Amongst everything else, I have been looking for some suitable wheels for my project, the 1908 French GP winning Mercedes. Interesting when I scale the car down to have a 66" wheelbase, the wheels come out at 17" in diameter! I was thinking about the 1906 GP Renault and got very into that because in practice, it ran on wire wheels, changing to Mitchellin rims for the race.
The Mercedes however only ran on Mitchellin wheels with detachable rims on the back and non-detachable on the front.
I decided I would make the Mitchellin wheels myself and use a steel 17" rim.
I have just come back from 'Central Wheels' in Coleshill, with a set of four brand new rims, without the spoke blisters and undrilled. Perfect for what I need, £236. I recommend them, they can do anything, great shop.
I want the wooden spokes to be 30mm wide but that's way beyond my laser cutters ability so I am going to cut some 15mm thick Hickory (I bought for the purpose) on my laser-cutter and try that. If its OK then Ill cut two, glue the two together and see how we go then quick dabble with a spokeshave and see how it looks. If it works OK then work can commence on the remaining 47!
The wooden rims will be made in a similar manner on the laser but will need four laminates of 12.5mm thick in American Yellow Pine.
I will use the rims as the outer section of the building jug with a 1" dia rod supporting the spokes in the centres.
I'll then drill the rims to suit, get them powder-coated, then screw and glue them to the Mitchellin wheels.
I'll start with the back wheels because they look great and I can't wait to get started to prove the design really.
The chassis is all aluminium as is the bodywork and whilst I have drawn it all up, my pal at Shapecraft in Hinckley is going to make the chassis and when I have done all the loops for the bodywork he will English wheel the body panels, wire edge all raw edges and weld it all up. Seems years away but it won't be I promise.
