Hot Wheels and Matchbox Customizing Thread

[jtl46]

Those Gassers looked great. 👍

Can't wait for the next Lamley comp (hopefully enter this time). The winning cars were awesome.




(Don't think i'll ever get around to finishing this^)

You'd better.

 

[AOS-]

I agree with presentation absolutely. While we are only judging based off photos, if there's something to be shown off, make sure it is visible! If we can't see your leather-wrapped steering wheel or intercooler made of staples, we can't acknowledge it. If needed, label the features even.

That's where my piece fell. I was originally planning to create a presentation poster that described the grounds of my project and I thought that would've definitely grabbed me points there. If we just look at the photo and treat it like any other custom, it's a plain jane model being a plain zamac finish.

The real reason for it not having any paint is that it was if I did, it would probably chip since it's housing my keys and sitting in my pocket which would end up looking pretty ugly. So I thought about a lasting finish which would be to not have any paint at all (I was even contemplating to not do any detailing but like I said before, I would've probably lost points if I didn't).

Thing about presentation is that your idea needs to show with whatever you're showing off. I've participated in design competitions and I'm a design student so I've been taught to make sure your critics (judges in this case) know exactly what your intentions are, can see everything clearly and nothing you are selling is being left out. And of course, photo quality does impact the judges' perception of your work. Having a clear shot in a well-lit background shows that you care enough to present a photo/diagram/illustration that's easy-to-read. You don't absolutely need to have clear pictures, but if you were to pick between a clear shot and a muddy dim shot, the choice is obvious. Presentation matters, trust me.





I'm also hoping the majority of contest will run off a single broad "theme". In doing so, there's no limit on creative ideas. Imagine what results you may get if the theme was "Zombie Apocalypse". 💡

 

[jtl46]

The contest will run in all kinds of directions. The next one is much more broad.

 

[AOS-]

It'd be really fun it the theme wasn't car-centric. It would definitely get people thinking outside the box and get them to find the balance between imaginative ideas with an appropriate/fitting synthesis that relates back to the car itself. It can also get people to explore new materials, ready-made/found objects and possibly experiment with backgrounds when photographing them.

 

[Sonygamer455]

Im getting slower and slower at replying everyday.

Wow, more amazing work. I wish i had the skill and patience to be able to do the stuff these guys do (Boso guy too). Simply amazing. 👍

Indeed, look through every gallery, it's all amazing!

Probably the best works I've seen so far. Amazing execution.

I agree, these are all so amazing! Best I have ever seen!

Those are insane, dear God. But also they are butt-ugly, dear God

What happened to your enthusiasm?!?! Don't just look on the page I posted, look at all the galleries!

 

[Cano]

So my car was in category B, and didn't win a thing. That is a surprise.

Very VERY bad week, then.

 

[AOS-]

So my car was in category B, and didn't win a thing. That is a surprise.

What? You thought your car was going to be in category A?

 

[Cano]

Yeah because of the body mods, which albeit very basic, are still custom body mods.

 

[AOS-]

Yeah because of the body mods, which albeit very basic, are still custom body mods.

Not to defend Lamley here, but because it was so minute, it didn't get into Category A. On top of which and no offense, I completely missed all the custom parts you added except the tailpipe the very first time I saw it.

Category A was reserved for more "bigger" custom work where the fabrication was clearly visible. That combat buggy had a chassis and engine mod (you can't miss that), and the butterfly-door pace car with the front splitter and rear wing clearly had some drastic changes made to it. Comparing those photos to yours (once again, no offense), the intercooler was extremely hard to notice until you mentioned it. Perhaps next time, you can label the features you want noticed. I wrote a short statement about how I could've done better myself, and it was mainly presentation.

Remember, you aren't the judges. They don't know what you know, and they don't see things the way you do. If you think they may miss something, label it next time. 👍

 

[Cano]

Yeah, I thought with the detail pics the changes would be obvious, after all they would see tons of stock-bodied cars, so the changes would pop a bit. Next time I might have to arrow-label them if I really want them noticed.

 

[AOS-]

Better than nothing, man. Most of the judges aren't even collectors if I recall correctly. That's a good thing by the way, because we get a diverse mix of opinions and that is much better than having only collectors and car enthusiasts judging work.

Thing about presenting is to not assume. It's safer not to anyway. If you assumed your audience knows something and they just so happened to not know, and you go off presenting your work, they stay ignorant. Who's at a loss? You are.

(shrugs) It happens, Cano. That guy with the unpainted M3 and the extended black wing got noticed and he did even less work.

 

[Cano]

Thing about presenting is to not assume. It's safer not to anyway. If you assumed your audience knows something and they just so happened to not know, and you go off presenting your work, they stay ignorant. Who's at a loss? You are.

Yeah. We've discussed the same ordeal over here in the club's meetings. A lot of times judges don't know 🤬 about cars or castings, so a lot of the work you did goes on unnoticed because the guy doesn't know how the car originally looked. Ditto for restos.

 

[jtl46]

Yeah. We've discussed the same ordeal over here in the club's meetings. A lot of times judges don't know 🤬 about cars or castings, so a lot of the work you did goes on unnoticed because the guy doesn't know how the car originally looked. Ditto for restos.

Hey Cano, you will get your due. Did you see that Jeff Koch reached out to you?

 

[Cano]

Hey Cano, you will get your due. Did you see that Jeff Koch reached out to you?

Ugh, no. I cannot check Lamley at work because the page is blocked, and a friend of mine had been staying at home and using the computer almost all the time so I haven't checked since my last comment. Hell I don't even remember in what post I made the comment about Koch. It must have been when the judges were announced. Link?

Also, it's not about getting my due or not, I know full well and from experience that judged contests are always a coin flip so to speak, so I'm perfectly fine with the result even if I had somewhat high hopes but hey, if I didn't have any hopes, I wouldn't have entered it

I'll for sure try to participate in the next installments, hope to have the time to, at least 👍

 

[Apok]

Link?

http://lamleydlm.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-lamley-custom-contest-update-plus.html

 

[Cano]

Thanks dude, I'll see if I can at least check it on my phone if I grab an open conenction or something. If not, 'till home it will be.

EDIT: Blegh I loaded it with my phone, and had typed a good answer to Koch when I hit some button or something and itdisappeared. So to hell, I'll reply at home.

 

[Nessy]

You'd better.

I know. It's just taking a whole lot longer than i thought (poor time management, and bad weather). Today however, i did sort out a small job on it that i'd put off for a while now, i finally got around to making some wheel spacers, i'm really pleased with the wheel fitment now, and the wheels have pretty much zero/0.001mm of lateral movement (can't stand that on diecast). Another thing i discovered was, the grey base from the later cast actually fits better (black base gives the impression of uneven chassis twist), grey base is more even in all corners.

(small axle width comparison pic):



Getting there.. slowly but surely.

 

[AOS-]

You're putting spacers on the stock axles?

I don't see much purpose doing it if I was resizing its length with tubing.

 

[Nessy]

The axles turn freely, no gluing in place, just makes it that bit easier if i decide to change wheels.

PS, they're not stock axles, they're brass tubing with stock inserts.

 

[AOS-]

The axle itself I meant.

The axle is the from that car itself and not from another?

 

[Sonygamer455]

Don't old redlines have spacers like that? Seems like I remember my Custom Police Cruiser having them.

 

[Cano]

Wheel spacers rule 👍 good job, bud.

Also, I had never seen the underside of the car. Clean filling.

Aaalso, replied to Koch. Let's hope he sees it.

 

[Apok]

Damn Cano, fangasm.

 

[Cano]

Damn Cano, fangasm.

Silence. It's all true, the staff at Hot Rod in those times was awesome it isn't as much as fanboyism as it was educational to me. You should have read mexican automotive press at the time,. it was laughable. It still is to some extent, but it has grown up a lot since then.

 

[Nessy]

The axle itself I meant.

The axle is the from that car itself and not from another?

It's from another, but i could have used the axle from the original.. just would have had to cut it and extend it by using the brass tubing.

Hopefully this pic will answer your questions Andy. (excuse the gouged base )



@ Cano. Yes i agree, spacers rule. And thanks bud, (but the sanding/filing isn't really perfect, i'm still fairly pleased with the result though). 👍
Great work on the M3 BTW, and yours too Andy. I think Team GTP easily held their own in that comp. Go Team GTP!!!

[EDIT] @ Sonygamer.
I checked out the rest of that gallery, awesome stuff, best way i can describe it is art. 👍

 

[Spacegoat]

I know. It's just taking a whole lot longer than i thought (poor time management, and bad weather).

I'm sure you'll get around to finishing it in the next year....or two.

 

[Sonygamer455]

[EDIT] @ Sonygamer.
I checked out the rest of that gallery, awesome stuff, best way i can describe it is art. 👍

Indeed! 👍 Best I have ever seen! Your only missing out by not looking at them! My dad was the one who found it. What is your favorite on there?



Also Jason, when is the reassembly coming? My Countach is finished and restored (actually it has been done for a while) but I need some help reassembling it. I have been using hot glue to reassemble my cars for awhile but it is not working for my Countach since it is so heavy. When are you going to post the reassembly instructions?

 

[CodeRedR51]

Also Jason, when is the reassembly coming? My Countach is finished and restored (actually it has been done for a while) but I need some help reassembling it. I have been using hot glue to reassemble my cars for awhile but it is not working for my Countach since it is so heavy. When are you going to post the reassembly instructions?

I can whip something up this weekend, but there's several methods and my method isn't usually what most people want to do. (using screws) I can try to do one on a scrap car using JB Weld, but I have no hot glue...

 

[Sonygamer455]

Quite frankly the part with the nails is kind of what I had in mind, any methods that can hold it in place like it was with it's original rivets and can be easily taken apart again if needed to will do just fine. 👍

 

[CodeRedR51]

I have a very large Miata project I need to start work on, should be able to throw something together this weekend. Basically all you need is a 2-56 tap, 2-56 screws, #2 washers and a little patience.