I have a new Hotwheels 1/64 car I would like to take apart, and paint the body with a spray can of autobody paint, then put back together so it looks like it came that way. This car seems to be put together with rivets in the bottom, they appear to be plastic.
My thoughts are I could drill out the rivets but don't know how to put back together, is there a way without buying a tiny rivet gun and rivets?

I used a dremel to get rid of the old one, and I've used JBWeld-type stuff to attach it back together. Any sort of glue would probably be ok - gorilla glue, sho goo, crazy-glue might 'frost" the plastic windows, though!

yes, you can drill them out.
and, good chace you can use a screw in it places. if you glue it, make sure the glue vaopr doesnt frost the plastic, as mentioned above. Crazy Glue does do that. and some epoxies will too.

I will look for screws that fit and try them, I might have some around. Do you know of a glue that for sure does not "frost" the windows?

well, FieroRumor mentioned JB Weld. I'v used JB Weld with many plastic with good results. I'd trust it.

Just remember that some of those two-part epoxies get HOT!

On a slightly larger car, I once drilled it out and used screws.

I have always used hot glue to put them back together. Its also a good time to find nicer wheels when you have them apart too.Show pics when you are done!

I hope to at get started this weekend. Whenever I am done I will post pics.

Yes, please do.

I'd like to get into customizing Hot Wheels. I have a couple thousand of them. Make sure that you strip the paint off of the body before you paint.

The thing I would like to figure out is how to remove and replace/swap axles and wheels.

Before and after pics would be cool.

Brad

A couple of things. I take 1/64 HO cars apart. I drill out rivet with as small a bit as possible. Hobby shops sell really tiny screws you can use. I make mine into keychains of my cars to keep track of which is which keys. Use a model train paint and an airbrush if you can find right color (Flowquil). Its high solids like basecoat/ clearcoat and does not cover in any details. Thats what they use for professionally painted things like HO trains. Regular spray paints or model spray cans are pretty thick and do fill in lots of minor details.

Here is What I am starting with, 1970 Buick GSX. The package says 2009 new models so this just came out.





Disassembled:


Closeup of Chassis, the tires do not appear to come off of the axles, the axles are wedged in by plastic tabs, so the best way to remove the axle would be if one could remove a tire. I intend to keep these wheels, even though they are larger than my real car target.



Since this is the 1972 Skylark I intend to make it look like, I will be shaving off the spoiler and hood tach, as well as the hood scoops which may need some filler applied since they are recessed a bit. I also want to paint the tail lights red and might paint the top lip of the grille blue so it looks more like the 72.

You can use some washers, or make your own from some scrap metal or sheet plastic.

Instead of removing a wheel to take out the axle, I suggest that you melt away or cut away the tabs holding the axle in. Pulling the wheel off is only going to bend the axle. Of course, unless you plan on swapping different wheels like some Real Riders, then you don't have to take the axle off at all.

But you were probably just answering my question, in which case, cool. Plus for you.

(Edit. I already had a plus for you.)

[This message has been edited by WhiteDevil88 (edited 01-24-2009).]

I was just answering your question. If the tabs were altered I would suspect putting an axle back in would mean it would not stay straight or roll properly. Maybe if they could be heated and bent, then bent back but that might be hard to do with accurracy. I plan to just keep these axles in mine.

What are you going to use to strip the paint?

I actually just sanded the whole thing, didn't strip it, partly because i don't have stripper and It would stink up the garage so bad I would have to wait another day. The sandable primer I have and paint are laquer which should go on it ok.

Ladies and gentlemen I give you my 1st Hotwheels customization.

You've inspired me. I'm going to have to try it out.

Yeah, very nice! I have several Camaros but none are the correct color. Would be sweet to paint one to match my ol' Baby!

Take pictures of your licence plate and reduce them down to fit, glue them on.

That would be neat. Wonder if I could reduce them enough and still be readable..

Hey Whitedevil88 now if you get ione going you hafta post pices too you know.

I have a 1/64 on keychains for my Magnum and Coronet. I cant get a clear picture for you to work even on Maacro. But both plates are viewable, but a magnifing glass helps.

I took my pics with the car in the middle maybe taking up 10% of the screen, then used photoshop to crop them closer to the car. You could try that.