spencer1984 Posted March 19, 2023 Posted March 19, 2023 A project that's been on my "to do" list for a while, building replicas of some of my favorite Hot Wheels Cars. I figured I'd start with the original "Sweet 16," and their take on Bill Cushenbery's Silhouette show car. I reworked the body to be one piece, filled in the panel seams, and added the front fenders. Paint is Tamiya Clear Red over Titanium Silver in an attempt to recreate the Spectraflame look, and while it wasn't entirely successful I'm calling it a learning experience. A full writeup of my work is available here, and as always any comments/criticisms are welcome! Engine is painted in various metallics to recreate the look of the diecast block, with intakes made from craft eyelets: The interior was originally a single white plastic piece, so I painted everyhing white or silver, with embossing powder carpeting and my own gauge face: Photo with Mattel's 1/24 Spoilers, released a few years ago: 4
Rich Chernosky Posted March 19, 2023 Posted March 19, 2023 The Silhouette was the second model car I ever built. I actually still have pieces form my original build (circa 1964) . What a cool idea to make it into a Hot Wheels replica. And well executed I might add. The Silhouette was an iconic custom car of the 60's. It was the very first "from the ground up custom". I t even starred in a movie, one of those teenage beach thingies if I recall.
89AKurt Posted March 19, 2023 Posted March 19, 2023 I had that and other first edition How Wheels, which ended up in the crusher or sold at a High School band trip to Disneyland funding drive. Story of my life. Anyway, cool project!
TooOld Posted March 20, 2023 Posted March 20, 2023 Very cool Bill ! I read your build up and I like all of the work you put into making Hot Wheels replica . The wheels and redlines are the finishing touch , well done !
KWT Posted March 20, 2023 Posted March 20, 2023 Very nicely done... I'm pretty sure I had one of these but don't have a clue what happened to it
Can-Con Posted March 21, 2023 Posted March 21, 2023 That's pretty cool, Bill. Nice job copying the differences in the Hotwheels car over to the kit. The paint look great too. If it's OK, here's one I restored last summer, If I'm overstepping, please say so and I'll delete the pic. ?
alan barton Posted March 21, 2023 Posted March 21, 2023 (edited) I love this! I particularly like the fenders and the engine detail, and as Steve's resorted diecast version shows, you nailed it! As a life long model builder and Hot Wheels collector it ticks all the boxes. Only last week I was thinking about building a Hot Wheels 32 Vicky so I have to ask - how did you create the very accurate Hot Wheels mag wheels? Cheers Alan Edited March 21, 2023 by alan barton
spencer1984 Posted March 21, 2023 Author Posted March 21, 2023 Thanks, guys! 18 hours ago, Can-Con said: That's pretty cool, Bill. Nice job copying the differences in the Hotwheels car over to the kit. The paint look great too. If it's OK, here's one I restored last summer, If I'm overstepping, please say so and I'll delete the pic. ? Excellent restoration! And it shows that if I really wanted to be accurate, I should have left that horizontal break in place! ? 11 hours ago, alan barton said: I love this! I particularly like the fenders and the engine detail, and as Steve's resorted diecast version shows, you nailed it! As a life long model builder and Hot Wheels collector it ticks all the boxes. Only last week I was thinking about building a Hot Wheels 32 Vicky so I have to ask - how did you create the very accurate Hot Wheels mag wheels? Cheers Alan Thanks! The wheels were one of the major sticking points before I could get started, since I wanted to capture the look as close as possible while still being at least sort of realistic (it's hard to see here, but there is a backing plate with lugnuts between each spoke). They're something I drew up and had 3D printed at Shapeways, then painted them black and finished the faces with Bare Metal Foil.
alan barton Posted March 27, 2023 Posted March 27, 2023 Thank you for the info Bill. As a big collector of Hot Wheels hot rods, I have to build at least one of the Sweet 16. You have really got me thinking! Cheers Alan
Mr. Metallic Posted March 30, 2023 Posted March 30, 2023 On 3/21/2023 at 2:06 PM, spencer1984 said: Thanks, guys! Excellent restoration! And it shows that if I really wanted to be accurate, I should have left that horizontal break in place! ? Thanks! The wheels were one of the major sticking points before I could get started, since I wanted to capture the look as close as possible while still being at least sort of realistic (it's hard to see here, but there is a backing plate with lugnuts between each spoke). They're something I drew up and had 3D printed at Shapeways, then painted them black and finished the faces with Bare Metal Foil. Very cool. How about your technique for the redlines?
spencer1984 Posted April 2, 2023 Author Posted April 2, 2023 On 3/30/2023 at 2:30 PM, Mr. Metallic said: Very cool. How about your technique for the redlines? Not much technique for that part, I'm afraid: I happened to have a set of big & little tires in my parts box with nice sharp raised ribs on the sidewalls. Some Apple Barrel "Candy Apple" red acrylic paint applied with a toothpick was all they needed. 1
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