****DISCLAIMER****
WHEN WORKING WITH KNIVES AND POWER TOOLS, SAFETY IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE. YOU MUST WEAR PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT INCLUDING GOGGLES OR GLASSES. I CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES CAUSED BY ATTEMT OF THIS PROCEDURE.
This is a cheap easy way to make landing gear wheels that work well with the FT swappable series planes and other FT scratch builds. Please rate this article and read our other articles.
What you will need to make 2 wheels are the following...
4 Empty Soda Cans
Exacto Knife or Utiliity Knife
Sandpaper or Disc Sander
Hot Glue Gun
Drill
A Center Finding Device
Black Sharpie (optional)
1/16 Drillbit (If using suggested music wire landing gear)
1-2ft of 5/8 In. Round Solid Foam Insulation (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-E-O-5-8-in-x-20-ft-Polyurethane-Caulk-Saver-C23H/202262332#.UmPgOPmsiSo)
STEP 1: Cutting The Cans
Take the empty soda cans and cut the bottoms off like depicted below. Try to cut as close as you can to where the color stops as it will make sanding easier. *****Be very careful if using an exacto knife or utility knife, as you can cut yourself very badly if caution is not excercised*****
STEP 2: Sanding
Then you sand them so there is no color left showing. Don't sand too much you want to sand just past the color on the soda can. *****Be careful if you are using a disc sander or powered sander as the soda can bottom can be sent flying through the air by the sander******
BEFORE SANDING
STEP 3: Drilling The Holes
Use a center marking gauge or something similar to mark the center of the of the soda can bottoms.
Once you have done that take a drill and your 1/16 drill bit and drill a hole through each bottom at the marked spot.
STEP 4: Gluing
Now you are ready to glue them together. Put a bead of hot glue along the ridge on the bottom of the soda can bottom then line the two halves up, press together, and let the glue dry.
STEP 5: Adding Tread
Take your foam insulation and and put a dab of hot glue inside the wheel hub. Let it cool a little then put the end of the foam in. Continue this procedure around the whole wheel hub. Once you get too the last bit of foam cut it so it fits snug next to the other end then glue.
STEP 6: Finishing Touches
Now you can add your finishing touches. I just like to use a sharpie and color in the tread but you can try what ever you want. Paint it, put stickers on it, or whatever you think looks good.
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Credit goes to, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Aat8EAW3Y#sthash.cpUev6P2.dpuf , I got the idea from this video and decided it needed to be on flitetest.com so I made this article.
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