Interesting wheel alternative
The GPM kit wheels gave me a little concern at first. I'm used to the old laminating several circular layers and rounding the bit after. The Gpms wheels come as 2 discs for each wheel, then a series of strips wrapped around the discs, each strip thinner than the last giving the impression of a tapered, rounded fit. Right, I thought. But then I remembered some techniques learned here, particularly how to round and burnish paper to give it some unusual curve using a rubber putty like eraser. The results are better than I first thought. Pic 1 is the raw parts, pic 2 shows the rubber and a knitting needle tool used to burnish the rim, pic 3 shows the basic wheel cylinder, pic 4 shows one finished wheel, I used the knitting needle pressed to the outer edge to give it some soft curve, then ran a watercolor pencil across the Tread pattern to highlight the details. In plastic kit talk this is the equivalent of dry brushing to bring out surface detail. The 5th pic shows a further modification. I deeply scored the outermost strip to give the impression of treads. I included a pic of the plain center strip, on the left and the scored one on the right, they came out better than ist thought, now on the the landing gear.....
The GPM kit wheels gave me a little concern at first. I'm used to the old laminating several circular layers and rounding the bit after. The Gpms wheels come as 2 discs for each wheel, then a series of strips wrapped around the discs, each strip thinner than the last giving the impression of a tapered, rounded fit. Right, I thought. But then I remembered some techniques learned here, particularly how to round and burnish paper to give it some unusual curve using a rubber putty like eraser. The results are better than I first thought. Pic 1 is the raw parts, pic 2 shows the rubber and a knitting needle tool used to burnish the rim, pic 3 shows the basic wheel cylinder, pic 4 shows one finished wheel, I used the knitting needle pressed to the outer edge to give it some soft curve, then ran a watercolor pencil across the Tread pattern to highlight the details. In plastic kit talk this is the equivalent of dry brushing to bring out surface detail. The 5th pic shows a further modification. I deeply scored the outermost strip to give the impression of treads. I included a pic of the plain center strip, on the left and the scored one on the right, they came out better than ist thought, now on the the landing gear.....
