There is a great deal of tension on the spokes Chris, I could play a tune on these strings because they are pretty tight. Like RB said, all the weight of the aircraft is trying to push the centre hub down, this is stopped by the upper spokes which take all the weight, if tensioned equally there is no fear of the bottom spokes becoming slack.
I did not use the spoked wheel tutorial Steven Robson so kindly posted on our forum, I devised my own system which required me to plan a lacing pattern for the size wheel I was building, then I made my own jig which had 20 small hooks on either side (40 in total), these held each of the spokes in place. I have now made the second wheel which also includes the valve stem. As with most new ideas the first build is always the hardest, the second wheel was much easier and quicker. I have fitted a tyre to the first wheel, I used an o-ring of appropriate size, I flattened the inside of the tyre by sanding it, it then sat nice and flat on the rim.
Since completing the second wheel I have thought of a few modifications to my jig which would make life a lot easier when making the wheels, I will work on this next time i have to make a set of spoked wheels.
Des.
