Colin Anderson Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Long shot, this: a have a couple of models that have sat too long on their tyres. As a result they have distorted. Is there a good way of getting them to “puff” out and be usable again? I did try - on a plane I’d been given - placing the whole wheel in a boiling pan of water; that was a bad mistake! The tyre did begin to regain its shape, but then it split along a central seam! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Regrettably, it seems that when the tyre has had a dent pressed into it for a long time, the thing becomes scrap. Happily, model aircraft wheels don't cost a fortune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Anderson Posted August 22, 2022 Author Share Posted August 22, 2022 Yeah, I was afraid of that, Brian; but it never hurts to ask. Cheers. 👍😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Fill it with expanding foam then stand back and cross your finger maybe...?! 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 On the Robart scale wheels with split hubs I have fixed "flats" by inserting foam rubber. Effectively foam "doughnuts" cut from pipe insulation foam. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Anderson Posted August 22, 2022 Author Share Posted August 22, 2022 Hmmm, an interesting idea, David. Thanks. 👍😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Walsh Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Gentle warming with a hot air gun? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrman Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Robart used to sell foam inserts for their scale wheels. Not sure if they still do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrman Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 https://robart.com/search?x=0&y=0&q=foam+wheel+inserts Still available but not sure if in UK. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Anderson Posted August 23, 2022 Author Share Posted August 23, 2022 Cheers guys. 👍😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Day Posted December 29, 2022 Share Posted December 29, 2022 Plastics have a "memory" so unless they're so old the material has become brittle chuck them in some very hot water and leave to soak for a while, you may have to do it a few times. If they return to some acceptable shape you could them fit foam inserts as suggested above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted January 1, 2023 Share Posted January 1, 2023 The car boys fit foam inserts. If wheels are bigger than insulating foam then try the car inserts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted January 1, 2023 Share Posted January 1, 2023 (edited) The 1/8 scale car foam 'inserts' from buggys is like soft cushion foam, the only ones that would be any good are the 1/8 and 1/10 foam ' track' tyres depending on what size you need you can get thick black foam from racing motorbike shops, we stick it on the bare fibre glass fairing as a seat. Edited January 1, 2023 by Paul De Tourtoulon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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