I know there are aftermarket resin wheels available that have them already molded on for certain vehicles -the Jeep for example. But does anyone have a technique to make their own, for maybe something like this?

Well,

I started trying this with some really smallhobby chain. I was making a much more simple design for some jeep wheels (i'm too tight to go out and buy something like this). Anyway, what I did was to lay the chain out and, where the links joined, I cut one link, inserted the connecting piece and then clamped the link closed again. It was a time consuming pain in the butt! Eventually I abandoned the project.

But I do have an idea which might help. If I were to try this again, I'd rely more on super glue than mechanically rigging it. I'd start by gluing the main ring around the hub. Where the lines part from the hub, I'd cut the first link of the off-shoot and glue it into place on the main hub ring. I'd repeat this process wherever the links crossed. I'd cut the links so that they would look more like they are connected than if you just glued one link on top of another.

This method would be a lot easier than trying to make the entire web before attaching it to the wheel. What a pain that would be! Also provides a much more stable base to work on. Those small chains are really hard to control!

After doing one the hard way, you might consider casting the rest to preserve your sanity! #:-)

Optionally, if you're good with miliputt, I'm sure it would be possible to scupt the chains on.

Good question, there should be a good way of doing this, because all the aftermarket tires that I've seen don't look realistic at all

i'd tack small chain on w/ superglue.

You can also replicate small chains twisting very tightly some thin electric wire. Once twisted hit it gently with a small hammer untile you get the chain pattern. To keep it simple, as others already stated, I won't go for a complicated chains construction job, what I'll do is to superglue small lenghts of my chain to the tire, using a pin as CA applicator...

Thank you all for the tips. I'll have to give them all a try.

I think if it were m,e doing the project, I would try and simplify the design as well. maybe just go for a ladder design.

rob

THe problem will be to find a link thin enough. But if you find one, I'd do the following :

- use one wheel of your vehicle (before it is glued to the vehicle !)
- draw the design of your chain on the wheel using a dark marker
- cut tiny sections of the chain and glue them in place, retracing the pattern you have drawn
- no need to try to link the tiny bits of chain together : just glue them snugly against eachother
when the whole wheel is done and you're happy with the result, make a silicone mold and cast resin copies of the wheel. That will ensure that all your wheels are equal and it will save you the trouble of making 4 (8?) wheels in this elaborate manner.
All this can easily be done in about an hour or two, excluding the time it takes your silicone mold to cure.

Jan