I spend a lot of time developing my own 1/32nd scale chassis, a lot of which involves creating 3D filament printed parts. I have built several cars that use the body as part of the structure -- monocoque designs. There is a motor pod -- or what I call the rear sub-chassis, and a front sub-chassis, which mounts the guide and the front wheels.
Setting up the front sub-chassis has been difficult, largely because I need to figure out what size wheels are needed. Finally I came up with the idea of what I am calling "Wheel Gauges". I have printed up a set of simple plastic wheels -- not intended for racing -- but to help me determine the right front wheel sizes. I have created a set of nine gauges, from 15mm in diameter up to 22mm, in steps of 1mm. That is pairs of wheels 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 millimeters in diameter.
Each pair of wheels have their own 3/32" diameter stub axles which can easily be slipped into the front wheel mounts. Those stub axles are actually 3/32" diameter steel rivets 3/4" long.
It should be much easier now to figure out the right size wheels for the front sub-chassis. Just swap different size wheels in and out until I find the right size set. Once I know that I can go about obtaining the actual wheels the car will need. Photos below.


In this example it is easy to see that, while the 21mm gauge is the right size for ground clearance, it is a bit too large for the car body. The front wheel mounts will need to be redesigned to allow a smaller wheel. Probably a 18 or 19 millimeter wheel will work.
Ed Bianchi
Setting up the front sub-chassis has been difficult, largely because I need to figure out what size wheels are needed. Finally I came up with the idea of what I am calling "Wheel Gauges". I have printed up a set of simple plastic wheels -- not intended for racing -- but to help me determine the right front wheel sizes. I have created a set of nine gauges, from 15mm in diameter up to 22mm, in steps of 1mm. That is pairs of wheels 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 millimeters in diameter.
Each pair of wheels have their own 3/32" diameter stub axles which can easily be slipped into the front wheel mounts. Those stub axles are actually 3/32" diameter steel rivets 3/4" long.
It should be much easier now to figure out the right size wheels for the front sub-chassis. Just swap different size wheels in and out until I find the right size set. Once I know that I can go about obtaining the actual wheels the car will need. Photos below.
In this example it is easy to see that, while the 21mm gauge is the right size for ground clearance, it is a bit too large for the car body. The front wheel mounts will need to be redesigned to allow a smaller wheel. Probably a 18 or 19 millimeter wheel will work.
Ed Bianchi
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