Resin Questions

[Spider]

Question #1:
Being that I'm not even close to an expert on working with resin, I could use a little help. Awhile back I bought a set of wheels and tires from AITM and the wheels are a bit smaller in diameter than the opening they fit into on the tire sets. What is the best way to these together to keep the wheels centered in the tires? I was thinking to use expoy and get it centered then don't move it until it sets. Am I on the right track here?

Question #2:
I want to mount these 12X24 wheels/tires on a Mack DM-600. The rear axles have a square extension that normally fits into the squared opening in the rear of the wheel. The resin wheels/tires have a basically flat back. What would be the best way to mount these wheels/tires so they would be reasonably stable? I thought about trying to make a backing plate that would look like an axle housing flange then cutting down the kits inserts so I could use at least a little of the square opening then expoying this sandwich together.
I'm open for suggestions here and don't want to do anything until I have a good idea that's going to work. These resin parts are not cheap and I put a bunch of work into cleaning up the tires already. I think they will look cool if I can get them on so they stay put.

[mountaindewd]

I have yet to use resin but have noticed that gap on other peoples projects and thought that epoxy would be a good way to go and not move until set. You could find the center of the tire and drill a hole as close to center as you can and then clean it out with a square jewelers file till the axle shaft fits then cut the shaft till it sticks through the hole far enough to touch the back side of the wheel when fully inserted, paint and then glue the tire in place on the axle shaft followed by epoxy between the wheel and inside of the tire. Secure it and let set until cured. You could also place a stretched cotton ball in to fill the space to keep the wheel from moving while the epoxy sets, if you can handle touching them things(I can't).

Les

[Spider]

Today, I got the following reply from Dave at A.I.T.M. concerning the same questions (figured posting the question here also couldn't hurt. Anyway, I thought that maybe some others could find the answers usefull also.

"Larry,if the wheels are loose inside the tire I wrap a strip of masking tape around the wheel till it fits snug thus centering it in the tire.I then drill a mounting hole in the back of the tires to match the axles.
If you are using the Ertl Mack DM-600 kit I know the rear axles have square axles.I drill a hole to fit that axle.As far as the front I would carefully drill a hole into the front axle and insert a plasitc dowel to mount the front tires on.The Ertl front axles and fragile when they are made to steer.I usually glue mine in position.
When everything fits right and is painted,I use 5 minuite epoxy to glue the wheels into the tires.Then next is use 5 minuite epoxy to glue tires onto the axles.The 5 minuite epoxy gives you time to adjust the tires to make sure they are straight.I will sometime drill slightly oversize holes in the rear tires.That makes it easier to adjust them so they are all in line and straight.
This method also makes sure there is a real good bond of tires to axles.I transport some of my models to shows and just a little bouncing around can break a tire off.That dosen't happen with this glue method.
One other weak spot is where the front axle glues to the front spring.I will sometimes put some 5 minuite epoxy around that."