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Hi, all! I have a quick update on my Hellcat's wheels. I spent some time last night cleaning them up. First, I cut away the excess plastic sheet with a razor saw, so there wouldn't be so much to file/sand:

[ATTACH=full]4476[/ATTACH]

I had considered fixing each wheel in turn to a mandrill and chucking it in the Dremel, to spin the wheel while I held a piece of sandpaper up to it. But I decided to use hand power, for better control. So, with some judicious filing, and some sanding with 400-grit, the wheels look like this:

[ATTACH=full]4477[/ATTACH]

and from the edge-on view:

[ATTACH=full]4478[/ATTACH]

They're not finished, of course, by any means. The next pass will be a little putty, because there are some voids and seams between the pieces of styrene sheet, and maybe some Mr Surfacer over the whole tread surface, to tie everything together. But on the whole, I'm pleased with the way this little technique came out. Does it preclude using resin wheels in the future? No, of course not-though, not on this particular kit. But it was fun to try it and see how it worked.

I also cut some clear plastic for the cockpit window cutouts, and I installed the one on the port side, but I'll show that with the next batch of pictures.

<blockquote data-quote="the Baron" data-source="post: 4128" data-attributes="member: 75">Hi, all!&nbsp; I have a quick update on my Hellcat&#039;s wheels.&nbsp; I spent some time last night cleaning them up.&nbsp; First, I cut away the excess plastic sheet with a razor saw, so there wouldn&#039;t be so much to file/sand:[ATTACH=full]4476[/ATTACH]I had considered fixing each wheel in turn to a mandrill and chucking it in the Dremel, to spin the wheel while I held a piece of sandpaper up to it.&nbsp; But I decided to use hand power, for better control.&nbsp; So, with some judicious filing, and some sanding with 400-grit, the wheels look like this:[ATTACH=full]4477[/ATTACH]and from the edge-on view:[ATTACH=full]4478[/ATTACH]They&#039;re not finished, of course, by any means.&nbsp; The next pass will be a little putty, because there are some voids and seams between the pieces of styrene sheet, and maybe some Mr Surfacer over the whole tread surface, to tie everything together.&nbsp; But on the whole, I&#039;m pleased with the way this little technique came out.&nbsp; Does it preclude using resin wheels in the future?&nbsp; No, of course not-though, not on this particular kit.&nbsp; But it was fun to try it and see how it worked.I also cut some clear plastic for the cockpit window cutouts, and I installed the one on the port side, but I&#039;ll show that with the next batch of pictures.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="the Baron, post: 4128, member: 75"] Hi, all! I have a quick update on my Hellcat's wheels. I spent some time last night cleaning them up. First, I cut away the excess plastic sheet with a razor saw, so there wouldn't be so much to file/sand: [ATTACH=full]4476[/ATTACH] I had considered fixing each wheel in turn to a mandrill and chucking it in the Dremel, to spin the wheel while I held a piece of sandpaper up to it. But I decided to use hand power, for better control. So, with some judicious filing, and some sanding with 400-grit, the wheels look like this: [ATTACH=full]4477[/ATTACH] and from the edge-on view: [ATTACH=full]4478[/ATTACH] They're not finished, of course, by any means. The next pass will be a little putty, because there are some voids and seams between the pieces of styrene sheet, and maybe some Mr Surfacer over the whole tread surface, to tie everything together. But on the whole, I'm pleased with the way this little technique came out. Does it preclude using resin wheels in the future? No, of course not-though, not on this particular kit. But it was fun to try it and see how it worked. I also cut some clear plastic for the cockpit window cutouts, and I installed the one on the port side, but I'll show that with the next batch of pictures. [/QUOTE]

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