have to glue them in anymore. Easy to replace if a servo fails too!
I didn't have any bananas so...standard size swappable FT Simple Scout for scale.
PRO TIP: I've started using Elmer's purple glue sticks to do all my paper fold overs. So much cleaner, faster, and easier than using hot glue.
I've been using printed servo mounts so I don't have to glue them in anymore. Easy to replace if a servo fails too!
I didn't have any bananas so...standard size swappable FT Simple Scout for scale.
Thanks, Carl. I've always been a strong advocate of little details all over to dress up a model and sometimes they are more complex than others. Anyone remember the fully animated cockpit I did on my Corsair? Without going into too much detail yet, yes, they are less than HALF the weight of a commercial wheel and VERY stout. Much like my 1/4 scale Fokker D.VIII, flimsy materials become stronger with angles and the strength gets compounded at that. I do believe that this is one of those cases where people will not really be convinced of this until they handle it and see it in person. I REALLY had a hard time with it myself.
I want to, lastly, say that these wheels LOOK complicated to make. It's like the "Big Airplane" idea. For some reason big airplanes really impress people, because they are big. Anymore they really don't for me but in this case you have a string threaded in a specific way that overlaps 24 times. It's really one pattern multiplied 24 times. It looks complicated, but it's not. It may take some finesse and patience but that's an opportunity to try something new and feel REALLY accomplished about it.
FlyingTyger
Elite member
I am really excited about these wheels and cannot wait to get a set printed and in my hands. I have a set of Proctor spoked wheels on my Antic. I would guess that they weigh at least half a pound and they are currently selling at $140 for a pair. That plane is large enough to carry the weight, but I wouldn't want to put them on a smaller foam plane.
@willsonman, how strong are these against a side load?
@willsonman, how strong are these against a side load?
That’s a great question. For some context, I’ll describe the assembly a bit. There is a single rim and central hub that are placed in a jig and the lines are run. There are 24 holes on the rim and there is one line from each hole to each side of the hub. This means there are in total 48 lines to keep the rim centered on the hub. After the stringing, the tire is glued to the string up rim and the other half of the rim is then glued into position.
My thought here is that there are a number of factors in the construction that will dictate how well these will take a side load. How much tension do you have on the line after stringing? How adequately did you glue the lines to the central hub? How well did you glue the rims to each other?
Reiterating my previous post, the real strength here comes from the cumulative strength of each part. The TPU tire is pretty stiff but not so stiff that it can’t absorb impacts or energy. The rim on its own is fairly flimsy but the stringing adds rigidity as well as the addition of the other half of the rim after the tire is installed.
The short answer to your question is “it depends” and the long answer is that it will not be consistent from one wheel to another.
The HUGE plus side here is that the wire gear of the Scout XL really does eat up the bumps. That combination with these wheels makes me think things will be fine for this application.
Certainly adding steel beading wire will add some strength here but to what extent over the 65 pound test fishing line? Really, the print is going to fail long before the lines. Could you make the print thicker? Sure but to what extent would that stiffen things from side loads? No idea. Whenever you do a scale item, you compromise three things, strength, cost, and weight. You usually only get two. With these wheels we are focusing more on cost and weight rather than strength. They are certainly “strong enough” for an average 1/6 scale model. My 54 ounce Tummelisa is 1/6 scale and the same weight as the projected balsa version. I have no reservations about this wheel at that size.
Baron VonHelton
Elite member
Like I said in the video, not my ideas. I've seen thread used on small wheels like this and my experience with this braided fishing line on pull-pull lines seemed like a perfect match.
There was a YT comment bringing to my attention an error on the Thingiverse page that has been corrected. I like the idea of Thingiverse but the execution of the website is so terrible. I've never had a perfectly smooth release of a thing. Current issue there is that the YouTube video shows up on the main thing page. When I go to edit the thing to re-order the images to get the video thumbnail toward the front, the video vanishes. Every time there's something wrong that's different. The biggest issue was that I had uploaded the Hub part and under edit it was there but under the main thing page it was not. I deleted the OG file and re-uploaded this morning and all seems to be right with the world again.
There was a YT comment bringing to my attention an error on the Thingiverse page that has been corrected. I like the idea of Thingiverse but the execution of the website is so terrible. I've never had a perfectly smooth release of a thing. Current issue there is that the YouTube video shows up on the main thing page. When I go to edit the thing to re-order the images to get the video thumbnail toward the front, the video vanishes. Every time there's something wrong that's different. The biggest issue was that I had uploaded the Hub part and under edit it was there but under the main thing page it was not. I deleted the OG file and re-uploaded this morning and all seems to be right with the world again.
The Fopster
Master member
Wonder if that was a deliberate quote of Gary Fisher (one of the Fathers of the mountain bike). I read somewhere he used to say:
"Cheap. Strong. Light. Pick any two".
Brilliant minds think alike!
I know I've hear dit somewhere or something similar in my life but mountain biking? no.
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