Hot Wheels

I do mods with things I find around the house, and I save all of my extra parts from diecasts and model kits. I build a lot of Gassers from leaf springs I have saved from other stock kits and the ink tubes from pens which come in different thicknesses for axle tubes. I will even use the spring in the pen for springs on the suspension. I save all of my flat sheets of clear colored plastic to make windows for Gassers and flat solid plastic to make things like bed covers. Playing / trading cards are coated and thick enough to be painted and then used to make bed lids on 1/64 scale and even 1/24 scale. I am always looking around the house for things to use. Last week I wired an engine with old internet connections my wife was throwing out. I also make my own deep-dish wheels by splicing 2 rims together. I raise and lower suspensions, tub rear-ends, swap motors.
I also make mistakes. It's going to happen.

 

Today I am posting a couple of my Gasser builds. Both are Revell 1/24 kits. The Stone Woods and Cook 40 Willys is severely detailed. Revell included a stainless grill with this kit and I added the stainless firewall and interior panels. This one is my favorite build Ive done over the years. The 50 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 was a bone stock kit that I bashed with my boxes of spare parts. The lime green tinted windows was done with a Sharpie. I also made the rear wheels splicing 2 narrow ones together to get the depth. Both cars were shot with automotive paints and clear coated. I also use bare metal foil when I can as seen on the Olds. Going to do a photo shoot over the weekend so I can post the newest editions. Will also be at The Nostalgia Classic tomorrow at Quaker City Motorsports Park. My wife always gripes about the specks of rubber being stuck on my t shirts from shooting the burnouts. I just tell her that is how you can tell I had a good time.

 

@RLMoody that’s pretty cool that you can be that close at the drags to actually get bits of tire on your shirt. My dad use to help his uncle in the pits fixing his car. Wish I had pictures of that. His uncle raced a 57 Chevy called the 8 ball on a dirt oval track somewhere near Warren Pennsylvanian. Sunny something or subside drags?

 

Original and Mod



Some cutting was required to fit these big ol tires and wheels



1969 Factory "Omaha Orange" and the updated wheels and tires are 1000% better



And of course I had to play with the Tacoma



There's just no way to match the Infero color. The cap on the can looked to be a perfect match in the sunlight but as with all pearls.. it's never gonna match.



These were taken in the garage under LED lighting.. I'll have to wait until daylight tomorrow to compare them outside in the sun.

 

And the update*

 

You guys beat me to it modifying the Hot Wheels Tacoma. I left it blue but added all the missing details. The Matchbox Tacoma Kilo Charlie sent me looks like my truck and I just finished painting it to match. Will post both very soon.

 

Pearls are so strange... but I'm happy with it!



Also found these this morning.

 

While coming home from the drag race I went to in Salem Ohio (Quaker City) today l I stopped at 4 Family Dollar and Dollar General stores and came up with squat. Even out in the boonies our stores are being picked clean of Hot Wheels. Really? These places are literally in the middle of nowhere and had nothing. I was also in Meijers in Stow, and they had a freshly stocked display and not a single Gasser or any of the more popular cars I see posted here. Damn vultures.

 

MBX Superfast
03 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6

 

Do you think they're being bought out or are they facing supply chain issues? One of the Dollar General stores in my area just got their first shipment of Hot Wheels since last December

 

That may be possible. I don't usually go into them on a regular basis and was surprised both chains like all the other stores in my area have nothing. I see you guys doing well at the same stores elsewhere.
I suspect a new diecast store that opened near me maybe the blame as well. It's obvious our displays are being picked through before they ever make it to the sales floor. It recently opened and has everything at "eBay" prices that nobody seems to have otherwise. The guy who owns it is one of the vultures I see at the swap meets. My buddy went in and checked it out, but I won't go there. I've heard these guys approach the stores and know when deliveries are coming in or have employees set stuff off to the side for them. That has gone on here for years. I think Flairside Taco works at a Walmart. Maybe she can add to that. I scored a stash I had found a few weeks ago at Walmart where somebody was hiding diecasts behind the Cars movie display. They had about $100 worth tucked away.

 

This one is for LowwlifeHB. My Ford pick up looked like yours did before I repainted it 6 or 7 years ago. I repainted the car behind it but left the patina alone on the old Dodge wrecker.

 

Thanks William63. Waiting for wheels for that Gasser but got the trim work done for now. Opted to lighten up those grey wheels. Left that Tacoma Voodoo blue but added missing details. The wheels dont show it but are gloss black now.

 

Thanks Kilo Charlie. Details added to Gasser including lightening those grey wheels, window trim and grill wash, taillights and headlights. Will see a wheel swap ASAP. Matchbox Tacoma turned out nice. Gonna do more with headlights. They dont give you anything to work with.

 

My friend MJ found this 2019 just chilling on a peg at a Walmart next to all the latest ones.. not sure how it survived there this long but it's mine now!

 

Was at the local Target tonight with the wife & kid. I hit pay dirt!

A new matchbox box set with a Blue Lifeguard Tacoma.




I also found 2 new Matchbox Tacoma Trucks.


Might need to add a few shelves to the Wall of Toyota in the man cave!

 

Nice! I had no idea these even existed until a few years back I stumbled on one at an antique store. I bought 2 of them for $15, the Ford truck and a blue sedan I have to find in the box to see what model haha

 

I picked up that wreaker in a antique store for $4 a couple years ago. We found the others going thru my brother in laws haul from junking. He buys barrels of things at auctions usually cheap. Hes pretty good at that. He got one barrel full of Star Wars figurines and sold them all summer at the flea market. Paid $120 and made several thousand. I'm getting ready to post what he brought over for me yesterday. Its cool having a brother in law like him.

 

Special shout out to @Kilo Charlie for helping me build my collection!!

 

That Weiner Mobile Monster Truck is AWESOME!