Hot Wheels and Matchbox Customizing Thread

[Emmcee]

Nice job on the details but the car sits way to high for my liking but that's my opinion, otherwise very nice job.

 

[txcustmtrucks]

Nice job on the details but the car sits way to high for my liking but that's my opinion, otherwise very nice job.

I agree, thats one thing i didnt like about it myself. If i find a better set of wheels that will actually tuck, i will slam it. Thanks tho

 

[Emmcee]

Make them yourself bro, just shorten the axels.

 

[txcustmtrucks]

Make them yourself bro, just shorten the axels.

I considered it, the rear wheels are too tall. If i find a set of wheels that arent staggered itll be perfect without having to grind or trim inside the casting. I want amg style wheels on this.

 

[Emmcee]

I considered it, the rear wheels are too tall. If i find a set of wheels that arent staggered itll be perfect without having to grind or trim inside the casting. I want amg style wheels on this.

Yeah if you could find some amg style wheels, that would look good.

Here's my wingless 180

And something else Iam working on still, needs to be tidied up abit.

 

[txcustmtrucks]

I like that wingless look. It gives it somewhat of a "sleeper" look. And that supra looks mean. The wheels fit it perfect. Good job man i cant imagine trying to detail those 180 tail lights. They look tough. I have a 79 trams am i restored. I shaved the wing on it and its so much better.

 

[Emmcee]

Thanks mate, yeah the tail lights were a pain, still have to fix the brake light up abit as it looks a little dodgy IMO. Can't wait to see your trans am, I love those muscle cars.

 

[Joey D]

So I found a Matchbox Tacoma today and I want to paint it to look like my truck, what's the best way to strip off the old paint? I have some paint thinner and automotive paint stripper but I'm not sure how well that will work or if it will damage the thin metal at all. Also whats the best way to pop these cars apart? Just drill out the rivets?

 

[txcustmtrucks]

So I found a Matchbox Tacoma today and I want to paint it to look like my truck, what's the best way to strip off the old paint? I have some paint thinner and automotive paint stripper but I'm not sure how well that will work or if it will damage the thin metal at all. Also whats the best way to pop these cars apart? Just drill out the rivets?

Drill the rivets, carefully. Then it may require a bit of prying. Some pop right out. To remove paint, Use the stripper and a wire brush. Try not to go hard on the brushing. Then when youve stripped it rinse it, dry it then sand it with 180 grit, lightly. Try not to sand away detail like handles, bezels and such. Then ur ready to start painting. When it comes to painting u have a wide variety of options. U can go with the traditional way using crafts or models paints. Or u can go the automotive way with rattle can paints, which is how i do it. The process is longer but its worth it because u rarely have chips and u can get a high gloss look that lasts a long time. Plus u can cut and buff it to a shine.

 

[e36Earl]

I've never done the extra step of scuffing with 150 grit and haven't had any issues=)

 

[txcustmtrucks]

Yeah if you could find some amg style wheels, that would look good.

Here's my wingless 180

And something else Iam working on still, needs to be tidied up abit.

How do u make ur exhaust. I like adding tips to my cars too.. it just makes them pop. But i have mostly hot rods, trucks and muscle cars. I want to start an import project so i need some ideas for the exhaust..

 

[txcustmtrucks]

I've never done the extra step of scuffing with 150 grit and haven't had any issues=)

I use 180 because it smoothes out some of the casting imperfections but mainly i do it just so further on down the road my paint wont chip or flake. Just a step i like to do whether im priming it or not for reassurance. Im sure ur paint jobs come out just like mine and maybe even better, but like the saying goes "theres more than one way to skin a cat" haha

 

[e36Earl]

Very true=) I usually use a small file to fix casting imperfections

 

[txcustmtrucks]

Very true=) I usually use a small file to fix casting imperfections

Ur a beamer guy right? I have a old bmw i took the wheels off of but i kept it cause its a classic. U can probably tell me more about it. Its a funny looking car with its itty bitty tail lights.. let me see if i have a pic...

 

[e36Earl]

The one above? That's a 2002=) Yeah I'm a big BMW enthusiast haha

 

[txcustmtrucks]

 

[e36Earl]

Yup, 2002=)

 

[txcustmtrucks]

View attachment 461037

Yup, 2002=)

So is the model called the 2002 or was it made in 02? Because it looks like a 70-80s era car. Ha i like foreign cars but i honestly dont know much about them.

 

[e36Earl]

It's a BMW 2002. That's the moniker. They were made in the 70's=)

 

[Joey D]

Drill the rivets, carefully. Then it may require a bit of prying. Some pop right out. To remove paint, Use the stripper and a wire brush. Try not to go hard on the brushing. Then when youve stripped it rinse it, dry it then sand it with 180 grit, lightly. Try not to sand away detail like handles, bezels and such. Then ur ready to start painting. When it comes to painting u have a wide variety of options. U can go with the traditional way using crafts or models paints. Or u can go the automotive way with rattle can paints, which is how i do it. The process is longer but its worth it because u rarely have chips and u can get a high gloss look that lasts a long time. Plus u can cut and buff it to a shine.

Thanks!

I'll post my progress in this thread as I get more into the project.

 

[AOS-]

You can be lazy like me by skipping the stripping process and painting right over the existing paint. If the car has some body decals, then disregard what I just said.

There is a way to make the rivet drilling impossible to screw up and that is to create a pilot hole first and then using something like 9/64 or 5/32 bit, you can go slow on the drill and use moderate pressure to burrow out the rivet. I like this method because the moment the metal pops out, I know i've taken out the entire rivet and I won't need to drill any longer.

 

[Emmcee]

How do u make ur exhaust. I like adding tips to my cars too.. it just makes them pop. But i have mostly hot rods, trucks and muscle cars. I want to start an import project so i need some ideas for the exhaust..

very easy bro, use a kebab stick and just sand it down to the shape I needs, either a straight pipe or a cannon style for the imports, you have a dremel?

Then I just cut to fit. It's so simple yet very effective.

 

[txcustmtrucks]

very easy bro, use a kebab stick and just sand it down to the shape I needs, either a straight pipe or a cannon style for the imports, you have a dremel?

Then I just cut to fit. It's so simple yet very effective.

Ohh ok nice! Yeah i have a dremel ill have to steal ur idea.

You can be lazy like me by skipping the stripping process and painting right over the existing paint. If the car has some body decals, then disregard what I just said.

There is a way to make the rivet drilling impossible to screw up and that is to create a pilot hole first and then using something like 9/64 or 5/32 bit, you can go slow on the drill and use moderate pressure to burrow out the rivet. I like this method because the moment the metal pops out, I know i've taken out the entire rivet and I won't need to drill any longer.

Yea i dont strip every car. If its in decent shape ill just hit it with some sand paper and paint right over it.

Thanks mate, yeah the tail lights were a pain, still have to fix the brake light up abit as it looks a little dodgy IMO. Can't wait to see your trans am, I love those muscle cars.

i have a Couple of pics of it. I cant find it at the moment because i used the wheels i had swapped on it as donor wheels for another project in hopes of finding honey comb style wheels for this. Notice the spoiler shaved down to make it resemble a Formula rather than a Trans Am. View attachment 461222

Im also working on a 57 bel air. This car didnt have the whole rear bumper which comes with all the detail and trim on it so i went full Chip Foose on it. Chopped the top while still allowing me to use factory glass. I also made a custom grill with a front and rear roll pan to make this thing flow. Its not complete but here are some before pics plus some current progress pics... im hoping to have this thing done this week. It will be a beast. Ill make a list of mods i did to it when i finish the project...

 

[Emmcee]

Ohh ok nice! Yeah i have a dremel ill have to steal ur idea.

Go for it bro, if it's going to improve your customs, by all means use it.

I've got a firebird on the way also, but mines basically just lowered and detailed as the firebird logo and livery is awesome, didn't want to loose it.
Oops my bad, double post, won't happen again lol.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Yea i dont strip every car. If its in decent shape ill just hit it with some sand paper and paint right over it.

Just a heads up dude, I know you're new but they really frown on double posting around here. Try to use the edit button if you need to add something or the multi-quote system if you need to quote several posts. Also, text speak (u, ur, etc) is not allowed either. 👍

 

[Cano]

That time of the year people: Custom Diecast México's started it's coverage of the Convention's custom contest. Go to the link to check out the Mild class:

http://www.customdiecastmexico.com/2015/10/concurso-de-customs-8va-convencion-hot.html

 

[huy]

This BMW 2002 custom

 

[txcustmtrucks]

This BMW 2002 custom


View attachment 461864
View attachment 461865

Thats awesome. Its interesting to see the different styles from all around the world.

 

[DUBer]

Some of my detail & custom creations.

 

[huy]

I have Lamborghini Urus custom