Spitfire formula four

[yourbreakfsat]

For my fellow woodworkers/hobbyists:

A couple of friends bought the Evan Smith Mashup wheels and I offered to do some work on the boxes.

The boxes are made of some cheap scrap wood that's so soft that I could easily poke holes in the wood with a toothpick. That doesn't mean it's not a good project though.







Sanded up to 220 grit, applied a dark brown wood stain, applied three layers of gloss spar urethane, gently wet sanded with 400 grit to remove any remaining residue, and applied a wax finish for a bit of extra protection.

Final:











I wish it wasn't so cloudy right now since the color pops out when the sun's shining on it, kinda like the 2nd and 3rd picture.

It was also difficult to work on the inside of the box and the crevice where the lid slides in, so I mainly focused on the exterior of the box. Someone with more experience with me may have a workaround for that though.

[GoneWithTheSchwinn]

Those are sick! Great work! I'd put my weed it it!

[Mbrimson88]

Did the stop making og classics? I had some more 58s on deck but I ended up setting them up. I really was loving them.

I think others had asked and were told they will make some more OG Classics in 2023, but everything is already booked up production wise until then.

Guessing in USA and other places they are out, but here in AU there are still heaps but maybe not in all sizes, some around though if you look hard enough, including 58 and 60 mm.

[Mbrimson88]

For my fellow woodworkers/hobbyists:

A couple of friends bought the Evan Smith Mashup wheels and I offered to do some work on the boxes.

The boxes are made of some cheap scrap wood that's so soft that I could easily poke holes in the wood with a toothpick. That doesn't mean it's not a good project though.

It was also difficult to work on the inside of the box and the crevice where the lid slides in, so I mainly focused on the exterior of the box. Someone with more experience with me may have a workaround for that though.

They look amazing!

Also curious how many sets you got in and if anyone has played mix and match with them - not that it matters, but I am just curious.

I used to do that when I had a shop and access and people actually wanted the unique sets I made up more than the production stock in many cases, but I could see it being something that some shop owners or others might frown on.

[big_kev_215]

holiday 22 is up

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/holiday-2022/

How are they gonna drop Horror Business inspired 53mm F4 99a classics right after I bought some normal ones?

[fakiefs180]

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Yo what?! 50mm conical fulls? That sounds great. Thanks for the heads up.

* I currently have some 50mm classics on Indy 159s and that looks a bit ridiculous ^^

[close]

I wanted some early 90s energy on my Huffer, and I had a set of 50mm Classics, but I hear you on the tiny Classics looking funny on wide trucks, so I just snagged the 50mm/101A Conical Fulls. Here’s the look with AF1 60s.

That setup looks awesome. I also hope I can find some Lil Smokies here in Europe soon.

[Very Bev]

just set up a set of radials for the first time (went from skating only classics forever, then to conicals for the last year or two) and man I have been having so much fun. Great for ledges and coping alike, flip tricks feel good, idk i'm super stoked on them (55mm 99a). Got the lotties drawing on em too which is beast.

[intendedreceivers]

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Yo what?! 50mm conical fulls? That sounds great. Thanks for the heads up.

* I currently have some 50mm classics on Indy 159s and that looks a bit ridiculous ^^

[close]

I wanted some early 90s energy on my Huffer, and I had a set of 50mm Classics, but I hear you on the tiny Classics looking funny on wide trucks, so I just snagged the 50mm/101A Conical Fulls. Here’s the look with AF1 60s.

[close]

That setup looks awesome. I also hope I can find some Lil Smokies here in Europe soon.

Yeah, it’s a blast. Loose and surfy without having to worry about wheelbite too much. Love it as a parking lot/curb board, though I haven’t gotten to take it out much due to sloppy weather.

[l1ll1ll1]

holiday 22 is up

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/holiday-2022/

Black 58 Conicals. Take my money.

[swellbowed]

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holiday 22 is up

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/holiday-2022/

[close]

Black 58 Conicals. Take my money.

303 has them in stock 
https://www.303boards.com/collections/skateboarding/products/spitfire-99-formula-4-evan-conical-full-black-wheels-58mm

[listentoaheartbeat]

holiday 22 is up

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/holiday-2022/

This thread triggers my consumerism so hard. My Radial Full 56mm 99A are not even down to 55mm and I have put in an order for the 97A variant. In my mind they’ll be even nicer on my "lazy day cruise to bowl / carve and do some flat ground tricks"-setup.

[eviltgirl]

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holiday 22 is up

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/holiday-2022/

[close]

This thread triggers my consumerism so hard. My Radial Full 56mm 99A are not even down to 55mm and I have put in an order for the 97A variant. In my mind they’ll be even nicer on my "lazy day cruise to bowl / carve and do some flat ground tricks"-setup.

not sure if this makes it better or worse but at least youre probably right

[listentoaheartbeat]

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holiday 22 is up

https://www.spitfirewheels.com/holiday-2022/

[close]

This thread triggers my consumerism so hard. My Radial Full 56mm 99A are not even down to 55mm and I have put in an order for the 97A variant. In my mind they’ll be even nicer on my "lazy day cruise to bowl / carve and do some flat ground tricks"-setup.

[close]

not sure if this makes it better or worse but at least youre probably right

Haha, thanks. You def make me feel better about the impulse buy.

[LebowskisRug]

Do Radials have less of an issue with catching a crack and getting traintracked compared to comical side profiles? Been on Classic Fulls for most of the year and have a set of Radial 52 I got from a warranty issue but hated that about conicals.

[z_tx]

F4 99d Radials in 52mm and 54mm skatepark of Tampa. Didn’t see these on the holiday catalog. Went ahead and picked up a few sets

[Mbrimson88]

F4 99d Radials in 52mm and 54mm skatepark of Tampa. Didn’t see these on the holiday catalog. Went ahead and picked up a few sets

Well SPOTted!

I did hear the 99s in the original blue graphic was coming out again in 52, 54 and 56 mm sizes, but I see on the SPOT site that they are a reverse colour, like the new 97 duro wheels.  Curious when you get them if they are the background blue with silver logo or background more plain with blue logo.

Not that it matters in the slightest, given I usually take the graphic off anyway, but at least they are out there again, the 54mm size especially.

Examples:


https://spitfirewheels.com/formulafour/






https://skateparkoftampa.com/product/68495/Spitfire_Natural_Blue_Formula_Four_99D_Radial_Shaped_Wheels/&CID=10444

[Mbrimson88]

.

To add to the Radial info (but also make it a separate post):


It might have something to do with the wheels coming up in a Google search with listings on Ali Express in the original colour, so just beware of those ones - buying from a reputable shop always helps.

The fake wheels appear to be more of a classic shape anyway, as per their other wheels that came out with various graphics and packaging for Classics, Radial Slims and normal Radials, Conical Full, etc.

Not going to link any of the fake ones here, but more than a couple of listings came up in my search just now.


@rocklobster or anyone else come across these ones?  This is a first for me anyway.


Here is a pic of the fake ones, more rounded edges:

[swellbowed]

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F4 99d Radials in 52mm and 54mm skatepark of Tampa. Didn’t see these on the holiday catalog. Went ahead and picked up a few sets

[close]

Well SPOTted!

I did hear the 99s in the original blue graphic was coming out again in 52, 54 and 56 mm sizes, but I see on the SPOT site that they are a reverse colour, like the new 97 duro wheels.  Curious when you get them if they are the background blue with silver logo or background more plain with blue logo.

Not that it matters in the slightest, given I usually take the graphic off anyway, but at least they are out there again, the 54mm size especially.

Examples:


https://spitfirewheels.com/formulafour/






https://skateparkoftampa.com/product/68495/Spitfire_Natural_Blue_Formula_Four_99D_Radial_Shaped_Wheels/&CID=10444

Found the OG graphic in 99d 56mm available at Modern if anyone is interested:

https://www.modernskate.com/products/spitfire-formula-four-radial-shape-99-duro-wheel?_pos=5&_sid=a63d68040&_ss=r

[sionarancsle]

Okay so whats the basic math between 99a and 101a?

99 is softer thus better for rough ground because it rebounds more so you have more speed?

101 better for park because it grips less and on the perfect ground its faster? Also it slides better on both street and park?

[FuzzGNU]

Okay so whats the basic math between 99a and 101a?

99 is softer thus better for rough ground because it rebounds more so you have more speed?

101 better for park because it grips less and on the perfect ground its faster? Also it slides better on both street and park?

Harder = faster on smooth surfaces. Higher top speed overall. Slides better.

Softer = slower on smooth surfaces, but maintains speed on rough surfaces better. Less vibration on rough surfaces too. Lower top speed overall. Slides worse, grips better.

Though the Dragons formula sort of throws a wrench in all of that imo.

[144p]

From my research

97- great for crust, slide well
On some surfaces, catchy on metal edged surfaces, slower at the skatepark.

99- a little slick sometimes, slide great on most surfaces, a little slower on old parks but pretty good on crust.

101- really good on old skateparks, impossible to skate on crust, longest blunt/tail/nose slides.
Super fast but unpredictable.

[sionarancsle]

so basically buy 99a for an all terain setup and thats about it.

[yourbreakfsat]

Got the Radial Fulls 58mm 97a a couple days ago and they're great. I also found an interesting effect they give that might have been shared already but it doesn't hurt to share it regardless.

They will make your usable hanger space about one size less. The polished Independent is a 144 and the black Indy is a 149. Compared to a Classic 55mm.






Measurements are about the same; any difference is super marginal. This is pretty cool if you have a deck that requires wider trucks, but you want a smaller hanger space without needing to size down.

[Xen]

Fucking hell, those things are massive.

[greenbeans]

random question but if one spitfire model has to disappear forever, which one?

[FuzzGNU]

Fucking hell, those things are massive.

The 56mm already felt comically large to me. I can only imagine the 60mm.

random question but if one spitfire model has to disappear forever, which one?

You trying to start a war in this thread? Lol. I'll bite.

Lock-ins: just skate tablets instead (in theory I'm a fan of these, but the asymmetry sucks once your wheels need to be rotated due to coning)

Radial slim: just skate classics instead (I know these have massive fans, so not these... But radial slim fans, I'm going to need you to explain why you like these better)

Radial full: selfishly because they're too big for me to put on a standard setup (but they make perfect sense for 95-97a cruiser wheels).

[tzhangdox]

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Fucking hell, those things are massive.

[close]

The 56mm already felt comically large to me. I can only imagine the 60mm.

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random question but if one spitfire model has to disappear forever, which one?

[close]

You trying to start a war in this thread? Lol. I'll bite.

Lock-ins: just skate tablets instead (in theory I'm a fan of these, but the asymmetry sucks once your wheels need to be rotated due to coning)

Radial slim: just skate classics instead (I know these have massive fans, so not these... But radial slim fans, I'm going to need you to explain why you like these better)

Radial full: selfishly because they're too big for me to put on a standard setup (but they make perfect sense for 95-97a cruiser wheels).

Radial slims have a wider riding surface out the gate than classics, and also lock in better. It’s one of the best shapes.

I’d probably ditch tablets, they’re so uncomfortably square you get train tracked so hard rolling parallel to cracks and don’t really lock in much better than say a radial slim and drag more. Maybe if you need absolute slimness with max riding surface when new but I’m definitely not a fan.

Or radial fulls seriously how is a conical full not cutting it for you? Shits like dumbbells on the ends of your axles

[rocklobster]

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Fucking hell, those things are massive.

[close]

The 56mm already felt comically large to me. I can only imagine the 60mm.

Expand Quote

random question but if one spitfire model has to disappear forever, which one?

[close]

You trying to start a war in this thread? Lol. I'll bite.

Lock-ins: just skate tablets instead (in theory I'm a fan of these, but the asymmetry sucks once your wheels need to be rotated due to coning)

Radial slim: just skate classics instead (I know these have massive fans, so not these... But radial slim fans, I'm going to need you to explain why you like these better)

Radial full: selfishly because they're too big for me to put on a standard setup (but they make perfect sense for 95-97a cruiser wheels).

[close]

Radial slims have a wider riding surface out the gate than classics, and also lock in better. It’s one of the best shapes.

I’d probably ditch tablets, they’re so uncomfortably square you get train tracked so hard rolling parallel to cracks and don’t really lock in much better than say a radial slim and drag more. Maybe if you need absolute slimness with max riding surface when new but I’m definitely not a fan.

Or radial fulls seriously how is a conical full not cutting it for you? Shits like dumbbells on the ends of your axles

I'm with this guy, Radial Slims are the tits.

Tablet shapes were a fun experiment and are too specific in their use cases. Bones' current catalog only has 1 V2 graphic (and 1 V1), lots of V5. Are there any other brands that do a flat side profile wheel? Ricta used to do them on some Naturals.

Radial Full or Classic Full - Pick 1, think they are way to similar in shape. I took out the calipers and measured the SML 53/54mm OG shape (classic), the dimensions are closer to a Classic Full than Classic. Only their 52mm is similar to the Spitfire Classic.

[Mbrimson88]

.

The one to go:

Tablet - too minimal in use and as said, squared edges catch on everything, but I do get why some people like them, being the thinnest wheel in the catalog.

OR in close second

Lock ins - sure it is a tablet on one side and a conical full on the other, so you can switch them up and use one side out or the other at different times if you are really keen, but they are just a bit of a stretch when compared to the other good wheels.


As for others to keep and why:

Radial slims - definitely see a use for these for a lot of people who wanted a thinner wheel but not quite the Classic profile.

Radial - a little wider and a little more contact for a good all rounder, but still not as wide as some.

Classic Full - my favourite wheel, because I like a bit of a wider Classic wheel, but also because I prefer a wider contact patch right from go, from 54mm to 56mm for most things nowdays, but also 58mm for some bigger board stuff.

Conical Full - at first I was not a fan (and still not really in the bigger sizes) but I like these once they have worn down a bit and especially after I take the grinder to the sides to round them off a bit more = wider riding surface with rounder edges is what I like.

Classic - "the number one wheel shape in skateboarding" or to translate, the one I get when I know I want a good dependable wheel / can't decide / don't have any other options for Classic Full wheels.


Indifferent to Conical, OG Classics, Radial Full shapes - sure people have a use for them, but they are not really anything I want to skate and pretty much are a mix / mash up of other shapes I prefer.

At first I thought I should get a set of the Radial Full wheels, but when I saw them, I thought they were just too big and wide for anything I would really want to skate.  Those things are too wide even for me and I like wide wheels.


That is the ten isn't it?

Done.

[BartHarleyJarvis]

random question but if one spitfire model has to disappear forever, which one?

Yeah lock ins can go. I don't skate tablets and I don't fully understand them, but they're at least a unique shape and I assume some people have a use for them so I'll allow them to live.