Hot Wheels and Matchbox Customizing Thread

[Ken]

The shoe choice looks great. I can't wait to see the finished product.

Plus, welcome to this wild Planet we call home.

 

[MarineFreeMan]

Thanks, Ken! I got them from two red Fast-Bed Haulers. I still don't know if I'm going to paint it black again, or try some new color. Actually, I'm just learning first to change wheels and working on the chassis and axles and stuff, before even trying to decide how I'm going to paint it. It seems that everybody has a different technique when it comes to paint.

Speaking of working in the car, the wheels are actually a tiny bit larger than the car (Tomicas are supposeddly scale 1:68), so I'm chiseling a bit to make them roll without damaging the cast.

 

[Ken]

It would work in black. But if you're going to customize it, I stray away from restoring it to formal glory. Put your stamp on it. Make it memorable. Make it worth your time.

 

[Cano]

I just stumbled upon Cano's page last week

omFg wtf :0

Welcome paisano! Y eres del DF también! I couldn't believe the Roma boxes when I saw them, I was like wtf

Any questions just ask away! I'll try my best to help and all that stuff.

 

[dve1968]

Looking forward to seeing the Trans Am completed as well. I have a couple of similar castings I am in the process of doing as well. There is a gentleman on eBay that sells a hood decal for the Hot Wheels Hot Bird I am looking at using. Something about a Trans Am without the screaming chicken that just seems naked.

 

[AOS-]

Opinion Poll:

Red wheels or should paint them gun metal, silver, flat grey, or white?



============

This?

Or this?

 

[yabiggoose]

With the first one, I like the red wheels as it is.

 

[R5]

Agreed.

 

[Apok]

I think silver would look good.

 

[Cano]

Absolutely red wheels on the first one, Halibrands on the second one. In gold.

 

[AOS-]

Awesome, thanks guys. Red wheels it will be. Sorry, Apok!

 

[Cano]

Screw you, Apok!

Fixed.

 

[vballcoach]

like the halibrands my self

 

[Ustad]

Some simple repaints.
Celica and 2000 GT-X is with Tomica wheels.

 

[Cano]

The Celica looks great in gold, gonna have to rip that one off. The Tomica wheels are the perfect size.

 

[Ustad]

The Celica looks great in gold, gonna have to rip that one off. The Tomica wheels are the perfect size.

Thanks mate!
Btw, Why I can't upload my GT-X's pic

 

[Ustad]

Though here's my 2000 GT-X

 

[Cano]

Tomica wheels too? I don't like them in this one, lol.

 

[Ustad]

Tomica wheels too? I don't like them in this one, lol.

hahahaha... But i liked them they look good on retro Japanese's

 

[MarineFreeMan]

Thanks everyone for the kind welcome and the opinions. I have been kinda busy this week, that's the reason I haven't post again.

Anyway, I think I found some better looking tires for the Trans Am, problem is, I ripped them off one of those Cars toys made by Mattel, so the axles are a little bit longer than necessary. I really dig how these wheels look, since I'm aiming for a more "realistic" feel, so any tips in how to make the axles shorter will be welcome.

Otherwise, I'm having a great time just kind of improvising things along the way. I read that every customizer does things his or her way, and that's half the fun of things.

Here are pics:

Strippin the paint off has been sort of a chore, too, but I think another visit to the paint remover and she's ready to repaint.

 

[Johnny1996]

Looks good so far. 👍

 

[Cano]

Anyway, I think I found some better looking tires for the Trans Am, problem is, I ripped them off one of those Cars toys made by Mattel, so the axles are a little bit longer than necessary. I really dig how these wheels look, since I'm aiming for a more "realistic" feel, so any tips in how to make the axles shorter will be welcome.

You have to split the axle wire in half and then cut away the excess from the middle of both pieces. Then you have to insert both ends of the axle wire in tubbing small enough to hold them in place, this will be extremely difficult to get here in Mexico (you could try with those small valves used for soccer balls, they're cheap and you can find them in your local hardware store, but I don't know if they are small enough to work), so other thing you can do is pour a drop of Kola Loka in the chassis and let it sit for a bit, and before it dries slide in both axle wires. Be very careful with this though, as the Kola Loka can "run" trough the axle wire and set in the wheel, sending to hell the entire axle.

And yes the car still needs a thorough visit to the paint stripper.

EDIT: Alsso, try polishing the glass piece. Headlamp polisher works wonders for this, you can get it at your nearest Autozone -easier said than done in Mexico, I know.

 

[dve1968]

Looking good MarineFM, those wheels look great on there. I think Cano has sent you down the right road for narrowing the axles. Here's the lastest from my bench. Hot Wheels '70 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. New paint, wheels & tires, and detailing.

 

[Cano]

Very cool! What are those wheels off of?

 

[dve1968]

Very cool! What are those wheels off of?

Thanks!
Some time back I purchased a couple scale '55 Chevrolet pick-ups strictly for these wheels & tires. These were pull back toys with no manufacture markings other than being made in China. I have plans for the other pair to go on a Nova I want to do at some point.

 

[Cano]

Thanks!
Some time back I purchased a couple scale '55 Chevrolet pick-ups strictly for these wheels & tires. These were pull back toys with no manufacture markings other than being made in China. I have plans for the other pair to go on a Nova I want to do at some point.

A shame, would be cool to know to peruse a set. If you tried to lay down 5 holes in the outter rim with flat black paint they would be a dead-match for Chevy Rally wheels 👍

 

[dve1968]

A shame, would be cool to know to peruse a set. If you tried to lay down 5 holes in the outter rim with flat black paint they would be a dead-match for Chevy Rally wheels 👍

I hear ya. Think that would exceed my skills not to mention over tax my old eyes...LOL
I have messed too many things up trying for too much detail, particularly on the 1/64 scale.

 

[Cano]

I hear ya. Think that would exceed my skills not to mention over tax my old eyes...LOL
I have messed too many things up trying for too much detail, particularly on the 1/64 scale.

Yes, that would be pretty damn difficult at that size indeed. Just determining where each hole was to be would be a pain in the rear

 

[dve1968]

Yes, that would be pretty damn difficult at that size indeed. Just determining where each hole was to be would be a pain in the rear

You, Cano, are seeing exactly what I saw when I found these on the '55 Chevy pick-ups. I am always looking for odd ball stuff like this to incorporate more realism. Had they been a bit thinner it would have been even better Hard to tell from the pictures, but they are a basic Hot Wheel tire width which is way out of proportion when put in scale.

 

[Cano]

You, Cano, are seeing exactly what I saw when I found these on the '55 Chevy pick-ups. I am always looking for odd ball stuff like this to incorporate more realism. Had they been a bit thinner it would have been even better Hard to tell from the pictures, but they are a basic Hot Wheel tire width which is way out of proportion when put in scale.

I hear you. I don't like putting on generic Hot Wheels "everyone has those" wheels on my cars either -even tough I have 400+ Real Rider axles to fiddle with. If I can, and if the project's worth it -no point in dropping a rare set of wheels in just a wheelswap for instance- I'll always look for different, off-beat wheels to put into cars. You'll enjoy my latest (: