Hot Wheels and Matchbox Customizing Thread

[cfun]

So, I just learned how to make custom splitters on Hot Wheels... AND I'M IN LOVE! If you want to know just ask.

I'm asking... please share

 

[Avalonbug]

Ok so here's the simple way I do it. You need:
Card Stock (index cards work)
Black paint pen or Sharpie
Super Glue
Scissors and X-Acto Knife

Place the casting on an index card and with a pencil trace the outline of the front of the body. Cut out a square and color it black. Then, tape it underneath the car to hold it before you cut it out to make a rounded shape. When it's close, superglue it to the bottom of the car and trim it as needed. If you mess up, poor a little water on it and it'll come off. Here's some pics of the almost done splitter on a Scion FRS, so you can see what it looks like. I need to finish it but I like it a lot, and it's also sturdy.

@AOS- @Emmcee @cfun

 

[AOS-]

Thanks avalonbug. I didn't expect paper to be a material ideal for this hobby, but I was pretty certain it was going to be sheet material. When I thought about it, styrene came to mind, but hobby styrene isn't the most accessible thing in the world (unless you live in the US or Japan). Stiff paper would be a good alternative, though corrugation and frayed edges are obvious issues.

Thanks for sharing never the less. I'm happy you were able to find a solution.

 

[Avalonbug]

Not a problem!

 

[AOS-]

Come to think of it, some people cut soda cans, straighten it, and make much more realistic wings with it. I imagine other aero bodywork could be made with it too. The material is naturally smooth so paint would likely produce good results.


But anyway, to continue where I left off, here's Quick Work ft. Fast & Furious Series - Installment 2:

Can't say they're the most convincing, but I definitely wouldn't use MC5s or CM6s.

Also blocked in that center grill as well as the side skirt duct with the gundam marker.

edit: Oh wow. Now that I have a side-by-side comparison with a photo of the real thing,
now I know exactly why the I don't like the HW casting.​

 

[Johnny1996]

Come to think of it, some people cut soda cans, straighten it, and make much more realistic wings with it.

You just answered a question I had before I even asked it.

Thanks, I guess. 👍

 

[AOS-]

Revisiting old posts to find if a certain car had already been posted, I cam across some peculiar posts:

Here's some more WIP:

Illustrious Series. Theme: Race Cars

No progress made since the day this photo was taken. Wow. (commits seppuku)

@cfun here's some lowered cars i've done lately.
View attachment 229525

Quick Work ft. Fast & Furious Series - Installment 3:

The Daytona looks much more aggressive when lowered.

MC5s may have been accurate, but I kept recalling a photo of the Daytona at the night scene before Dom races Letty, and it had some mad thin spoke wheels. That's why I chose the OH5s for this.

Here's some customs I've been working on for the past few days. The cards a little sloppy at the moment but it's just to show what they will soon look like. The GT86 and 458 are still waiting to be placed in a card. @AOS- the Aventador is one you sent me.

View attachment 238097 View attachment 238098 View attachment 238099 View attachment 238101 View attachment 238102 View attachment 238103 View attachment 238104 View attachment 238105

Do we have an ETA on the finish?


To wrap this up, since I could not find that Yur So Fast custom, it means I haven't shared it yet.... not the other two IS Series 4 cars either. Here ya go, @a6m5:

Lots more photos:

Spoiler

Illustrious Series. I'm going to try for this direction, finding a balance between the white/black/gold ratio. I honestly think I nailed it with this one.

 

[a6m5]

You know what's even more amazing?(don't get me wrong, great job on the ur-so-fast) Lowered Daytona. Day'emtona!

 

[AOS-]

Thanks! No harm done. Maybe I should've saved the Daytona for another day

 

[a6m5]

Wow. I just caught it, but F&F Supra. Dead on. 👍

 

[AOS-]

Thanks, brah. I'll wrap this up so we can move onto other customs.

Quick Work ft. Fast & Furious Series - Installment 4, 5, 6, 7:

Not that much different than the Retro Entertainment aside from the finish.

Spoiler

MC5s or 5SPs... the decision could've taken longer than it did.

Spoiler

WSPs and Y5s weren't working for it. This does it best, minus the deep dish.

Spoiler

Ah yes. Got no 7-spokes, but this seems to work just as good.

Spoiler

That's the rest of it. No R34, no R35, no Gran Torino. The latter two had closely matching wheels already and I wanted to leave the R34 to accompany the R35.​

 

[Cano]

Ok so here's the simple way I do it.

I don't want to sound too rude or anything but that looks horrid and messy and really rough in the edges. Look for an old credit or phone card or other similar-thickness plastic and cut the parts you need out of that, then trim down with a nail file or a metal file the excess material so you can actually mold the part to look like an actual splitter, that is, with an actual pointy edge and stuff, then paint. If you want to make a sheetmetal-type splitter, try to find actual thin aluminum sheetmetal (not foil) and cut it to fit. Works like a charm with rear diffusers too. For an example of this, check out what I did with the front spoiler and rear diffuser on this Mustang, both elements are made from thin sheetmetal:

 

[AOS-]

^ Illustrious Series '65 Mustang Fastback.

similar-girth

"Thickness"

 

[Cano]

^ Illustrious Series '65 Mustang Fastback.

Wouldn't you know it, I was gonna use gold Halibrand-style wheels o0n it, like the ones in the black Cobra you painted, but ended up using gray Torq-Trusts because I didn't have the time to redo the axles of the gold wheels in time for the convention.

"Thickness"

Yes, that, lol.

 

[AOS-]

What you have works. It gives it the beefy look.

 

[cfun]

As usual guys, great work.

I think I saw a link many pages ago in here about making axle/jack stands... don't suppose anyone has this to hand do they?

Thanks
Ant

 

[AOS-]

Did you mean car jacks?

Diorama pieces?

 

[cfun]

Yeah bits for a diorama. I got the muscle car set with engine hoist, jack , pillar drill, floor lights, work bench and tool chest. But I'd like to add a few other bits to fill out the set. A 4 post lift will be done and I'd like some axle stands too. Have got some sort of quick idea for these, but I remember seeing a link to a how-to and can't find it now.

 

[Emmcee]

Did you mean car jacks?

Diorama pieces?

Man that is sweet.

 

[AOS-]

It is. Not my cup of tea personally, but it is sweet nevertheless.

 

[Cano]

We're finally getting back on track with the regular posts on the blog. Check out this thing, it's simply amazing:
http://www.customdiecastmexico.com/2014/11/hot-wheels-chevrolet-blazer.html

 

[dve1968]

 

[Cano]

:0 M2?

 

[dve1968]

Are you asking a question of my post? If so, you are partially correct. Both are combinations of M2 & Hot Wheels parts with the roll back having been cut & sectioned with additional handmade parts. Followed by additional detailing to both.

 

[Cano]

Are you asking a question of my post? If so, you are partially correct. Both are combinations of M2 & Hot Wheels parts with the roll back having been cut & sectioned with additional handmade parts. Followed by additional detailing to both.

Yes indeed. If I know my stuff, the flatbed comes off that square-cabin fantasy flatbed that HW released a couple years ago (can't remember the name of the thing now)? And is the Chevelle the HW casting? If so, you did a helluva job with it because it doesn't look it! More, better pics?

 

[dve1968]

The flat bed comes from a Hot Wheels Back Slider. The, recently released, Hot Wheels Fast Bed Hauler has a similar component but is actually shorter in length. The Chevelle is in fact a Hot Wheel casting. My goal was to make it look as real as possible, I was pleased with the results. Thank you for the compliments.

 

[Cano]

The flat bed comes from a Hot Wheels Back Slider. The, recently released, Hot Wheels Fast Bed Hauler has a similar component but is actually shorter in length. The Chevelle is in fact a Hot Wheel casting. My goal was to make it look as real as possible, I was pleased with the results. Thank you for the compliments.

Yes, Backslider! That's the one I was refering to, I know the Fast Bed Hauler's platform is different. The friend with whom I do the Custom Diecast Mexico blog is also building a car hauler but with a LaTroca cab, so I remember the flatbed part well. As for the Chevelle, you really nailed it. Post more pictures! Your work seems pretty amazing. Where do the wheels come from? M2?

 

[dve1968]

Look forward to seeing how the LaTroca cab looks as a hauler. I have looked at several other options to utilize as a cab for a transporter finding the scale never seemed to look right when a vehicle is placed on the hauler. I will try to come up with some additional photos. I am really not much of a photographer as you can tell from my previous posts. On a different note, I just realized I was wrong about the Chevelle wheels, those are actually Johnny Lightning products. A few years ago, they offered up a collection of wheels on a card. I did however use M2 wheels on the black Camaro I posted previously. Those too came from a collection of wheels that where available through M2. I don't know if either of those "wheel only" cards are available any longer. Thanks again for the positive comments.

 

[Cano]

Look forward to seeing how the LaTroca cab looks as a hauler. I have looked at several other options to utilize as a cab for a transporter finding the scale never seemed to look right when a vehicle is placed on the hauler.

The La Troca indeed doesn't look particularly on scale when used as a transporter, but he's looking to place a smaller car up top, like the Track T, so it won't be as noticeable

 

[CodeRedR51]

So I need some opinions.

My Datsun 620 & Nissan Titan home made "Then & Now" set should be what color?