Hot Wheels and Matchbox Customizing Thread

[Mac K]

That's awesome!

 

[JER_CREST]

http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2012/08/24/how-to-build-custom-hot-wheels-bre-datsuns/
and

http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2012/09/05/how-to-build-custom-hot-wheels-bre-datsuns-part-02/

 

[SVX]

Ah, ScaleMaster! He's produced some awesome work in the Model cars magazine forum.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Has anybody done any customs with Greenlight cars? I picked up a few the other day, and while they're pretty nice, I definitely see room to improve and customize them. At the least, they could use some detailing on the engines and interior, but I can think of more involved mods, too. This Guldstrand/Bondurant Le Mans Vette (which, by the way, is totally wrong - the real car was a fastback!) has a separate top/windshield plastic piece on top of a complete roadster body, so it'd be quite possible to convert it to an open car, and maybe even something like an original Grand Sport.


P1020020.jpg by maximstensel, on Flickr

 

[CodeRedR51]

http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2012/08/24/how-to-build-custom-hot-wheels-bre-datsuns/
and

http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2012/09/05/how-to-build-custom-hot-wheels-bre-datsuns-part-02/

Umm, look back a few posts. I just posted that.

 

[JER_CREST]

sorry mate forgive.

 

[VspecZR1GT2RS89]

My goodness, those BRE Datsun 510s and the 240Z look amazing!!!! Now that's what I call talent right there. 👍

 

[CodeRedR51]

So, I have a question for you guys and I need some honest answers. If I were to create a "customizing kit" that would include:

- Bare Zamac body drilled & tapped for screws
- Set of wheels with rubber tires
- Chassis
- Windows
- Interior
- Assembly screws & instructions
- All wrapped up in a nice box

What would you pay for something like this? What's a fair price? This is something I've thought about doing to try and make some extra money, but not sure if it would take off. Basically all you would need to do is paint the car how you wish and then assemble it.

 

[Nessy]

So, I have a question for you guys and I need some honest answers. If I were to create a "customizing kit" that would include:

*snip*

What would you pay for something like this? What's a fair price? This is something I've thought about doing to try and make some extra money, but not sure if it would take off. Basically all you would need to do is paint the car how you wish and then assemble it.

That's actually a great idea R1600. 👍
I wouldn't actually buy it, so can't really answer the question, but there's definitely a market for it. You should probably weigh up the cost per hour (what your time/expertise is worth) of the actual prep and the parts, then add a bit on top.
Go for it!

Would be great if you could also offer some printed tampo choices as options for the pack.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Yeah I'm going to add up the costs this weekend and see if it's even worth it. Another problem is that I wouldn't be able to use the Hotwheels logo, so they would have to be labeled as a no-name "1:64 scale customizing kit".

 

[Nessy]

You could make something that is similar to the logo (flame, colours but different word/s), not sure whether that would be a copyright infringement though, (iv'e done something similar in the past for a tee design).
I suppose that leaving it brandless could be an advantage though, as i imagine it won't be just Hot wheels that you'd be offering, (MB's, Tomi's etc).

 

[CodeRedR51]

True, could use other brands.

 

[commodoreben]

I just brought a dremel today and have already pulled my first car apart. I just need to get some paint stripper, paint, brushes and some glue to put it back together. Hopefully I can have my first custom done in a few weeks.

 

[VspecZR1GT2RS89]

So, I have a question for you guys and I need some honest answers. If I were to create a "customizing kit" that would include:

- Bare Zamac body drilled & tapped for screws
- Set of wheels with rubber tires
- Chassis
- Windows
- Interior
- Assembly screws & instructions
- All wrapped up in a nice box

What would you pay for something like this? What's a fair price? This is something I've thought about doing to try and make some extra money, but not sure if it would take off. Basically all you would need to do is paint the car how you wish and then assemble it.

I think that's a great idea also. There's a market out there for people who do 1:64 scale car customizing and to put everything into a kit would save people alot of money. The only thing people need is a HW car, paint and, if it's not included, a dremel tool. Even for people who are just getting started (like myself soon) a beginner's guide and/or kit for those who are new in this hobby.

 

[a6m5]

So, I have a question for you guys and I need some honest answers.

Personally, I feel that you would be better off selling the 'finished' product, but that's just me, and let's remember I'm still a noob in this hobby.

At first, I thought you are going to sell a complete tool kit, and thought that would be interesting. I do realize that one could just go to Amazon, or Walmart or something and get everything cheaper, probably.

I guess I'd also be interested in parts store. Different wheels, random stuff, maybe for diorama....... Gotta have cheap shipping though.

This talk makes me want to go get some tools & work on custom cars myself.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

So, I have a question for you guys and I need some honest answers. If I were to create a "customizing kit" that would include:

- Bare Zamac body drilled & tapped for screws
- Set of wheels with rubber tires
- Chassis
- Windows
- Interior
- Assembly screws & instructions
- All wrapped up in a nice box

What would you pay for something like this? What's a fair price? This is something I've thought about doing to try and make some extra money, but not sure if it would take off. Basically all you would need to do is paint the car how you wish and then assemble it.

I think it might even be worth going an extra step and priming the bodies, unless there's a reason not to that I haven't thought of.

 

[Cano]

The problem I'd see with doing something like that is that you'd be immediately sued if any brand you used found out you're using their castings.

What you could do, but it would take a LOOOOOOOOOOOT more work and money, is to customize a casting, get a mold off it, then cast it away and sell it. This japanese guy does exactly that with some HW castings, for instance, he customized the 55 Panel Delivery into a COE-style truck, got a mold, and now he sells complete white-metal kits so you can assemble one:

http://www.chojiro.com/hw/souvenir/parts-003.html

He alsos sells custom parts for certain popular castings like the bone shaker:

http://www.chojiro.com/hw/souvenir/parts-006.html

And even did a custom Drag Bus and a Cadillac-fron-ended 55 Chevy Panel, amongst other parts:
http://www.chojiro.com/hw/index.html

I'm sure you have the guy's work, he's the one who did the twin turbine car out of a Golden Submarine. Here is other work by the guy, everyone should check it out, the guy is bat-crap-crazy:
http://www.chojiro.com/hw/custom/index.html

 

[CodeRedR51]

I don't see how you could get sued, I wouldn't be using their logos and people already sell completed cars with no problem. Only difference here is that they are not completed.

 

[a6m5]

When I was buying those 62 Chevy Custom pick ups, I saw one by Chojiro. I knew nothing about his cars until just now. I like his style. 👍

 

[CodeRedR51]

So the guy who did those Datsun 510's I posted the link for, just completed this:

Also, I contacted him about some custom decals and he's going to make some for me!

 

[AOS-]

I want to get hold of those wheels.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I think he may have put a matte clear on them or something. He got them from the HW Racing Olds Aurora and they come a lot shinier than that. That last custom I did (the Circle Trucker) actually used those wheels. I just painted them black.

 

[OtakuTaikun]

Oh my god :Q_______ dat kenmeri

 

[CodeRedR51]

Get this: I was going to have him work up some custom decals for me. I just so happened to ask him how much it would cost me. He wants, for ONE car, $200 for a custom decal set.

No thanks...

 

[OtakuTaikun]

damn that's a lot. I take it these are much more complicated than stickers lol

 

[CodeRedR51]

If I had the computer and printer to do it, I could make them for 1/4 that cost or much less. He kept saying something about "setting up the artwork, blah, blah". Give me a PC, photoshop, good printer and some decal paper and I can do them myself.

Edit: (MORE)

 

[AOS-]

Wow.




Wow........

Great, now I want to do that....


Actually, no I don't. I want to make a studio diorama for taking future photos. I'm thinking of using entirely white glossy styrene. It's going to have a "large" floor about 40x30cm, a white non-gloss backdrop that won't be connected to the end of the floor, some moveable white backdrop elements that are like wall dividers, and maybe some white blocks of varying sizes. All that can be moved around each time and I can choose what I want and don't want in each picture.

I can also do one that's entirely gloss black as well. Then I'm going to need a container to store them all in, as well as a pair of gloves or thimbles to avoid finger prints on he black scheme.

 

[OtakuTaikun]

LOL so a RWB 1:64 997 may be possible...albeit not for me

 

[Cano]

Get this: I was going to have him work up some custom decals for me. I just so happened to ask him how much it would cost me. He wants, for ONE car, $200 for a custom decal set.

No thanks...

That's a ragu-load of money. You can always try to do them yourself. Just get waterdecal paper and have them printed at any place with a laser printer available, they come out good.

As for the recently posted customs, the Kenmeri is spectacular. The BMW is cool too, I only dislike the wheels.

My paint friend did something similar with a Brasilia:

The thing won first place in it's category in last year's convention.

 

[VspecZR1GT2RS89]

O_o Dat Kenmeri! 👍

And I'm loving the dioramas and the widebody attempt on the 2002ti.

Now I know for certain I need to save up even more to do all of this!