Hot Wheels and Matchbox Customizing Thread

[Nessy]

The del Sol with the marks for the fog lights looks like a pig from Angry Birds. To me, it looks like it is coming along just fine. Just a little reshape of the front bumper.

I guess it does a bit. I stopped short of shaping the bumpers properly as i was displeased with main lights. I think i know where iv'e gone wrong though.. Needs moar putty.

@Apok Can't wait. 👍

 

[Emmcee]

@Apok

That is amazing! 👍 How on earth are you keeping the guitar strings taut and the hub truly centered? My mind is boggled by how difficult that must have been to achieve. Remind me of mini Daytons.


I'm not entirely happy with how the front of the Del sol is going, it's really hard to get the shape i want (not as easy as i'd thought). May have to restart that bit of it again.





(Off topic but loosely related to the custom thread)

I'm going to be starting this 1/18 scale 240Z custom. It's originally a 'Road Signature'/'Yatming' model and will be my first ever 1/18 scale custom. I'm hoping to make a one-off widebody/even more extreme version of this drawing i did years ago (the wheels are going to be different, also i'm losing the light covers and making the fender flares bigger, and blended into the fenders themselves).



Iv'e got the wheels i'm going to use and have taken off the bumpers etc etc. Next step will be stripping the paint and cutting away at the arches for a better ride height. (Will post progress in the 'Scale model' thread when i have more done to it, for those who're interested).

How it looked to begin with (not my pic)

How it looks at the moment (my pic)

That drawing of that z you did looks like something out of "wangan midnight" if your fimiloar with that awesome manga?

 

[Nessy]

That drawing of that z you did looks like something out of "wangan midnight" if your fimiloar with that awesome manga?

Yes it does a bit and yes i am. 👍 Iv'e been a long time fan of the 240Z way before the manga was made though.


Slight update on the 'Finger Lickin Fire Chicken'.

I'm really not a fan of the real life Trans-Am wheel spoiler flares.. I think they make the rear wheels look a bit too small and odd looking. Having said that, i thought i'd try a little experiment with some 'blu-tac' (only did half as i ran out of the stuff). And ?... I'm sold!
I think it really does add to the custom, and it will give a more snowplow look to the front. Just need to make it in putty now.



How it was:




How it is with the wheel spoiler flares:




Also, slight update on the MX-5.

Decided to make the roll-bar while i'm deciding what to do about that front lip (may just add a small splitter to the base). It's fairly simple looking and a little bit messy, but i hope once the interior's painted and detailed, it will take a bit of focus off the roll bar itself. I'm fairly happy with how it's turned out but i'm debating on whether to add a diagonal bar to it, or not. Any thoughts?

 

[Emmcee]

Nessy, your work is sensational mate. Yea the diagonal bar would make it look more like a real cage tbh, either way, sensational work so far mate, jealous I havnt got that craftsmanship myself. What tool do you use to get your putty so sharp and smooth if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Nessy]

Nessy, your work is sensational mate. Yea the diagonal bar would make it look more like a real cage tbh, either way, sensational work so far mate, jealous I havnt got that craftsmanship myself.

Thanks man. 👍 You've got plenty skill yourself, and i get jealous of the skill of others in this thread too. I take a lot of inspiration from a lot of them (not going to mention names as there's too many to remember TBH), and iv'e still got tons to learn from these guys.
With regards to the roll-bar, yep i agree, diagonal bar is indeed needed. 👍

What tool do you use to get your putty so sharp and smooth if you don't mind me asking?

Small metal files of various shapes for initial shaping (diamond coated, though ordinary ones work well too). And flexible filing sticks to get things smooth (i'm guessing nail files would work too).

Flexi files/ Sanding sticks: (There's various brands out there, but they all do the same job)

 

[Nvrrespected]

Finger lickin fire chicken 👍

Super work on both. Can't wait the (2 years) to see the finished product! Gonna be good stuff. What's the miata roll bar made from? The brass tubes?

@Cano what kind of paint do you use for the hood vent finger fill trick? and do you do that before or after you clear coat it ?

 

[Nessy]

Finger lickin fire chicken 👍

Super work on both. Can't wait the (2 years) to see the finished product!

Thanks man. 👍

What's the miata roll bar made from? The brass tubes?

No. I use brass tubes for the axles and use brass rods for the roll cage. Because they're hollow, the brass tubes would most likely kink if they were bent to a 90 degree radius.

 

[BryCivicSi]

This will probably be my only project this weekend. It is raining again!

I was given Dom's Charger here is what I did with it. I painted the interior flat black. I removed the copyright logo tampo at the right rear lower fender, painted the engine, tail lights and mufflers, made custom axles and re-painted the wheels. The guy on eBay that I bought the wheels from from painted them glossy black and the tires and a white line. I really liked the glossy black wheels and white line tires but swapped the tires last minute and the wheels got messed up. So I painted them flat black as I don't own glossy black yet. May go back and re-do it at a later date.
I am not doing well with the tampo delete. I see outlines or I take off paint at the edges. I got frustrated and stopped.
I continue to do too much at once. I need to focus on one project and see it all the way though.
I am holding off on everything else and starting something new, the cars in the background. I picked up the '59 Cadillac yesterday and had the rest already. The Caddy, Rivera, Continental and Impala all go well together and I think will make a great set together.

 

[Cano]

I'll post a more detailed description of the whole process when I make the second wheel.

You better, because that is tremendously interesting.

@Cano what kind of paint do you use for the hood vent finger fill trick? and do you do that before or after you clear coat it ?

But you will never find it in your country as this is made in Mexico. Just look for water-based acrilyc paint and off you go. If needed, thin it with water and do the thing after you have clear-coated the car.

 

[Nvrrespected]

You better, because that is tremendously interesting.

But you will never find it in your country as this is made in Mexico. Just look for water-based acrilyc paint and off you go. If needed, thin it with water and do the thing after you have clear-coated the car.

Whoops I did it before clear. Oh well. Also did it with testors, it worked just the same. You'll see soon enough.

 

[Nvrrespected]

Edit: Whoops! Didn't realize nobody had posted since I last did. I apologize

So I finished one. Like as in I consider it completely done. It came out pretty sweet in my opinion. In proud of it.

I'm sure a few of you have, or at least have seen one of these

Well I started with that, and I apologize for my lack of in process pictures, but I kinda just did stuff and didn't think about it.
And here I am now. .

The most obvious is the is the detailing, the grill and bumper inserts filled black, the lights chromed then Tamiya orange on the upper lights. Also, less obvious, is the slight height increase. I wanted a closer to stock style, than the super low surf style it had.

The front lift is a little more obvious from this angle.

Rear lights done chrome then tamiya clear red. Bed painted too. Oh, speaking of, the paint is a Tamiya Green, don't remember which one, but it looks super amazing. I don't think I want to use any other paint than theirs now.

Kinda hard to see, but the hood vents are blacked out too. Also, I painted the interior matte black, instead of the original chrome.

So yea. I'm proud of it. I feel like the pictures don't do the paint justice. The wheels actually look really good on it. And I originally thought the Windows wouldn't look good yellow. But they don't really take away from it.

Most current projects.
"wild" hot rod 29 Ford pickup.

Ef Honda civic, weekend street dragster. Going for that rough homebuilt kind of deal. I know it's not immediately apparent but the front fenders have been sanded into to fit the fat tires.

 

[Emmcee]

Can you post what green that is because that looks similar to the green I want for my ve/cts wagon custom. Iam after like a poison ivy/metallic British racing green as iam trying to make as close as possible to my actual car. Will be appreciated.

 

[Cano]

dude that thing came out pretty awesome. I wouldn't have lifted it, nor used those wheels, but I like the result none the less. The color combo pops, and you really lucked out because the yellow glass goes well with it all.

EDIT: Oh and you really, REALLY need to get rid of the blue piece on the '29 Ford. It will look horribly awkward with the stock stance. You will need to fabricate a lot to make that thing sit right.

 

[Nvrrespected]

dude that thing came out pretty awesome. I wouldn't have lifted it, nor used those wheels, but I like the result none the less. The color combo pops, and you really lucked out because the yellow glass goes well with it all.

EDIT: Oh and you really, REALLY need to get rid of the blue piece on the '29 Ford. It will look horribly awkward with the stock stance. You will need to fabricate a lot to make that thing sit right.

Thanks for the compliments. I wasn't sure about the wheels when I first first got them, but I didn't have much choice at the time. They look better on it than I originally expected, in my opinion, but I wouldn't be opposed to something else. I really did luck out with the yellow glass... I mean really lucked out.

I haven't decided what I'm doing with that. Blue thing yet. If I get rid of it it leaves a goofy gap because of the posts set up. I'm not really sure how I could fix that yet. So it may get painted the body color, or maybe I'll think of a way to fix it. My only idea right now, is to make the rivit holes bigger, beacuae the posts are too wide to let the body sit lower. Also the blue piece has the interior on it

 

[Cano]

I haven't decided what I'm doing with that. Blue thing yet. If I get rid of it it leaves a goofy gap because of the posts set up. I'm not really sure how I could fix that yet. So it may get painted the body color, or maybe I'll think of a way to fix it. My only idea right now, is to make the rivit holes bigger, beacuae the posts are too wide to let the body sit lower. Also the blue piece has the interior on it

Custom styrene chassis.

 

[Nvrrespected]

Custom styrene chassis.

That is an idea. Never used styrene before.

 

[The87Dodge]

Edit: Whoops! Didn't realize nobody had posted since I last did. I apologize

So I finished one. Like as in I consider it completely done. It came out pretty sweet in my opinion. In proud of it.

I'm sure a few of you have, or at least have seen one of these

Well I started with that, and I apologize for my lack of in process pictures, but I kinda just did stuff and didn't think about it.
And here I am now. .

The most obvious is the is the detailing, the grill and bumper inserts filled black, the lights chromed then Tamiya orange on the upper lights. Also, less obvious, is the slight height increase. I wanted a closer to stock style, than the super low surf style it had.

The front lift is a little more obvious from this angle.

Rear lights done chrome then tamiya clear red. Bed painted too. Oh, speaking of, the paint is a Tamiya Green, don't remember which one, but it looks super amazing. I don't think I want to use any other paint than theirs now.

Kinda hard to see, but the hood vents are blacked out too. Also, I painted the interior matte black, instead of the original chrome.

So yea. I'm proud of it. I feel like the pictures don't do the paint justice. The wheels actually look really good on it. And I originally thought the Windows wouldn't look good yellow. But they don't really take away from it.

Most current projects.
"wild" hot rod 29 Ford pickup.

Ef Honda civic, weekend street dragster. Going for that rough homebuilt kind of deal. I know it's not immediately apparent but the front fenders have been sanded into to fit the fat tires.

That green Ford pickup looks super sweet.

 

[Nvrrespected]

That green Ford pickup looks super sweet.

It totally does. That 63 "Ford" looks great doesn't it. Cough cough itsachevy cough cough

 

[The87Dodge]

It totally does. That 63 "Ford" looks great doesn't it. Cough cough itsachevy cough cough

Oops, that was a bad mistake.

 

[Emmcee]

Nvvrespected: did you see my on post what type of green paint you used and what brand as iam super keen to know. That's if this post doesn't get lost like the last one lol.

 

[Nvrrespected]

Nvvrespected: did you see my on post what type of green paint you used and what brand as iam super keen to know. That's if this post doesn't get lost like the last one lol.

@Emmcee
Cool your jets bro, I got chu. I saw it earlier but I was at work. Couldn't remember what Paint it was.
Prior warning. The shade may be good, but its metallic, and does have some shinys in it. The picture doesn't really show that. It's super visible in Sun light. I'll try to get a picture that shows it.
It's Tamiya PS-17 metallic Green

 

[Emmcee]

Awesome thanks heaps mate, yeah I want it to have flakes in it, that's the color iam after bro, like this:

Is it close to that as this paint has a sparkle effect also

 

[Nvrrespected]

Awesome thanks heaps mate, yeah I want it to have flakes in it, that's the color iam after bro, like this:

Is it close to that as this paint has a sparkle effect also

Nice car. Yours? It's a little darker, but I did about 5 coats, so it got darker as I went meaning it'll probably lighter with a couple less coats

 

[yabiggoose]

Meh. First attempt at anything other than detailing. And done with a massive hacksaw blade too.

 

[Nvrrespected]

View attachment 355646

Meh. First attempt at anything other than detailing. And done with a massive hacksaw blade too.

You need to do that for real. Like finish that ish. Take those back seats out and make a legit bed in it and such. It needs to be a thing. Please make it a thing!

 

[Emmcee]

Nice car. Yours? It's a little darker, but I did about 5 coats, so it got darker as I went meaning it'll probably lighter with a couple less coats

This is exactly the same as mine I have the wagon of that sedan I posted its the same model car, same colour,wheels and everything, cept my windows are pitch black

Trying to make this the same as my car

It's the front of a ve ss matchbox ute with the back of a cadellac cts wagon matchbox casting.

Even the plastics fit snug

 

[Nvrrespected]

This is exactly the same as mine I have the wagon of that sedan I posted its the same model car, same colour,wheels and everything, cept my windows are pitch black

Trying to make this the same as my car

It's the front of a ve ss matchbox ute with the back of a cadellac cts wagon matchbox casting.

Even the plastics fit snug

Yes.. yes.. and yes. Holdens are sick. wagons are sick. Winning. The cts back end is a little square for me, but it works really well. Can't wait to see that done

@Cano there. I got rid of the blue plastic Just for you. I cut the interior out and trimmed it to fit Nicely inside, and drilled the holes bigger so it sits directly on the frame. Still working on it though

 

[Emmcee]

Yes.. yes.. and yes. Holdens are sick. wagons are sick. Winning. The cts back end is a little square for me, but it works really well. Can't wait to see that done

@Cano there. I got rid of the blue plastic Just for you. I cut the interior out and trimmed it to fit Nicely inside, and drilled the holes bigger so it sits directly on the frame. Still working on it though

Yeah the cts back end isn't exactly the same but it's the best I could do and find as there simply isn't a casting for it. Holdens are crap mate, the dramas iam having with the car is rediculous and I brought it brand new. Drivers side window won't work now, had to replace a rear wheel bearing, chewing through rear tyres and now it needs a timing chain replace my and the car has only clocked 100k. All this has happened while just out of warranty. The timing chain issue was notorious in the previous motor in this model so I waited till the "revised" motor was released and them saying the chain issue was rectified. Absolute bs, I've got stung with the chain issue. Asked Holden what prevents the streched timing chain, constant oil changes, well that didnt stop it happening in th first place and Holden wonder why people arnt buying there cars anymore and had to shut shop in Australia and start making the cars overseas. There customer service is a joke and once you buy the car, they dust there hands of you. The timing chain replacement is like 3k and they tell me it's due every 100k which is bs, I said why didn't you tell me this when I brought it instead of saying the issue was rectified, buy them time the car hits 300k I've spent almost 10k on timing chain replacements, what bs, taking them to the ombudsman and if that doesn't work ill take them to small claims court as I have a 20yr old skyline and never had catastrophic issues like this and it has done over 300k.

 

[Nvrrespected]

Yeah the cts back end isn't exactly the same but it's the best I could do and find as there simply isn't a casting for it. Holdens are crap mate, the dramas iam having with the car is rediculous and I brought it brand new. Drivers side window won't work now, had to replace a rear wheel bearing, chewing through rear tyres and now it needs a timing chain replace my and the car has only clocked 100k. All this has happened while just out of warranty. The timing chain issue was notorious in the previous motor in this model so I waited till the "revised" motor was released and them saying the chain issue was rectified. Absolute bs, I've got stung with the chain issue. Asked Holden what prevents the streched timing chain, constant oil changes, well that didnt stop it happening in th first place and Holden wonder why people arnt buying there cars anymore and had to shut shop in Australia and start making the cars overseas. There customer service is a joke and once you buy the car, they dust there hands of you.

Ok but Holden monero. And Holden hsv 427. And sick utes. Sweet wagons.

 

[Emmcee]

Ohh yea they look sweet man but there riddled with issues. It's Monaro btw lol. Pronounced:
Mon-are-ro