Hot Wheels and Matchbox Customizing Thread

[Cano]

Oh, that's sad.

Figured nobody wanted them.

I want that body. Drop it in my box.

 

[OtakuTaikun]

I think I have found my first extensive body-modifying project.

Total manlove if done.

twas also wonder what casting the benspora 380SX from the Lesney blog started out as. D: some of the custom work people do is amazing.

 

[Sonygamer455]

Well, I did a little thinking lately for the Hamada and so far I know what I plan to do. I looked at the wheels and they have 10 spokes and I know the chrome 10SP's would be perfect for it. I could probably get them from a Ford Focus or something with small enough 10 SPs to fit it, luckily there pretty common. Also since the Hamada doesn't have a spoiler, I will have to cut the spoiler off with a cutting disc and then get the remaining parts ground down.

Now about the graphics, I plan to print the yellow vinyl as well as the decal on the side and the word hamada as decals and I wonder how I'm going to pull this off:

I have Gimp, but I lack experience with image editing software and I could use some advice. How can I make the yellow graphics and the words on the side and hood?

Edit: Reuploaded since I no longer need Photobucket.

 

[AOS-]

I forgot to upload this in my last blog post. First reveal of the Illustrious Series. It's taking awful long to get to this but work, school and internet get in the way.

 

[Nessy]

Very nice, AOS. 👍

Are they going to have black interiors with black wheels?

 

[AOS-]

They could, but going by the name alone, I want to keep the overall scheme away from black, even though it's going to be part of it. If it's appropriate I'll be using tan or white...if it's a sports or race car for example, it'll go black... (or white ).

Here's an update on the Annhilator:

More photos here.

They're fairly big photos which is why I didn't link them all.


This Tamiya Polyestor Putty is easy to work with. Sands super easy. Only thing that sucks about putty is that the fumes (like any putty) smell of cancer. Had a fan beside me to blow it away from while I worked because I want to keep as much harmful chemicals away from me for as long as possible.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Fender....bumper?

 

[AOS-]

Bumper then. I thought they mean the same thing for the longest time.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Fender =

 

[Nessy]

Annhilator's looking great so far, (checked out the rest of the pics), shame about the possibility of the rear bumper being chopped, but you really should match that contour. Also, i think the wheels are a good match. 👍

 

[Sonygamer455]

Well, I did a little thinking lately for the Hamada and so far I know what I plan to do. I looked at the wheels and they have 10 spokes and I know the chrome 10SP's would be perfect for it. I could probably get them from a Ford Focus or something with small enough 10 SPs to fit it, luckily there pretty common. Also since the Hamada doesn't have a spoiler, I will have to cut the spoiler off with a cutting disc and then get the remaining parts ground down.

Now about the graphics, I plan to print the yellow vinyl as well as the decal on the side and the word hamada as decals and I wonder how I'm going to pull this off:
View attachment 1085485

View attachment 1085484

View attachment 1085482


I have Gimp, but I lack experience with image editing software and I could use some advice. How can I make the yellow graphics and the words on the side and hood?

Edit: Reuploaded since I no longer need Photobucket.

Somebody? Anybody?

 

[Cano]

paint the car blue, print yellow decals in transparent waterdecal paper, apply same twice one EXACTLY over the other so they won't show blue transparency, clear, add lettering and side number, clear again, enjoy ugly.

 

[AOS-]

With decal paper and a printer.

http://www.bare-metal.com/Experts-Choice-Decal-Film.html

You'll also want a bottle of their Micro Set and Micro Sol.

http://www.bare-metal.com/Microscale-Model-Finishing-Products.html

 

[Sonygamer455]

I know to apply them, it's the matter of making them i need help with.

 

[AOS-]

Learn Photoshop or GIMP.

 

[Cano]

Yes, absolutely. Custom making them in Photoshop is the only way to achieve them.

 

[CodeRedR51]

You'll also want a bottle of their Micro Set and Micro Sol.

http://www.bare-metal.com/Microscale-Model-Finishing-Products.html

I wouldn't really say these are required.

 

[AOS-]

"Want", not "need". I reworded that for a reason. Have you even tried it actually?

 

[Sonygamer455]

Learn Photoshop or GIMP.

Thats exactly what im asking about. Like i said, i have Gimp and i know i will have to custom make them myself (which is whay had planned on anyway), but i barely know how to use it. What tools on Gimp could i use to create the yellow design as well as the letters on the hood?

 

[CodeRedR51]

"Want", not "need". I reworded that for a reason. Have you even tried it actually?

Nope, water seems to work just fine for most applications. If you are only building custom cars that hardly anyone else will see, I really wouldn't think that stuff is necessary. Once you clear coat over the decals they'll be just fine. And it makes no difference in their appearance in photos posted on the internet.

 

[AOS-]

Thats exactly what im asking about. Like i said, i have Gimp and i know i will have to custom make them myself (which is whay had planned on anyway), but i barely know how to use it. What tools on Gimp could i use to create the yellow design as well as the letters on the hood?

I could spoon-feed you through this of I had the time, but I don't, and you're not using photoshop. I would grab a round soft brush and play with brush settings if possible to add "noise" (that'll get your the pixely effect you see at the fringes). Hamada is just text.

 

[Cano]

New batch of projects:

 

[Nessy]

Hey, is that a Morris Minor (Traveller) i see? looking forward to that one in particular. 👍

 

[Cano]

It is indeed a Morris Minor, but HW has transformed it into a gasser, it's one of my favorite castings. I found this one severely neglected and plan to restore it, which might prove difficult as half the car is plastic. We'll see how it goes.

You can also see there the M3 for Lamley's contest, for which I've already found a perfect set of pretty unique wheels.

 

[AOS-]

I want to do custom for that contest, but I don't know what to do though.

Right now I can only think of smashing it up and calling that art.

 

[Cano]

hahaha bring the hammer out!

EDIT: I think I've decided on a color pattern for the M3, and also for what custom pieces/touches I'll do to it. It's another thing altogether to actually do it, so I hope it turns out well enough.

 

[Nessy]

You can also see there the M3 for Lamley's contest, for which I've already found a perfect set of pretty unique wheels.

Cool, i would ask what they are, but i guess that would spoil the surprise.
Wish i was competing myself, but realistically, i know i wouldn't complete the thing on time.

I want to do custom for that contest, but I don't know what to do though.

Right now I can only think of smashing it up and calling that art.

Either that, or you could just randomly flick different colour enamel or acrylic at it, and call it an 'Art car'.
If you're thinking about going down the custom decal route, there's absolutely shed loads of really cool Touring car liveries from the late 80's for the M3. I'll be very surprised if we don't see a good few of those entered.

 

[Cano]

You all have already seen the wheels, I posted them a while ago in a donor stuff picture. I'll also be trying carbon fiber on it.

 

[AOS-]

Either that, or you could just randomly flick different colour enamel or acrylic at it, and call it an 'Art car'.

That's lame unfortunately. I think what would win this contest will be either going over the top with custom fabricating (it doesn't have to even make any sense), a text-heavy livery, or a race-car replica. I'm going to aim for the former.

Now I kind of wished I took up that computer engineering class back in high school. Make a police car with working siren lights... I though of making psycho-blinking head lamps before, and that requires soldering and programming.

If you're thinking about going down the custom decal route, there's absolutely shed loads of really cool Touring car liveries from the late 80's for the M3. I'll be very surprised if we don't see a good few of those entered.

Sadly, creativity isn't required to impress people with customizing toy cars, and I'd be damned if replicas make top spots.

 

[Nessy]

If i had a HW M3, and knew how to do custom decals (or at least be competent at it), and if i knew i could finish it in time, i'd definitely take a shot at doing this:

Maybe it would be a bit ambitious, but i think it would make an awesome custom.