Hooray! Finally got some axles made up and am now ready to give the wheels a test. Might even have a venue to sail at thats nice and close so if the wind picks up i'll be out testing. Been taking photos too so will be able to give a nice write-up soon.
p.s. 20mm axles were sooooo easy to make up, no ideas why I was worrying about it (I was worried they would be harder to get allinged straight). I found that they're actually easier than the 25mm axles 
Lachy,
What sort of Plastic are these Rims constructed from?? Nylon or a Hard Plastic compound??
My reason for asking is to do with Brittleness or distortion in extreme Heat.. Hard Plastic tends to break when sharply hit and Nylon distort in heat is my point.. Perhaps when purchasing Rims people should look at compounds. It would be nice if Richcastors would give us the Low Down without prejudice. I am not accusing them of Spin but there are manufacturers out there who expound the upsides of their product but avoid the downsides like the plague.. Properties, properties, properties! That is all I am asking so that we can make informed decisions..
Ron
I beleive they are hard plastic, but Im not (remotely) 100% sure as the only Nylon I've had experience with is the softer sort (roller skate wheels??)
I'll do a detailed write-up once I take them out for a sail. Probably only going to be mid 30's at the highest temp though.
I would hope they are not Nylon. Nylon is a hydroscopic plastic meaning it absorbes moisture. In fact if they dry out, (as i would expect in about 3 seconds in sand groaper territory) they would become quite brittle. It relies on the moisture for strength.
I would expect they are actually high impact polypropylene, (at least that's what i'd make them from, probably add some glass too!)
(sorry if i sound like a w@nker!)
Sorry Fellas, I forgot to mention-
Richcastings contacted me with a revised price of $23.80 plus tax for the 4.00 x 8 plastic rim, 4 ply knobby tyre, standard 1" wheelbarrow bearings.
I havent heard much from Fallshaws- but then, I havent had time to get hold of them either.
Stephen
the red plastic is polyethylene, brittleness will happen with very long sun exposure(years) of more concern and in need of testing is that they distort when left pumped up to say 30psi in a hot sunny situation.
SN my understanding was that richcastors were going to send you set for testing.
I will check with them on that .
I have a plan 
Start small and work my way up, going to take them for a sail. Then leave them in the car for a few hours on a sunny day (should get to ~40 degrees) then go for another sail. Hopefully the wind behaves for this, its supposed to get a little windy Mon/Tues/Wed next week 
Alpha test facility is the Bendigo showgrounds old speedway track.
Still waiting for a decent evening with some wind, as its been calm here all week so far.
Just got back from an initial short test of the Richmond wheels. Although it was only a short sail as the wind died on me, it was at about 40 degrees on rough asphalt with about half a dozen hard turns. No sign that the wheels were going to fail, but as I said it was only a short test. Will do more testing when the wind returns...
Lachy,
I doubt they will Fail through through use in the Heat. Where they might fail is sitting about in the Heat or locked up in a Car in the heat. How did they fair for Balance etc.?
Ron
how are they for balance of the rim and balance when the tyre is fitted.
have you put them on aspindle in a vice and tested them
