I have to make a fairly large diameter ships wheel for the pilot house/bridge of my model of the Suter. That's the wheel used for steering, NOT the paddlewheel....

Has anyone made anything like that and could give some tips? The one I need to make is approximately 4" in diameter. I've searched the normal suppliers, but no-one seems to manufacture anything that large, so I'm stuck with making my own..... HELP! :-)

how big, how many spokes, how many grips?  Usually, spokes = grips.

Quote from: SSMA Brucehow big, how many spokes, how many grips?  Usually, spokes = grips.

Typical - I put all my modelling stuff away for christmas, and now that I want to find the drawings I can't!

Anyway, taking a rule to the pilothouse, it needs to be 4" in diameter, with approx 16-18 spokes/grips.

1-2 inches and I'd just draw it out on piece of sheet basswood, scroll saw it out, then needle file the curves and details.   At 4", I'd turn the spokes on a lathe and build it the same way they did in the day.  I'd still use basswood, though.  Tough one.  Scan and post it when you find your drawings.

Hooray! I found the drawings!

I've built to a different scale to the drawings, so please DON'T use them for dimensions! The wheel needs to be 4" in diameter from the tip to tip of the spoke/grips.

Yeah, this one is pretty straight forward.  I'd take a sheet of 1/4 inch basswood and draw the two rims at about 1/4 inch wide, plus the hub.  Before cutting, I'd mark out the spokes at one per 20 degrees.  I'd do it all by hand - no power tools.  Don't try to cut the rims/hub at the line, but just outside it.  sand it down to the line after cutting.  Use a pin vise to drill the majority of the spoke holes, then finish the rectangle with a file.  Turn the grips on the end of each spoke, or, use a round file to shape them by hand.  

Basswood is optional.  I think its soft enough to be easy to work, but hard enough to not be too fragile, once finished.  You can stain and finish to suit.

Here you go Eddy. I took your drawing and made a template for you to use. By the way the grips are at 20 degree increments if anyone was wondering.

Thanks Bruce and Joe - The help is greatly appreciated.