Diecast Forums

Does anyone here customize 1/18 cars with wheel swaps etc?

Hello MrMopar and welcome to Diecast Forums!

LOL, I personally haven't done any wheel swapping since I stopped building model kits but maybe one of our other members has...

Nice Plymouth BTW! I'm a Mopar man myself, I drive a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 P/U and my wife drives a 2002 Jeep Liberty

Is this site primarily for smaller scales or are 1/18 collectors here in prominence?

The forum is still fairly new, so there isn't a dominant scale as of yet, unless you count my personal preference for 1/64 scale (size and affordability).

I'd like to do some wheels swaps but am always afraid that they won't fit right. Are there any brands that are easier than others?

I agree with the fitting problem. Especially between brands. I've done a few swaps (1/18) and they never seem to go very smoothly. Usually end up with wheels that don't rotate. Not a huge deal for display, anyway. I know I've seen a seller on eBay who sells instructions on how to do the swaps, but can't remember who it is, or if it is for one particular brand.

Yeah, I've even had a couple of Jada 1/18 models arrive with one of the wheels popped off and the axle attached to the other wheels. For some reason it is really hard to get the axle back through the hole on the other side. That's what has made me hesitant to swap too many wheels out. I just wish Jada made more of the 1/24 Bigtime Muscle with GM Rally wheels!

72Chevelle Wrote:Yeah, I've even had a couple of Jada 1/18 models arrive with one of the wheels popped off and the axle attached to the other wheels. For some reason it is really hard to get the axle back through the hole on the other side. That's what has made me hesitant to swap too many wheels out. I just wish Jada made more of the 1/24 Bigtime Muscle with GM Rally wheels!

Haven't had experience with the Jada cars. Don't they just use a metal straight axle? I've worked on ERTL, Maisto, Bburago, and they all snap on, but or course, all do it a little differently.

Don't know if you've seen them, but GMP makes some really nice wheels sets. Your mileage may vary fitting them to cars other than GMP! :-O

Not to reply to my own reply, but.....

Here's a picture of a wheel swap I did (and paint swap!) on a 1/18 Hot Wheels Camaro.

Looks like the GMP Kinesis wheels on there...they look great.

All the GMP models swap nicely.

Maisto wheels often swap within their line. For example the mesh/BBS wheels from the Guldstrand 'Vette will fit the 1/18 Mustangs/Cobras.