The F1M Forums

Hey everyone, hope y'all are having a fantastic day!

I have a quick question. Being new to F1 modeling, i've heard of modelers sanding down the tires to give a more realistic affect. Would anybody like to share their technique? I'd love to do this on my first f1 model

I took a large drill bit and wrapped some paper towel around it to get to just larger than the diameter of the inside of the tire and then wrapped it with cheap masking tape. Then I just slide the tire on, run the drill and hold a piece of 80 grit sandpaper on it until the seam is gone (I recommend doing this over a trash can). Goes pretty quick! I'm sure others have more engineered methods but that was what I managed to MacGyver in a pinch and it works just fine.

This works for me...

Another option is the use of a emery board. Do like the drill setup as well.
Easy enough to just use the emery board and sand away. Certainly not as quick as the drill.
Feel I have a bit more control so I don't sand too much. Believe a 400 or 600 grit will do the trick.

Sandwich the tire between two washers, thread a bolt through the two washers, and put a nut on the end. Chuck this assembly in a drill and spin the tire against something abrasive.

Alex Kustov's "ItalianHorses" website has this great tutorial on using an electric drill to easily sand tires:

http://italianhorses.net/Tutorials/TireScuff/tires.htm

Cameron

I do the drill and emery board thing but it hadn't occurred to me to sandwich the donut between washers. Great idea!

I use the KISS method. Simply place a sheet of 600 grit sandpaper on a flat surface and drag the tire over it in a rotating manner. That way I have complete control over the tire and don't have to worry about out of roundness on a spinning drill hitting high spots only. Sure, it may take a little longer, but, I'm in no hurry.

Use a socket from your tool box to put the tire on chuck it into your drill and hold it on a piece of coarse sandpaper works like a charm!!! Just make sure you use a socket that keeps the tire on it tight

Jimmy wrote:I use the KISS method. Simply place a sheet of 600 grit sandpaper on a flat surface and drag the tire over it in a rotating manner. That way I have complete control over the tire and don't have to worry about out of roundness on a spinning drill hitting high spots only. Sure, it may take a little longer, but, I'm in no hurry.

That's my technique as well, for the reasons stated (except I'll go as coarse as 200-grit if need be).

Cheers,
Greg